Swedish bitters are a mystery wrapped, real-time potion that originate in Northern Europe, they seem to have the ability to heal many maladies, but they are not well known in our western world. So, what even are Swedish bitters and what do they do?
What Swedish Bitters Are: Swedish bitters are tinctures made from medicinal herbs and a strong alcohol that helps extract the benefits of the plants. The remedy can also be made without alcohol. This herbal tonic has a bitter taste; the taste itself affects our bodies.
What Swedish Bitters Do: Receiving a bitter taste helps fighting symptoms of some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, heaviness in the stomach, bloating, heartburn, constipation, etc.).
Bitters can be taken for problems in the digestive tract, for the cleansing of liver and blood and to normalize metabolism. It has recently been used as an effective candida treatment. Bitters are also helpful in the treatment of allergies, skin conditions and some hemorrhoids. The tonic mix reduces inflammation helping those who suffer arthritis, swollen joints, and sprains.
Bitters are normally taken in very small doses — just enough to evoke a strong taste of bitterness. Kerry Bone, a respected Western herbalist, suggests 5 to 10 drops of a 1:5 tincture of the above herbs taken in 20 mL of water.
Typical herbs used in Western and Chinese “bitter” medicine
- Barberry bark
- Caraway
- Dandelion
- Fennel
- Gentian root
- Ginger
- Globe artichoke
- Goldenseal root
- Hops
- Milk thistle
- Peppermint
- Wormwood
- Yellow dock
Find out more at wellbeingherbs.com
How to make your own swedish bitters:
What you’ll need
- Angelica archangelica: garden angelica or wild celery
- Aloe Vera
- Lycopodium: ground pines
- Pimpinella
- Carlina acaulis
- Veronica officinalis
- Althaea
- Gentiana lutea: yellow gentian or bitter root
- Acorus Calamus: sweet flag
- Cinnamomum camphora: camphor tree
- Viscum album: mistletoe
- Commiphora
- Juglandaceae: walnut tree
- Rheum rhabarbarum: rhubarb
- Carthamus tinctorius: safflower
- Senna
- Ginkgo biloba: ginkgo or maidenhair tree
- Theriaca: Theriac
- Potentilla erecta: common tormentil
- Artemisia absinthium: absinthe wormwood
- Curcuma zedoaria: turmeric or kentjur
1 tbsp beet sugar
1L high-grade vodka
Preparation with Alcohol
- Combine a tablespoon of all the herbs, sugar and bottle of vodka in a jar. The jar should be able to be shut with a lid. Avoid the sugar if diabetic.
- Close the jar with its lid and store in a dark place for 20 days. Every day the mixture should be stirred with a wooden spoon.
- After 20 days strain the mixture through a cheesecloth. The balm should be kept in a dark bottle in dark place. It will be good for up to 36 months.
Alcohol-Free Preparation
- Mix the herbs used above in a bowl. Use about 2 tablespoons of the herb mix.
- Boil 5 cups of water and mix with the 2 tbsp of herbs.
- Stir frequently, and when it’s cooled store it in a fridge.
- Add two tablespoons of the cooled bitters tea into a cup of boiled warm water and drink twice per day. You can also mix the bitters tea with a juice using same proportions.
- The shelf life of the Swedish Bitters tea is about 3–5 days, so do not make too much.
Uses
For prevention and immune support, purposes add a few tablespoons of bitters to coffee or tea and drink daily. This actually makes a very tasty drink and is ideal for the winter months. Drinks like this are popular in Scandinavian countries to heat up and strengthen the immune system.
For candida and digestion issues: It is recommended that each individual take a teaspoon of Swedish Bitters 2–4 times daily before each meal.
Gastric bloating, and heartburn: take 1 teaspoon of Swedish Bitters 30 minutes before and 30 after the meals.
Healthy Digestion: take 1 teaspoon of Swedish Bitters 30 minutes before each meal, but no more than 3 times per day.
Skin Infections and rashes: Soak a cotton ball in Swedish bitters and apply to infected area.
Tonsillitis: Mix 2 tbsp of bitters with 1 cup of warm water and gurgle.
Hemorrhoids: apply diluted Swedish Bitters several times a day to the affected area. Before bedtime, soak a cotton ball in a diluted Swedish Bitters Mix with water and secure it to the affected area.
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