Saussurea amara
StarSaussurea amara
Synonyms: Saussurea centauroides, Saussurea japonica f. alata, Vernonia amara, Saussurea glomerata, Saussurea amara var. microcephala, Saussurea amara f. microcephala, Saussurea scabra, Saussurea amara var. exappendiculata, Saussurea laevigata, Theodorea glomerata, Theodorea integrata, Theodorea amara, Saussurea tenuicaulis, Saussurea glomerata f. alata, Saussurea macrocephala, Theodorea microcephala, Saussurea amara var. glomerata, Serratula amara
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In traditional Mongolian medicine, Saussurea amara is used for hepato-biliary disorders (Wagner et al., 2006). This use is supported by pharmacological study: a methanolic extract produced a dose-dependent increase in bile flow (choleretic effect) in the isolated perfused rat liver, providing mechanistic support for its traditional application in liver and gallbladder complaints.
Botanical Description
Saussurea amara is a perennial herb of the aster family with an erect, branched, ridged stem reaching about thirty to seventy centimetres. The alternate leaves are oblong to lanceolate, the lower ones stalked and the upper sessile, with entire to slightly toothed, sometimes wavy margins, green above and paler beneath. The branch tips carry clusters of small, cylindrical flower heads composed of pinkish-purple disc florets enclosed in overlapping, often purple-tinged involucral bracts. The fruit is an achene bearing two rows of pappus bristles, the inner ones feathery. Widespread across the steppes of Siberia, Mongolia, Central Asia and northern China, it grows in saline meadows, grassland, riverbanks and disturbed ground.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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