Bitter herbs

Dr. med. Heinz Lüscher

What are bitter substances?

Bitter substances are all chemical compounds that have a bitter taste. They are not a chemically uniform group, but completely different substances with a bitter taste. They are often secondary plant substances such as terpenes, flavonoids, polyphenols and alkaloids, which have a bitter taste. The plants use them to protect themselves from predators such as snails or caterpillars. For us humans, such bitter-tasting plants or parts of plants are an important and valuable pillar of a healthy diet. Of course, some toxic substances in plants also have a high bitter value, which is why certain bitter plants are inedible or even poisonous. However, we are talking about “healthy bitterness” here, because we really need it.

Use of bitter substances

The use of bitter substances and plants has a long tradition in various cultures around the world. Bitter substances stimulate the formation of digestive juices and therefore aid digestion. This effect unfolds as soon as the bitter substances come into contact with the tongue or oral mucosa. Alcoholic bitter drinks and digestive schnapps, bitters or herbal bitters, which are often served as an aperitif or digestif, are also well-known. Unfortunately, it has to be said that although the bitter substances have a positive effect, you have to accept the disadvantages of alcohol, which is harmful to your health. Regular consumption is therefore not advisable. It is better to incorporate bitter plants into your daily menu. This is not so easy, as originally bitter vegetables such as chicory, endive, radicchio, kale and rocket hardly taste bitter nowadays. Over the last few centuries, vegetable varieties with fewer and fewer bitter substances have been bred. If you want to get your fill of bitters, it is therefore best to use wild herbs and vegetables. These can also be grown on your own balcony or in the garden. They contain a full load of bitter substances and even more vital substances and taste even more aromatic. Bitter substances are sensitive to heat, which is why bitter plants are best enjoyed raw and tea should not be prepared with boiling water. If you don’t like bitter

How do bitter substances work?

The edible bitter substances have many positive effects on the human body, particularly on digestion. They have therefore been used in naturopathy for centuries to treat digestive complaints such as flatulence, bloating and constipation. They also have benefits for gastritis (stomach inflammation), irritable bowel syndrome and even chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The effect begins in the mouth with the taste buds (bitter taste buds at the base of the tongue). Adults have around 2000-4000 of these, children have significantly more, old people less. This explains why children usually have more trouble with bitter foods. The bitter substances irritate the taste buds, which stimulates the production of digestive juices. Saliva begins to flow in the mouth (making the mouth water). More gastric juice is produced in the stomach, and the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and intestines are stimulated to secrete digestive juices. However, bitter substance receptors are not only found in the mouth, but also in the stomach and intestines. This could be an important clue for people who find it very difficult to cope with the bitter taste but still want to take bitter supplements. Bitter drops can be taken diluted.

Bitter substances

• Promote the formation and secretion of digestive juices (saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreas)
• Promote the digestion of fat
• Support liver function
• Regulate appetite, prevent ravenous appetite attacks
• Support detoxification and deacidification
• Contribute to lowering an elevated cholesterol level
• Support the intestinal microbiome
• Stimulate intestinal activity
• Some bitter substances lead to increased insulin production

Brief digression – digestive organs and digestive juices

Further breakdown by the enzymes in the saliva begins in the mouth at the same time as the food is chewed and crushed. This process continues in the stomach (gaster). The gastric mucosa produces three to four liters of gastric juice per day. This is important for breaking down the proteins in the food, and the hydrochloric acid it contains also kills harmful microorganisms. The liver (hepar), one of the largest organs in our body, is the central metabolic organ and fulfills various vital functions in our body. With regard to digestion, it converts the protein ingested with food into the body’s own protein and forms the starting products for the formation of the body’s own fats. It is involved in the regulation of blood lipids and blood sugar levels. The liver produces up to one liter of bile per day, which is passed on to the gallbladder. This serves as a buffer for the bile (bile juice), a bitter, viscous, yellowish-green liquid that is necessary for breaking down fats. Bile is released into the duodenum via the bile duct as required. The liver is also our detoxification organ; this is where harmful substances such as alcohol or medication as well as the body’s own substances are metabolized and broken down. The pancreas is one of the largest glands in the human body and consists of two different types of glandular tissue: the pancreas and the pancreas.

Bitter substances can mainly be used for the following complaints:

• Digestive problems (flatulence, bloating, constipation, etc.)
• Hunger attacks (or craving for sweets)
• Stomach acid deficiency (or excess)
• Heartburn

Bitter substances together with other active ingredients can help with the following complaints:

• Gastritis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver
• Viral hepatitis
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Primary biliary cholangitis (liver cirrhosis)
• Liver tumors

Suitable products

A good bitter substance preparation contains various types of bitter plant substances; e.g. from wormwood, artichokes, olive leaves, gentian root, dandelion, thyme etc. Products in liquid form, which can be taken as drops, offer the advantage that the effect occurs immediately on contact with the taste buds in the mouth. If the bitter taste is too unpleasant, you can dilute the drops with water at the beginning and reduce the amount of water a little each day until you get used to the bitter taste. Many bitter products contain alcohol as a solvent, as the valuable bitter substances from the plants and herbs dissolve optimally in it. Now you may be worried that this might have a negative effect on digestion or the body. But there is no need to worry about this, because unlike digestive spirits, the alcohol content in food supplements is very low and the bitter substances are much more concentrated.

Dosage recommendation

Take 2x 10-12 drops or 1x 20-25 drops per day, each approx. 10 minutes before, during or after a meal pure (or diluted with a little water).