St. Francis Canadian Bitters - 250ml

CANADIAN BITTERS - "YOU ARE WHAT YOU DIGEST"

Canadian Bitters is probably the most iconic and best known of all our formulas. Herbal bitters are an extremely valuable aid in maintaining good health, so much so that the appropriate rule of thumb may not so much be "you are what you eat" as important this is but rather, "you are what you digest". By enhancing secretions of the liver, pancreas, stomach, and small intestine, bitters revitalize a whole range of digestive functions and provide rich enzyme catalysts, which improve nutrient absorption. If you have trouble with flatulent dyspepsia gas, burping, bloating and indigestion you'll derive tremendous benefit from Canadian Bitters.

A great and vital formula, Canadian Bitters also helps with cholesterol build-up, hyper lipidaemia, constipation, digestive distress, and sluggish elimination, which is often the result of reduced secretions by the digestive organs and small intestine. As an added bonus, it protects the liver from toxins.

BITTERS

Digestive bitters are some of the oldest medicines in a number of different cultures around the world. There are a large number of bitters available, and each has additional health benefits that are unique to the herb in question. In general, digestive bitters can promote healthy appetite and digestion, as well as reduce a number of symptoms of poor digestion such as: gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and heartburn.

How Do They Work?

Digestive bitters are herbs that have constituents that taste exactly how the name implies. This bitter taste stimulates certain receptors in the mouth, located on our taste buds. Once the receptors are stimulated, it causes a signal to be sent to the brain that activates all digestive functions at once. First, salivation increases, flooding the mouth with saliva. Then, this signal also causes increased stomach acid production, and stimulates the stomach to begin its digestive motions. This results in the movement of any gas inside, and creates the all-to-familiar rumbling in your stomach and sensation of hunger. After stimulating these early digestive functions, the brain also signals the release of bile and pancreatic juices, into the small intestine. These allow for the proper digestion of fat, carbohydrate and protein.

Improved Digestion

Because digestive bitters help to promote healthy digestion, they can help treat a number of problems associated with sluggish digestion including: incomplete protein digestion, fatty stools, gas, bloating, and constipation. Sufficient stomach acid is required for proper protein digestion, and proper absorption of B12 and iron. Anemia (pale skin, dizziness, and fatigue), and ridges in the nails are common signs of insufficient stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). For more information on healthy digestion, please click here. Digestive enzymes properly break down all of our food and insufficient amounts leaves undigested food in our guts that our gut bacteria digest instead, creating gas and toxins that can cause bloating, and constipation or diarrhea.

Increased Bile Release

They also promote increased secretion of bile from the liver, thus helping the liver to flush out excess waste such as cholesterol and toxins. This can also help to flush the gallbladder and reduce the risk of developing gallstones. Many bitter herbs are also able to help fight infections and kill parasites and can be used in formulas to help prevent and treat infection. Individual bitter herbs may have additional benefits unique to their constituents.

Herbs That Act As Digestive Bitters

There are a large number of herbs with bitter properties that can act as digestive bitters. Some of the most well known, and widely used digestive bitters are listed below:

Artichoke: The fibre known as inulin is found in globe Artichoke, which can act as an excellent food source for probiotics to help protect the gut. Artichoke has also been found to act as a digestive bitter, and help to protect the liver and lower blood cholesterol levels.

Burdock: An herb that can help to restore the body to its proper functioning, Burdock is a blood purifier, digestive bitter, antimicrobial, and anti-cell growth agent.

Dandelion: The roots and leaves of dandelion both have health benefits, but it is the roots that provide digestive benefits and bitter properties. The leaves can act to cleanse the urinary tract.

Gentian: This herb contains a constituent that may be the most bitter-tasting compound known to date. It is well established as a bitter herb that is excellent at stimulating digestion and can also help to fight infection.

Goldenseal: Berberines are found in high concentration in this herb that is also known as the "king of the mucous membranes". Goldenseal is a potent bitter that is also an effective antimicrobial that can treat a number of infections and bowel conditions.

Wormwood: Although this herb is best known for its traditional use in the spirit absinthe, it is also used to help treat parasite infections and to promote healthy digestion.

Yarrow: Originally used to stop the bleeding of battle wounds, it can also be used as a sedative, anti-inflammatory, digestive bitter, antispasmodic and tonic. It has been shown to help regulate female hormones, slow bleeding, prevent infection, and potentially support optimal cell growth.

Combination Formulas: There are a number of bitter combination formulas that have different combinations of the above herbs and/or other bitter herbs. Many of these are based on long traditions in the region of their production. One particularly common example of this is Swedish Bitters, which is a digestive and general tonic that has been used for hundreds of years. There are also a number of cultures that offer bitter digest if liqueurs traditionally taken after a meal. There are also many liver formulas created using digestive bitters, as many of these herbs cross over to have liver-cleansing properties as well.

How Can I Take Bitters?

It is the taste of the herbs that triggers the response from the brain causing increased secretion of digestive juices. Thus, in order to help with digestion, bitter herbs must be tasted, like when you take them in a tincture, liqueur, or tea. Encapsulated herbs are swallowed, thus bypassing the taste buds, and will not stimulate digestion. Bitter herbs can often be found in digestion and liver formulas, as well as formulas for weight loss and constipation.

BENEFITS OF TICTURES

Capsules, soft gels and tablets are very popular. Tinctures, however, have many advantages over these modes of delivery. The bio-availability of tinctures is very high in comparison, because unlike pills tinctures don't rely on digestion to break them down. Tinctures are readily absorbed by the body, beginning their work in the bloodstream almost as soon as they enter the mouth. Which is a very significant benefit. Note also that:
- Tinctures can be applied externally as well as internally
- Tinctures can be stored for long periods of time, even years, without loss of effectiveness
- Tinctures can be taken relatively accurately because they are administered in drops

Why Are Tinctures Alcohol-Based?

Not only is the alcohol in St. Francis tinctures indispensable for extracting the active ingredients of an herb, it is also needed to stabilize and preserve them. As well as limiting microbial activity, alcohol has the ability to inhibit enzymatic or hydrolytic reactions in plant extracts.

Alcohol plays the role of a carrier substance conveying active ingredients within the body. Beyond that, it has been scientifically proven that small amounts of alcohol actually enhance the immune system and its defenses.

The amount of alcohol taken in an average dose of tincture, you'll be surprised to learn, is about the same as what you'd find in an overly ripe banana!