By Melissa Ross


Bitter is a word commonly associated with pain, anger, reactivity, resentment and disagreement, among other related negative connotation. It sounds unreasonable that food with such a name could offer any health benefits. The benefits Swedish bitters offer spread to both the body and mind. They include correction of conditions and ailments as well as preventing affliction by others.

Bitter is a concoction that brings together natural herbs such as aloe vera, angelica, myrrh, bark and roots in different proportions. There are different flavors depending on branding. The primary use of this concoction is to alleviate digestive problems. This includes discomfort resulting from excessive fullness or bloating. It helps the body to produce digestive acids and enzymes to speed breaking down of food.

The application of bitter on the skin after a suspected insect bite helps to relief the pain. The application may be direct or with a little compressing pressure. This application soothes away the irritation and ensures that the wound is not infected. It acts as a disinfectant. For the best results, bitter should be applied while the bite is still very fresh.

Bitters are also used as gargle to sooth or relief throat infection. It helps to minimize hoarseness enabling you to perform ordinary functions related to speech. About three tablespoons are added into a glass of water and used to gargle. When not gargling, half a teaspoon is added to a cup of tea and taken either thirty minutes before or after meals. You might need to take as many as six cups of tea for full recovery.

When used as a mouth wash, bitter soothes tooth ache and blisters. The concoction is prepared by adding a single tea spoon of bitter into a glass of water or tea. The mixture is taken three times a day to provide relief against tooth ache. A cotton wad may be soaked in bitter and placed directly on the affected tooth. The taste is bitter but it comes with immediate relief.

The benefits of using bitters extend to include relieving heart burns. It has been proven to ensure balance in body sugar levels as well as curb craving for sugar. It helps the body to effectively absorb fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. Besides normalizing bowel movement, bitter eases constipation and ensures that your appetite is balanced at all times.

Manufacturers provide instructions on how bitter should be used. These instructions must be adhered to. This protects the body from the side effects of misuse. Bitter produces a laxative effect and should thus not be used by persons experiencing diarrhea. For people with liver or stomach problems, bitter should only be taken under the direction of your health specialist. Bitter should only be taken over a short period of time. Prolonged use may case intestinal complications because some ingredients cause the walls to wear out.

Pregnant women are advised against using bitter. It may cause uterine bleeding and even miscarriage. Nursing mothers are also discouraged from consuming bitter. The ingredients may affect milk production or cause secondary side effects to the suckling child. Individual herbs are also effective in dealing with allergies, chicken pox, eye strains and other conditions. Seek the guidance of a health specialist before using bitters.




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