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Healthy Home Economist / Archives / Healthy Living / Herbal Bitters. Crucial Aid for Digestion

Herbal Bitters. Crucial Aid for Digestion

by Sarah Pope / Affiliate Links ✔

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Bitters Stimulate Bile
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
  • Gallbladder Cleanse May Be Needed

How to use herbal bitters to stimulate bile production for improved liver and gall bladder efficiency and more effective digestion of fats without uncomfortable symptoms.

shot glass of herbal bitters on wood table for bile production and fat digestion

For those who need a bit of help transitioning off a low-fat diet as the body adjusts to digesting healthy fats again, herbal bitters can help!

An ancestral diet rich in whole, natural fats like cream, butter, and coconut oil is sometimes a shock to the system for those who have avoided these nourishing foods for years, perhaps even decades.

Eating healthy fats might even trigger symptoms of nausea and bloating at first.

The cause is a liver and gallbladder that are not accustomed to producing and storing the amount of bile necessary to digest the proper levels of fat present in a traditional diet.

The solution is not to throw in the towel and go back to a low-fat diet! This is true even for those who have had their gallbladders removed.

In many cases, a slow and steady increase in the quantity of fats consumed will allow the liver and gallbladder to gradually adjust.

This protocol for digesting fats after gallbladder surgery works particularly well for those who are consuming coconut oil as a supplement before meals.

Coconut oil is an effective appetite suppressant for weight loss.

Another helpful strategy is to employ the regular use of herbal bitters, an ancient remedy that modern science has all but forgotten.

Bitters Stimulate Bile

Herbal bitters are extracts of medicinal plants that are rich in minerals. It is a traditional tonic for stimulating the production of bile.

More liver efficiency correspondingly improves the digestion and absorption of fats.

It is critical that sufficient bile is produced to digest the fats present in the diet.

This liver enzyme also permits assimilation of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2. These nutrients are critical to health as noted by researcher Dr. Weston A. Price. These activators synergistically supercharge mineral absorption.

Even those who have had their gallbladders removed find herbal bitters a welcome aid. They provide amazing relief when consuming a meal rich in fats.

People who thought they could not eat much fat ever again are often delighted with the results!

Traditional Asian cultures have long valued herbal bitters not only for their digestive benefit but also for their cleansing properties which promote increased strength and healing.

Most health food stores have herbal bitters available for purchase at very reasonable prices.  

I suggest considering this brand or this brand if herbal bitters are something you wish to try.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?

Please note that most brands of herbal bitters are not appropriate for pregnancy or nursing.

This particular herbal bitters formulation made with chamomile is safe to use.

It is appropriate for the occasional nausea, bloating, and heartburn issues that may occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Some women find it helpful for morning sickness as well.

Gallbladder Cleanse May Be Needed

If despite your best efforts using herbal bitters, you still have a problem digesting fats, you may wish to consider a liver and gallbladder cleanse.

There may be some small gall or liver stones inhibiting the bile flow process.

Once removed, the problem may resolve without supplementation.

single serving of bitters in a glass with herbs on a table

Reference

(1) Bitters:  Revival of a Forgotten Flavor

More Information

Tips for Easy Fat Digestion after Gallbladder Surgery
Nutritional Balancing Basics: Your Missing Link to Restored Health?

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Category: Healthy Living, Natural Remedies
Sarah Pope

Sarah Pope MGA has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. She is a summa cum laude graduate in Economics from Furman University and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

She is the author of three books: Amazon #1 bestseller Get Your Fats Straight, Traditional Remedies for Modern Families, and Living Green in an Artificial World.

Her four eBooks Good Diet…Bad Diet, Real Food Fermentation, Ketonomics, and Ancestrally Inspired Dairy-Free Recipes are available for complimentary download via Healthy Home Plus.

Her mission is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.

Sarah was awarded Activist of the Year in 2010 at the International Wise Traditions Conference, subsequently serving on the Board of Directors of the nutrition nonprofit the Weston A. Price Foundation for seven years.

Her work has been covered by numerous independent and major media including USA Today, ABC, and NBC among many others.

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Reader Interactions

Comments (74)

  1. Sandi Russ

    Jan 31, 2024 at 6:21 pm

    What would have been most helpful would involve saying which bitter herbs to use and WHEN to take them.

    Reply
    • Sarah Pope

      Feb 1, 2024 at 9:41 am

      The bitter herbs need to be concentrated in a tonic as suggested in the post. The individual herbs are in listed in the ingredients.
      You can take fresh bitter herbs and make your own using this method, but it takes 6-8 weeks for it to be ready. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/homemade-herbal-tinctures/

  2. Maria

    Aug 16, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Hi what about if i got my gallbladder out, i have side pain 14 days after. Cant eat to much will get nauseous. Can this help?

    Reply
  3. isabel

    Mar 15, 2017 at 12:46 am

    ICP my be caused by leaky gut. I believe this blog talks about GAPS diet & gut healing protocols. GAPS diet has a whole section dedicated to preparing for pregnancy & i can say from my experience pregnant with lupus (caused by leaky gut) i had some of The same symptoms as ICP & chronic kidney infections. Taking any one supplement will not be enough to help your condition & bitters are contraindicated for pregnancy. researchgate.net/publication/7220845_Is_a_leaky_gut_involved_in_the_pathogenesis_of_intrahepatic_cholestasis_of_Pregnancy

    Reply
  4. Chris

    Dec 31, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    I’m surprised that Floradix has fructose. Are there others without fructose?

    Reply
  5. Niki

    Dec 16, 2014 at 2:30 am

    Sarah, thank you for the article. I just received my bitter in a box and found out that its not recommended for nursing mothers. Do you know why exactly? I was so excited to start it. Is it because it changes the flavor of the breast milk or is it a herb that is dangerous. Please let me know if you know.

    Reply
  6. Jon S

    Jun 1, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Surely anything bitter taken some time before a meal does the job …bitter herbs, a drop of lemon juice, a sip of bitter wine …even a bitter beer.

    ???

    Reply
  7. Zainab Sorathia via Facebook

    Feb 6, 2014 at 10:22 am

    I have liver issues during the last trimester of my pregnancies… my bile acid levels rise… and my body itches like crazy till baby is born. It’s called ICP. would this work to prevent it during pregnancy?

    Reply
  8. Fran Boston via Facebook

    Feb 5, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    really works!!! I use

    Reply
  9. Mélissa Charron via Facebook

    Feb 5, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    So crazy that you just posted this I took coconut oil before dinner with some tea and I was suddenly nauseous and burping..wondering what was going on.. Now I know! What a coincidence..

    Reply
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