Bitters
What are bitters and why are they vital to optimal health? Read along to learn more about this class of herbs and the role they play in the body.
So what are bitters? Bitters are a class of herbs that stimulate and optimize digestion, just to name a couple. Bitter herbs that we commonly use are also food herbs. The three I use together for a beautiful synergestic combination are dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), chicory root (Cichorium intybus) and fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare).
A functioning digestive system is the baseline for health. In our digestive system, is where 75% of our immunity comes from. Without a healthy digestive system, we cannot properly absorb the nutrients in our food, digest our food and get rid of by products or waste/toxins that we encounter in our food and other substances. It is the foundation of good health. So many Americans have poor gut issues including leaky gut syndrome, IBS and Chrons disease. This happens when we don’t keep our natural gut bacteria in check. Processed foods like gluten, soy and dairy can disrupt this order of bacteria and start causing issues that spin out of control. Eczema for instance, is an indirect result of poor gut health. This is where bitter foods/herbs come into help!
Digestive herbs have a profound effect on our enjoyment of food and our ability to digest and assimilate nutrients. Demulcent herbs like marshmallow root (Althea officinalis) are soothing to the mucous membranes that line the entire gastrointestinal tract and are helpful for lessening irritation and inflammation in a number of gastrointestinal maladies, including canker sores, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowl disease (IBD), and irritable bowl syndrome (IBS), and also pairs well with bitters to counter-act these issues.
Bitters are enjoying a resurgence of popularity as people turn to bitter greens and herbs to stoke the digestive fire and improve assimilation. Bitter remedies are fine herbal allies for addressing constipation, indigestion, gassiness, and even irritability.
Digestive benefits of bitters: Whether you’re chewing on a bitter leaf or taking a tincture, your taste buds send a message to the central nervous system as soon as they come into contact with the bitter compounds. The central nervous system, in turn, sends a message to the digestive system to prepare for food. How cool is that? In short, bitters stoke the digestive fire and stimulate the appetite. Some specific effects on the gastro intestinal system include the enhanced production of digestive juices from the pancreas, duodenum, and liver, and an increase in the flow of bile from the liver. The cascade of digestive enzymes and juices stimulates peristalsis (muscular movement) of the digestive tract, helping food move along as it is digested. In a nutshell, bitters promote optimal digestion and the assimilation of nutrients. As you might surmise, bitters can be especially helpful for constipation and bloating.
Here are some of the other health effects of bitters:
*Bitters promote the growth of healthy intestinal flora.
*Bitters aid the liver in the detoxification and release of cholesterol, which is eliminated via the liver’s laundry chute–bile. Enviornmental toxins, hormones, and other metabolic byproducts are also released through the bile, which is stimulated by this class of herbs. It is interesting to note that bitter herbs have a strong overlap with tonics, hepatics, and alteratives (blood cleansers).
*Many bitter herbs are used as reproductive tonics as they aid the liver in breaking down excess estrogen from the body. The liver deactivates estrogen and sends it out through the bile to be excreted from the body in the feces. Populations of healthy intestinal flora (aided by bitter herbs) help the body continue this process by avoiding reabsorption of estrogen farther down the digestive tract.
*Bitters, especially those known for being traditional liver tonics, have historically been used to alleviate anger, depression, and repressed emotions.
Taking your bitters: It’s optimal to ingest bitters twenty minutes before eating, but if you forget simply take them when you begin to eat. Try keeping your bitter tinctures on the kitchen table as a reminder. Bitters must be tasted to exert their medicinal effects. Like many aspects of life, there’s no getting around the bitter end of things-it’s necessary to traverse the valleys if you truly want to appreciate the peaks! That said, you don’t need to ingest large amounts to activate the medicine.
Chemistry and the bitter truth: Bitter herbs have a unique flavor profile, brought about by a wide range of molecules, including alkaloids, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. Many people confuse bitter with astringent, but it’s important to differentiate between the two flavors, as they have different effects on the body. Astringent herbs are drying and puckering; they tighten mucous membranes and the skin. Black tea that has been steeped too long is a prime example of an astringent flavor. Bitters taste and act differently in the body, primarily having an effect on the digestive system and the liver. Lettuce that has bolted is a prime example of a bitter flavor. Note, however, that many herbs are both astringent and bitter- they are not exclusive. Herbs that contain both bitter and astringent qualities differ in their effects depending on the relative concentration of pertinent compounds.
Energetics: Bitters are considered cooling and drying and should be avoided by those with overly dry or cool natures. Aromatic bitters are an exception to this rule, as they provide a little heat along with their cooling bitter flavor. The warming essential oils in aromatic bitters aid in reducing gas and digestive spasticity. This subclass of bitters is especially helpful for folks who have a nervous stomach or alternate between diarrhea and constipation.
I have prepared a super convenient way to incorporate bitters in your diet by using a spray, that you spray on your tongue before meals that you can find here, that optimizes digestion and enhances elimination of toxins.
Happiness for me is largely a matter of digestion. -Lin Yutang
Hope you found this article informative and useful and will enjoy getting reaquainted with bitters in your everyday life.