Herbal Bitters

What is Herbal Bitters? 
Herbal Bitters is a powerful digestive support formula designed to optimize healthy digestion and help reduce occasional gastrointestinal discomfort after meals.* It contains a blend of extracts from gentian, dandelion, lemon balm, fennel, and ginger. These herbs support the timely passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract by stimulating proper contraction of the stomach muscles and facilitating entry of food into the small intestine. They also promote secretion of the body’s own digestive enzymes, and support a healthy inflammatory response.

What are the benefits of Herbal Bitters? 
Herbal Bitters may be beneficial for optimizing healthy digestion and reducing symptoms of occasional gastrointestinal discomfort after meals, such as gas, bloating, and excessive fullness. Herbal Bitters is an ideal substitute for those who cannot take supplements that stimulate gastric juices (ex: Betaine with Pepsin), and those looking for a vegan/vegetarian digestive enzyme support formula.

What is the recommended dose? 
The recommended dose is one to two capsules, three times per day.

When should I take it? 
This supplement should be taken with meals, at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Can it be taken with thyroid medications? 
Herbal Bitters should be taken at least 30 to 60 minutes away from thyroid medications. The lemon balm in this formulation has previously been studied for its thyroid hormone-reducing properties in hyperthyroidism, so it has not been recommended in hypothyroidism. However, recent studies show that lemon balm may have thyroid modulating effects. (2) Testing your thyroid hormone levels every 30-90 days to see if a medication adjustment is needed, is recommended.

How long can I take Herbal Bitters for? 
Herbal Bitters can be taken for three months to two years.

Are there any side effects that I should be aware of when taking Herbal Bitters?
Herbal bitters may increase appetite, cause dizziness, nausea, belching, dry mouth, dry retching, vomiting, oral numbness, burning sensation, sedation, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, “chilly hot” sensation of the tongue or throat, heartburn, photosensitivity, allergic reactions, and/or wheezing (rare).

Consult with a physician before use if pregnant or breastfeeding.

DO NOT TAKE if taking the following medications: anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs, antidiabetic drugs, antihypertensive drugs, blood thinners, ciprofloxacin, CNS depressants, contraceptive drugs, cytochrome P450 substrates (1A2, 3A4), estrogens, glucuronidated drugs, lithium, losartan, metronidazole, nifedipine, phenprocoumon, potassium-sparing diuretics, quinolone antibiotics, tamoxifen, and/or thyroid hormone+.

+The lemon balm in this formulation has previously been studied for its thyroid hormone-reducing properties in hyperthyroidism, so it has not been recommended in hypothyroidism. However, recent studies show that lemon balm may have thyroid modulating effects. (2)

1. Natural Medicines Therapeutic Research Collaboration. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/. Accessed March 1, 2022.
2. Abdel-Aziz M. STUDY ON THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF MELISSA OFFICINALIS (LEMON BALM) ON MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS WITH INDUCED-HYPOTHYROIDISM. Al-Azhar Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2018;57(1):1-17. doi:10.21608/ajps.2018.46618