March 2024 Newsletter
Herbal aids for digestion… help digestion with their bitter taste, according to many sources. There’s a digestive aid product rarely mentioned and never advertised called Swedish Bitters, also called Schwedenkrauter, there’s also another one like it, named Underberg. Some would argue coffee after dinner is an example. These concoctions are on the shelves of well-stocked natural food stores around the USA. It is typically sold in small bottles, in a four or six-pack. The tiny screw on lid lets you adjust your dose individually.
Two main concepts are an important part of helping your digestion: food must be liquefied and moved out of the stomach. Literally, food has to get liquid and ‘moving along’ or it creates gas, and if it’s in the stomach too long, the acid digestive juices have more time to damage the lining of the stomach. A fairly obvious tip here is to chew the food very well, which will also add saliva juices to the digestive process. The bitter herbs in the Schwedenkrauter seem to aid in both those two main goals but they also have a healing effect on the actual lining of the gut tube. The food you eat travels in a contiguous tube, this is what I refer to as the gut tube. The cells that line the gut tube need to be healthy and cling together in a tight cell wall lining. Let me describe the main ingredients in some common herbal digestive aids and give each one a little description of its known effect.
Aloe Vera – Yes, the same as what is put in skin lotions. The type of cell lining on the skin (epithelial cells) is the same for the lining of the gut tube. What helps your skin helps the gut tube. It also improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms. It is a polymucosacharide that promotes healing when cells are damaged and improves hydration so the cell wall has integrity.
Myrrh – Known well in the Middle East for aiding with intestinal diseases associated with barrier defects of the cell wall and helps decrease inflammation.
Saffron – Has been called “the Golden Spice with therapeutic properties for digestive diseases”. It has anti-inflammatory properties, counters infection and is an anti-oxidant that stops free radical damage to the cell wall. It relieves gas and indigestion. When it comes into direct skin contact it helps increase infection-fighting white blood cells.
Senna – This does the “moving along” theme for digestion. Clinical trials observe that senna alters the whole-gut for transit time. Many laxatives have senna as a main ingredient. Bitter in taste, it is usually mixed with other herbs. It mainly uses anthraquinone glycosides, which cause intestinal muscles to contract strongly. Not recommended for children.
Camphor – The stem and root of the camphor laurel tree reduces oxidative stress in helping organs of digestion- i.e. the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Research has shown it has antihyperglycemic properties. Also used as a cold remedy and pain reliever. It can numb the skin, cool it and increase blood flow.
Chinese Rhubarb – This herb is an anti-bacterial, anti-fibrotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory. It has been proven to regulate gastrointestinal flora. It can protect the intestinal mucosal barrier. Chinese rhubarb also has a mild laxative effect and helps with gastrointestinal motility disorders. Recent research shows notable results of a metabolic effect of rhubarb in the human digestive system. It has a role in the onset of gut dysfunction that is pivotal to help with intestinal inflammation and protecting the gut wall barrier from damage.
Zedoary – (curcuma zedoaria) A close relative of curcuma longa, also known as curcumin or turmeric, which has been given much study. It seems to have many pharmacological effects, reducing inflammation and in interactions with the gut microbiome.
Manna – Biological study has revealed it as an antimicrobial, antioxidative, and a preventative of photodynamic damage prevention for wound healing. It is also anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-viral.
Ginger – Suppresses nausea, even that related to elevation or motion sickness. It reduces inflammation and activates the flow of saliva and other digestive juices. It also contains bitter components, vitamins A and B, minerals, fats, protein and fiber to promote digestion.
Carline Thistle – The root of carline thistle, used in folk medicine in the Carpathian Mountains in the Ukrainian-Polish border area. It seems capable of preventing and treating disease. Milk thistle tea also can aid digestion with powerful effects on the liver and gall bladder.
Angelica root – Has been tested and found to prevent “gastric mucosal damage and promotes ulcer healing”. Regenerating gastric epithelial cells is the key to ‘fix’ damaged stomach mucosa cells.
Fennel -relieves digestion ailments like bloating, stomach pain, flatulence. Also good for stubborn cases of coughing, lung problems, and sinus relief. It has the anise flavor of licorice. A tea can be made using 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds steeped in 1 cup boiling water for ten minutes. Crushed seeds give a more bitter taste than uncrushed. The taste and effect are similar to licorice.
Licorice – Valued as a tonic for stomach ailments, it sooths gastric mucous membranes and regulates blood sugar levels. It’s an anti-inflammatory to relieve arthritis and allergy symptoms, is a potent expectorant, eases spastic coughs and congestion. It’s fifty times sweeter than sugar, so it is used in bitter medicines. It can raise blood pressure, but most candy made in the USA is made with anise oil, and contains no licorice at all.
Fenugreek – A healing herb for skin and stomach, seeds ground into a paste heals boils. It also helps with abscesses, swollen lymph nodes, and skin inflammations. It can protect the mucous membrane of the stomach and relieve gastric irritations. It can quiet coughs, lower blood sugar and cholesterol, and sooths respiratory membranes.
Slippery Elm – Taken from tree bark, this also can help fevers, colds, and indigestion. Removes toxins from mucous membranes and helps sooth the linings of digestive organs as well as the throat. It has procyanidins, which have antiseptic and antiallergenic actions. It also has tannins, which have nutritive, laxative and emollient effects. It lubricates the gastrointestinal tract, relieving gastritis, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Oddly, there was mention of eating slippery-elm porridge to increase strength for those recovering from an illness or those with sensitive digestion. This can even be given to infants and small children, flavor it with honey or cinnamon, etc.
Thyme – This herb treats wounds, respiratory, and gastrointestinal. Faintly bitter and very pungent, it has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions. The antispasmodic action of the oil helps relieve stomachaches, diarrhea, and intestinal cramping. The warming effect of thymol increases blood circulation and alleviates pain and joint inflammation for gout and arthritis.
Theriac (Venetian) and Carline were also mentioned as ingredients but I couldn’t find much information on them. Various recipes are online, but I think buying Underberg or Swedish Bitters would be a better and more convenient choice.
Herbal aids for digestion… help digestion with their bitter taste, according to many sources. There’s a digestive aid product rarely mentioned and never advertised called Swedish Bitters, also called Schwedenkrauter, there’s also another one like it, named Underberg. Some would argue coffee after dinner is an example. These concoctions are on the shelves of well-stocked natural food stores around the USA. It is typically sold in small bottles, in a four or six-pack. The tiny screw on lid lets you adjust your dose individually.
Two main concepts are an important part of helping your digestion: food must be liquefied and moved out of the stomach. Literally, food has to get liquid and ‘moving along’ or it creates gas, and if it’s in the stomach too long, the acid digestive juices have more time to damage the lining of the stomach. A fairly obvious tip here is to chew the food very well, which will also add saliva juices to the digestive process. The bitter herbs in the Schwedenkrauter seem to aid in both those two main goals but they also have a healing effect on the actual lining of the gut tube. The food you eat travels in a contiguous tube, this is what I refer to as the gut tube. The cells that line the gut tube need to be healthy and cling together in a tight cell wall lining. Let me describe the main ingredients in some common herbal digestive aids and give each one a little description of its known effect.
Aloe Vera – Yes, the same as what is put in skin lotions. The type of cell lining on the skin (epithelial cells) is the same for the lining of the gut tube. What helps your skin helps the gut tube. It also improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms. It is a polymucosacharide that promotes healing when cells are damaged and improves hydration so the cell wall has integrity.
Myrrh – Known well in the Middle East for aiding with intestinal diseases associated with barrier defects of the cell wall and helps decrease inflammation.
Saffron – Has been called “the Golden Spice with therapeutic properties for digestive diseases”. It has anti-inflammatory properties, counters infection and is an anti-oxidant that stops free radical damage to the cell wall. It relieves gas and indigestion. When it comes into direct skin contact it helps increase infection-fighting white blood cells.
Senna – This does the “moving along” theme for digestion. Clinical trials observe that senna alters the whole-gut for transit time. Many laxatives have senna as a main ingredient. Bitter in taste, it is usually mixed with other herbs. It mainly uses anthraquinone glycosides, which cause intestinal muscles to contract strongly. Not recommended for children.
Camphor – The stem and root of the camphor laurel tree reduces oxidative stress in helping organs of digestion- i.e. the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Research has shown it has antihyperglycemic properties. Also used as a cold remedy and pain reliever. It can numb the skin, cool it and increase blood flow.
Chinese Rhubarb – This herb is an anti-bacterial, anti-fibrotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory. It has been proven to regulate gastrointestinal flora. It can protect the intestinal mucosal barrier. Chinese rhubarb also has a mild laxative effect and helps with gastrointestinal motility disorders. Recent research shows notable results of a metabolic effect of rhubarb in the human digestive system. It has a role in the onset of gut dysfunction that is pivotal to help with intestinal inflammation and protecting the gut wall barrier from damage.
Zedoary – (curcuma zedoaria) A close relative of curcuma longa, also known as curcumin or turmeric, which has been given much study. It seems to have many pharmacological effects, reducing inflammation and in interactions with the gut microbiome.
Manna – Biological study has revealed it as an antimicrobial, antioxidative, and a preventative of photodynamic damage prevention for wound healing. It is also anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-viral.
Ginger – Suppresses nausea, even that related to elevation or motion sickness. It reduces inflammation and activates the flow of saliva and other digestive juices. It also contains bitter components, vitamins A and B, minerals, fats, protein and fiber to promote digestion.
Carline Thistle – The root of carline thistle, used in folk medicine in the Carpathian Mountains in the Ukrainian-Polish border area. It seems capable of preventing and treating disease. Milk thistle tea also can aid digestion with powerful effects on the liver and gall bladder.
Angelica root – Has been tested and found to prevent “gastric mucosal damage and promotes ulcer healing”. Regenerating gastric epithelial cells is the key to ‘fix’ damaged stomach mucosa cells.
Fennel -relieves digestion ailments like bloating, stomach pain, flatulence. Also good for stubborn cases of coughing, lung problems, and sinus relief. It has the anise flavor of licorice. A tea can be made using 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds steeped in 1 cup boiling water for ten minutes. Crushed seeds give a more bitter taste than uncrushed. The taste and effect are similar to licorice.
Licorice – Valued as a tonic for stomach ailments, it sooths gastric mucous membranes and regulates blood sugar levels. It’s an anti-inflammatory to relieve arthritis and allergy symptoms, is a potent expectorant, eases spastic coughs and congestion. It’s fifty times sweeter than sugar, so it is used in bitter medicines. It can raise blood pressure, but most candy made in the USA is made with anise oil, and contains no licorice at all.
Fenugreek – A healing herb for skin and stomach, seeds ground into a paste heals boils. It also helps with abscesses, swollen lymph nodes, and skin inflammations. It can protect the mucous membrane of the stomach and relieve gastric irritations. It can quiet coughs, lower blood sugar and cholesterol, and sooths respiratory membranes.
Slippery Elm – Taken from tree bark, this also can help fevers, colds, and indigestion. Removes toxins from mucous membranes and helps sooth the linings of digestive organs as well as the throat. It has procyanidins, which have antiseptic and antiallergenic actions. It also has tannins, which have nutritive, laxative and emollient effects. It lubricates the gastrointestinal tract, relieving gastritis, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Oddly, there was mention of eating slippery-elm porridge to increase strength for those recovering from an illness or those with sensitive digestion. This can even be given to infants and small children, flavor it with honey or cinnamon, etc.
Thyme – This herb treats wounds, respiratory, and gastrointestinal. Faintly bitter and very pungent, it has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions. The antispasmodic action of the oil helps relieve stomachaches, diarrhea, and intestinal cramping. The warming effect of thymol increases blood circulation and alleviates pain and joint inflammation for gout and arthritis.
Theriac (Venetian) and Carline were also mentioned as ingredients but I couldn’t find much information on them. Various recipes are online, but I think buying Underberg or Swedish Bitters would be a better and more convenient choice.
