Digestive Bitters?

[brooklinebiker]

Hi everyone,
I am interested in experimenting with digestive bitters. Can anyone recommend a brand that is safe for someone on the Paleo AIP diet? Alternatively, can anyone rceomend a recipe for bitters that would comply with the Paleo AIP diet?
Thanks!

[rheagan]

Urban Moonshine makes a chamomile one that is AIP compliant other than the alcohol. I think the alcohol might be a problem you'll run into with a lot of pre-made bitters. I have heard that tea made from the same bitter ingredients (dandelion root, burdock root, orange peel, hibiscus blooms, yellow dock root, etc.) can also be effective.

[brooklinebiker]

Thanks rheagan! This is super helpful.

[gabby]

I read my herbal  The New Holistic Herbal, by David Hoffman, here are the main pointers.

Bitter herbs are Barberry, Boneset, Chamomile, Centuary, Gentian, Golden Seal, Hops, Rue, Southernwood, Tansy, White Horehound and Wormwood. The undelines are particularly potent.

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) parts used Bark of root or stem.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) parts used dried aerial parts
Chamomile (both Anthemus nobile - Garden Chamomile and Martricaria chamomila - German Chamomile) parts used the flowers
Centuary (Centaurium erythraea) parts used died aerial parts
Gentian (Gentiana lutea) parts used the dried rhizome or root
Golden Seal (Hydrastis canadensis) part used Root and rhizome
Hops (Humulus lupulus) parts used flower inflorescence
Rue (Ruta gravolens) parts used dried aerial parts
Southernwood (Artimisia abrotanum) parts used aerial parts
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) parts used aerial parts
White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) parts used dried leaves and flowering tops
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum) parts used leaves or flowering tops (gathered at the end of the flowering period so i guess seeds might be present so perhaps skip this unless you gather your own earlier and then it may not have full potency)

I judge from the comment about alcohol that bitters are normally a tincture. Tinctures can be made with apple cider vinegar.  120g of dried herbs (if fresh used double the quantity) 500ml ACV and seal tightly, keep in a warm place and shake twice a day for 2 weeks. Strain and squeeze out liquid.  Store in a dark glass bottle.  Take between 5-15 drops per dose.

Noteworthy is that the bitter herbs are useless unless they come in contact with the tastebuds, so perhaps get a purchased bitters and pretent like you are wine tasting and spit

There is a whole chapter on digestion and there is lots of info. I like this book and only recently googled to see if he has updated his science since my edition was released in 1999.  He has a whole website that I now need to trawl through!!!

[brooklinebiker]

Hi Gabby,
Thanks again for providing a detailed post with good information in it.