Dandelion Bitters Tincture 1 oz
The term “bitters” is a generic term used to describe a medicinal tincture or alcohol-based extract made with medicinal herbs that are bitter. The exact blend of herbs varies from country to country, and tradition to tradition, but generally a bitter tonic contains a combination of bitter roots such as ginger, turmeric, burdock, and dandelion, and then often other herbs that are beneficial for the digestion are added to that base as well.
I use a base of Ginger, Turmeric, and Dandelion, and then I add to that mixture whatever other bitters are in season and available to wildcraft or are growing in my garden.
This batch contains: fresh organic ginger, fresh organic turmeric, fresh lemon verbena, organic dandelion, organic burdock root, fresh fennel fronds, organic star anise pods, organic green cardamom.
What do bitters do for our digestion?
The taste of bitterness in the mouth causes a chain reaction in the body, that starts with what we call the “bitter reflex” on the tongue.
This bitter reflex stimulates the brain to release a digestive hormone known as gastrin. When the hormone gastrin is released, this causes a whole cascade of positive chemical reactions in the brain and endocrine system.
The reactions gastrin causes in the body result in things like:
*Appetite stimulation (good healthy appetite, not empty cravings)
*Release of digestive enzymes from the pancreas, duodenum, and liver
*Stimulation of the smooth muscle of the stomach which increases the rate of gastric emptying, making it exceptionally helpful with conditions like gastroparesis and slowed digestion that causes a sour feeling in the belly after eating. This same stimulation of the smooth muscles causes a contraction of the esophageal sphincter, which helps prevent the movement of acidic stomach contents back upwards into the esophagus, thus helping relieve heartburn.
*Bitters aid the liver in detoxification and increase the flow of bile which aids in more nutrition being extracted from the food eaten, and eases digestion of proteins particularly.
*Helps aid the secretion of pancreatic hormones that regulate blood sugar, insulin, and glucagon, which helps stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent drastic spikes.
*Stimulates mechanisms that repair the gut wall.
Bitter foods used to be a staple in every culture around the world, particularly during certain seasons. This bitter flavor profile however, has been steadily eliminated from most modern cultures' diets as our taste buds become more and more saturated with sweets and carbs. But this flavor being eliminated from our diets has caused a cascade of unwanted symptoms and ailments. Incorporating bitter foods back into your diet is the best and healthiest way to live, in my opinion, but since we typically aren’t taught how to cook with bitter flavor profiles, a bitters tincture is an easier way to get these vital bitter compounds into our diet every day. A few droppers full of a bitters tincture can help balance digestion and aid the absorption of nutrients in a big way.
In addition to the bitter compounds and how they affect the digestive system, the herbs in these bitters also have many other fantastic properties that are very nourishing and healing for the body.
This Bitter Tonic Contains:
Ginger Root
Turmeric Root
Dandelion Root
Fennel
Lemon Verbena
Star Anise
Green Cardamom
Burdock Root
Instructions:
Take 1-2 TBSP of warm or cool water and add 2-6 ml of Bitters tonic, (approximately 1/2-1 tsp) at least twice a day, or before every meal.
Do not dilute the bitters too much, as the taste in the mouth is very important, as stated above in triggering the digestive benefits.
It is very effective to take the bitters straight in your mouth undiluted, but the alcohol can be irritating and cause a burning sensation in the mouth if taken straight that some people find unpleasant. So, if you do not like taking the bitters straight in your mouth, diluting in as small of an amount of water as possible is ideal for digestive benefits.
Bitters are not easy to take too much of without really trying, so don’t be afraid to add in an extra dose if your tummy still isn’t happy.
They can also be taken 1 ml at a time every 20 min until relief is achieved, up to 8 times, as needed for heartburn, indigestion, and nausea.
This as-needed dosing for specific symptoms can be used in addition to daily doses of 4-6 ml. Do not exceed 20 ml (4 tsp)
Bitters are excellent for symptom relief and can be taken as needed for heartburn, gas, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, liver distress, gallbladder issues, etc.
For long term best results, take daily, even if symptoms do not persist for 4 weeks to aid digestive healing, and prevent the return of unwanted digestive upsets. Immediate results can be seen for many digestive issues, but some chronic issues need a bit more time to heal and work with the plant medicine, and for those issues, 4-6 weeks minimum is recommended to take the bitters tincture daily.
If you are taking other medications or have underlying health issues please consult with your doctor and a trained herbalist to see what herbal support is right for you!
Many of the historical uses mentioned above have
been confirmed by modern science, however, the
statements above are primarily based on oral and historical
writings and observation, and have not been evaluated
by the food and drug administration. This product or
information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent any diseases.