Page 36 - Winter2010

complex starches into smaller and more easily digested oligosaccha- esophageal sphincter to prevent the movement of
rides. 2,3,11 acidic stomach contents upwards into the esopha-
In the stomach, the hormone gastrin has stimulated the secretion of gus. 2,3,11 Self-repair mechanisms in the intestinal
hydrochloric acid. 2,3,11 The acidity helps break down protein, enhances the wall are stimulated, enhancing cell division and
bioavailability of many minerals (especially calcium) and destroys any growth. While many people with GERD are
3,11
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harmful microbes present in your food. It’s interesting to note that more hesitant to partake of bitters due to the potential
people have levels of gastric acid that are too low rather than the opposite, increase in stomach acidity, the combined effect
11
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due to stress or simply aging. Low levels of gastric acid contribute to of these actions actually can help this condition
poor nutrition and increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal infections. by ensuring that the stomach contents are moved
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Considered cooling by nature, bitters can reduce hot inflammatory downward rather than allowed to reflux back up
conditions. and out of the stomach. Bitters also act to heal
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Interestingly, low stomach acidity is associated with a variety of al- any damage done to the gastric mucosa. 11
lergic and immune-mediated disorders, including asthma; skin disorders Down in the small intestine, the stimula-
2,14
such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea; gallbladder disease and arthritis. tion caused by the bitter taste prompts your
Gastrin also stimulates secretion of pepsin—an enzyme necessary for liver to increase its production of bile, and your
breaking large protein molecules into smaller parts—and intrinsic factor, gallbladder to increase bile excretion. 2,3,11 Bile is
necessary for the absorption of vitamin B . necessary for fat digestion and the absorption of
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The smooth muscle of the stomach is also stimulated by the bitter fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D and
reflex, which increases the rate of gastric emptying, and contracts the E. Healthy bile flow helps rid the liver of waste
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COMMON BITTER HERBS
As noted above, some bitter herbs may surprise you. yet, their classification is based on taste and as with the other
primary tastes — salty, sour, and sweet — there are degrees of bitterness. As an introduction, here are 10 to ponder:
ANGELICA: Angelica archangelica. Dating back centuries, it’s been used to remedy colds and ailments such as rheuma-
tism. Its properties make it a stimulant, stomachic, and tonic. For liquors, it’s been used to flavor gin.
CHAMOMILE: Matricaria chamomilla. A mild bitter herb used as a sedative and antispasmodic. Its curative properties
include relief of both fever and restlessness.

DANDELION: Taraxacum. A mild bitter herb used as a blood cleanser and diuretic. Also said to lower cholesterol and
blood pressure. Still used in traditional cooking in the Mediterranean and parts of Asia.

GOLDENSEAL: Hydrastis canadensis. A strong bitter herb used to stimulate appetite and eliminate infections. In Col-
lections for an Essay Toward a Materia Medica of the United States (1804), Professor Benjamin Smith Barton declared
goldenseal a tonic, observing, “The root of the plant is a very powerful bitter.”
HOREHOUND: Marrubium vulgare. Dating back to Ancient Egypt, horehound is believed to be one of the original bit-
ter herbs of the Bible. It has been used for colds and respiratory ailments (such as in cough syrup and throat lozenges).
MILK THISTLE: Silybum marianum. Also known as “sow-thistle,” this herb was likely one of the original bitter herbs. In
healing, it’s known as a powerful liver detoxifier, as well as an antidote for Amanita-mushroom poisoning.

PEPPERMINT: Mentha piperita. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote of peppermint, “The very smell of it alone recov-
ers and refreshes the spirit.” The ancient herb is used as a flavor, a fragrance, and medicine. Peppermint oil is used to
allay nausea and stomach aches.
RUE: Ruta. A strong bitter herb used as an antispasmodic, a sedative, and a mild stomachic. Mentioned in the Bible
as “peganon” and in William Shakespeare’s Richard III — “Here is this place/I’ll set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace.”
WORMWOOD: Artemisia absinthium. A perennial plant used as an antiseptic, tonic, diuretic, and stomachic. The herb’s
strong bitter taste is still used in wines and spirits, such as vermouth.
yARROW: Achilles millefolium. A flowering plant that produces a mild bitter herb used as an astringent and cold remedy.
The entire herb can be used. Source: http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/List_of_Bitter_Herbs

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