Bitter Herbs for Better Digestion

In this post you will discover all you need to know about bitter herbs for digestion. Herb refers to any plant that is used for medicinal purposes. They may be obtained from any part of a plant that is used in the flavouring of foods or as a treatment.

Bitter herbs refer to any herb that possesses of a sour taste.

Even though they are not the tastiest, they have sweet and fresh fragrances but most of all they are excellent for our health. These herbs help produce digestive enzymes, improve the gallbladder and liver function as well as.

Bitter herbs are categorized into two major divisions; hepatoprotectants which protect and repair the liver of overexposure to toxins, and cholagogues. Which enhances the flow of bile. The hepatoprotectants include milk thistle and turmeric. While cholagogues include artichoke, ginger , goldenseal , dandelion root, burdock root, and parsley.

List of Bitter Herbs for Digestion

These herbs can be as moderate as chamomile or as strong as Rue. Due to their beneficial qualities, you may consider including them in your daily meals, as they are essential for good health.

1. Chamomile

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is an ancient medicinal herb throughout many countries like parts of Eastern Europe, Italy, Morocco, Germany, Egypt, France and Spain.

The most two common species of chamomile are German chamomile (is an annual plant and it is sweet) and Roman chamomile (is a perennial plant and seems to be bitter when used in tea).

The plant’s active ingredients come from its daisy-like flowers, which has flavonoids as well as volatile oils and other medicinal substances. People of all age group can use its essential oil but it is not recommended to expectant mothers and those with strong allergies to plants.

Chamomile Health Benefits

• When used in tea, it helps to relieve rheumatic and rashes problems.
• It aids to relieve teething problems, restlessness, and colic in children.
• Helps in digestion when taken as a tea after meals.
• It relieves morning sickness during pregnancy.
• Relieves stress and promotes general relaxation.
• Control insomnia. Chamomiles mildly muscle-relaxing and sedating effects may help those who suffer from insomnia to fall asleep more easily.
• It soothe minor burns, sunburn and skin rashes (including eczema).
• Also lessens menstrual cramps.

Preparation:

Ingredients:

• Two to three teaspoons dried chamomile flowers. Use German Chamomile.
• Hot water.
• Place the dried chamomile flowers into a cup.
• Pour in hot water.
• Allow to infuse for 3 minutes.
• Sieve into a cup.

Drink and enjoy. Add lemon juice or honey to enhance the taste if desired.

2. Angelica Aromatic Bitter

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) herb grows in moist, fertile soils rich in organic matter. The plant is neither annual, nor naturally perennial plant. Its roots and leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

It is an example of the best bitter tonic ingredients and is added to many recipes because it is bitter, spicy, and its pungent aromatic.

The plant is a good prescription for pleurisy, colic, coughs, diseases of the urinary organs and rheumatism but is not recommended to diabetes patients as it increases sugar in the urine.

Health Benefits Of Angelica Bitter

• It aids in reducing gut and menstrual cramps.
• Helps with relieving coughs.
• It aids in the digestion.
• Enhances the appetite.
• It aids with separating the placenta from the uterus.
• Helps in reducing flatulence stomach-ache.
• It helps calming tension.

Preparation:

Angelica tincture;

Quarter to half teaspoon in a cup of lukewarm water. Add liniment or poultice; Applied to chest or joints.

Dosage: A half-cup two to three times a day.

3. Peppermint Bitter

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a perennial herb that has a distinctive menthol fragrance. It is a natural hybrid cross between spearmint and watermint. Peppermint is used as a medicine, flavor, and as a fragrance.

The herb leaves are used and also the essential oils for their therapeutic properties.

The dosage of peppermint essential oil should be regulated for it irritates the mucus tissues if the dosage is too high. It is not recommended for kids.

Health Benefits of Peppermint Bitter

• Peppermint essential oil relieves mental strain as it clears the mind and helps you focus.
• It is used for a headache, sinus, colds, and flu.
• Peppermint is useful for muscle bruises, pains, joints and contusions because of its strong analgesic properties.
• Is used to relieve upper respiratory tract and bronchial infections.
• It is used to treat nausea and morning sickness.
• Helps to relieve stomach ulcers, irritable bowel, cramping, and spastic colon.

4. Dandelion Bitter

Dandelion (Taraxacum) is a popular herb that has a bitter flavor.The plants’ flowers, leaves, and roots are the parts that are used for medicinal properties. Also Dandelion root makes an excellent vegetable coffee while young fresh dandelion leaves can be consumed in spring salads.

Preparation:

Use one teaspoon of chopped and dried root to each cup of water. Bring to a boil over a low heat. Steep for 10 minutes.

Dosage:

Drink a cup of dandelion tea in the morning to increase consistency. It eliminates the toxins that cause acne and skin breakouts.

Health Benefits of Dandelion Bitter

• Dandelion root aids the body to dispose of unwanted skin bacteria.
• The herb stimulates the flow of Bile by causing an increase in the flow of Bile to the Gallbladder and bile production in the Liver.
• The Dandelion (root) purifies the Blood by filtering wastes and toxins from the bloodstream.
• Dandelion improves Blood Circulation.
• Also aids in Anaemia.
• Is prescribed for treating arthritis.
• It can also assist in the prevention of age spots and breast cancer as it lessens uric acid and serum cholesterol.

5. Horehound Bitter

It is also known as Hoarhound (Marrubium vulgare), Marrubium or White horehound. The herb is a perennial plant that is heavy, rank-scented. Horehound bitter is mostly found in sheep pastures, waste places, abandoned fields, vacant lots, along roadsides in coastal areas, sandy spots, dry in upland fields and pastures. The usually used parts of the herb are fresh or dried leaves and flowers.

Preparation:

Can be either fresh or dried.

Infusion: Steep one teaspoon herb in a half cup water. Take one to two cups a day, a mouthful at a time. Add honey if taken for heart or lung problems.

For Cough syrup; boil a quarter cup of dried horehound with two cups water for 10 minutes then strain. Blend one part of the mixture with two parts honey; stir until smooth. Children can drink this mixture easily for a sore throat and coughs.

Health Benefits of Horehound Bitter

• Recommended for common colds, fever, coughs, chronic sore throat, asthma, and jaundice.
• It stimulates appetite.
• Horehound fresh leaves are treatment on cuts and wounds.
• The herb oil acts as a vasodilator it calms the heart, and relieves palpitations.
• It can be taken as a tea or syrup as it is an expectorant for acute or chronic bronchitis.

6. Goldenseal Bitter

Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) This is a strong bitter herb used to stimulate the eliminate infections and appetite.

Goldenseal bitter is a hairy perennial plant with a bound yellow rhizome.

The plant is mostly found in rich woods.

 

Health Benefits Goldenseal

• The herb acts as an antibiotic.
• It strengthens the immune system.
• Good for hay fever colds, flu, sinusitis, earache, food allergies bronchitis, fungal infections, laxative, gum diseases, ulcers, diabetes, hypoglycemia, and morning sickness.
• It promotes the functioning capacity of the nerve system.
• Good for stomachache, prostate, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis, jaundice, vaginal disorders, and inflammation of the bladder.
• It relieves painful menses.
• It improves digestion.

7. Rue Bitter

Rue (Ruta) is a strong bitter herb which is an aromatic perennial plant. It is used as a mild stomachic, a sedative, and an antispasmodic. The herb is identified by its pungent smell and bitter taste.

Health Benefits Rue

• The primary uses for rue are to reduce rheumatic and gouty pains and to treat heart problems.
• Rue oil that is obtained from macerating the leaves in olive oil can be used to relieve an earache.
• The fresh herb juice extract may be utilized directly to strengthen the eyes.
• The infusion of the herb leaves is a rinse for a sore throat.

Bitter Herbs from the Bible

Bitter herbs are also mentioned in the Bible. These herbs are different from are list above. As this list is what the Hebrews would of used during Passover.

This is the original bitter herbs used during Passover

• Beitzah
• Chazeret
• Charoset
• Maror
• Karpas
• Z’roa

Conclusion:

Although choosing a natural remedy is good due to the overall health option, you require is to figure out which herb to use and for which condition. Are herb list can help with this. Herbs may not give the kind of relief you need and may be more practical as a form of preventive prescription. Most of all, always consult with a Healthcare Professional before using any herb.

Photo Credit: Goldenseal By James Steakley – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link