Comments on: Terms of the Trade 4: Bitters http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html Traditional Western Herbalism with Kiva Rose Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:31:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bittersweet Ponderings « Treehouse Jukebox: Adventures In Earth http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-2557 Bittersweet Ponderings « Treehouse Jukebox: Adventures In Earth Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:24:03 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-2557 [...] I understand that we would do well to eat more bitters. I wonder if it could help us spiritually, as [...] [...] I understand that we would do well to eat more bitters. I wonder if it could help us spiritually, as [...]

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-2293 Kiva Rose Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:22:57 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-2293 Glad you enjoyed it Bill! I tend to think the homemade bitters will be better than the pre-packaged ones (and cheaper too) but I'm glad they're available to the general public. Glad you enjoyed it Bill!

I tend to think the homemade bitters will be better than the pre-packaged ones (and cheaper too) but I’m glad they’re available to the general public.

]]> By: Bill http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-2288 Bill Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:53:44 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-2288 Germany and I immagine much of Europe has bitters in bottles. My mother-in-law had over 40 bottles (many of them large) of different types of bitters from the German speaking areas of Europe, including north Italy, that she never used. I don't know why she bought them and never used them. There is a large supply of health bitters on hand, if you feel the need, and are willing to search. If you do, get bath oils too. This has been a very good article. I can now find my elbow with both hands. Thanks. Bill Germany and I immagine much of Europe has bitters in bottles. My mother-in-law had over 40 bottles (many of them large) of different types of bitters from the German speaking areas of Europe, including north Italy, that she never used. I don’t know why she bought them and never used them. There is a large supply of health bitters on hand, if you feel the need, and are willing to search. If you do, get bath oils too.
This has been a very good article. I can now find my elbow with both hands. Thanks.
Bill

]]> By: The Medicine Woman’s Roots » Bitters Blogparty http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1885 The Medicine Woman’s Roots » Bitters Blogparty Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:03:42 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1885 [...] already discussed some of the benefits and actions of bitters in a previous post, and here I want to provide some hints on telling when a particular plant might [...] [...] already discussed some of the benefits and actions of bitters in a previous post, and here I want to provide some hints on telling when a particular plant might [...]

]]> By: Vicky http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1509 Vicky Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:52:40 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1509 Do you have any tips for helping my picky eaters enjoy bitters? My husband believes that healthy = bad tasting. My four-year-old used to eat a varied diet, but over the past year she has developed a sensitivity to certain flavors and textures. She'll eat the occasional raw leaf, but if I cook up a mess of greens, she won't even look at them. Do you have any tips for helping my picky eaters enjoy bitters? My husband believes that healthy = bad tasting. My four-year-old used to eat a varied diet, but over the past year she has developed a sensitivity to certain flavors and textures. She’ll eat the occasional raw leaf, but if I cook up a mess of greens, she won’t even look at them.

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1501 Kiva Rose Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:47:59 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1501 LOL, I guess I pee so much from my normal kidney deficiency issues (mostly when I fail to take my nettle seeds and oregon grape root) that I hardly notice the dandelion leaf effect when eating them (in infusion though? that's a whole 'nother story, peeing every ten minutes for the next two hours is downright annoying). That great though, the Salad Diuretic Index... you should do a post about that. Phooey though, I like my dandy leaf, but I DON'T enjoy the low blood pressure whatsoever (half a lifetime of periodic passing has left me with little tolerance for it either). All of this must be added to the ongoing bitter/alterative differentials I'm working on. I DO miss your posts though I know you're very busy. I'm glad you're around on the herblist and herbwifery forum though! And thank you, that does mean an awful lot coming from you! LOL, I guess I pee so much from my normal kidney deficiency issues (mostly when I fail to take my nettle seeds and oregon grape root) that I hardly notice the dandelion leaf effect when eating them (in infusion though? that’s a whole ‘nother story, peeing every ten minutes for the next two hours is downright annoying). That great though, the Salad Diuretic Index… you should do a post about that.

Phooey though, I like my dandy leaf, but I DON’T enjoy the low blood pressure whatsoever (half a lifetime of periodic passing has left me with little tolerance for it either). All of this must be added to the ongoing bitter/alterative differentials I’m working on.

I DO miss your posts though I know you’re very busy. I’m glad you’re around on the herblist and herbwifery forum though!

And thank you, that does mean an awful lot coming from you!

]]> By: Henriette http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1500 Henriette Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:09:19 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1500 Aye, dandy leaf is the most diuretic herb you'll find, hands-down - except perhaps for burdock leaf, which is a bitter, too, and which is just about as diuretic as dandy leaf. So make a dandy leaf salad and count how many of those you serve it to have to excuse themselves within the next 1.5 hours. That's your diuretic index, and dandy'll beat them all. (Of course I'm still reading. I'm too busy to write to my own blog, though, and my current setup isn't all that blog-update-friendly, and I feel I've said quite a lot already so finding new things to blog about isn't easy anymore -- you, however, should pretty please keep writing!) Aye, dandy leaf is the most diuretic herb you’ll find, hands-down – except perhaps for burdock leaf, which is a bitter, too, and which is just about as diuretic as dandy leaf.

So make a dandy leaf salad and count how many of those you serve it to have to excuse themselves within the next 1.5 hours. That’s your diuretic index, and dandy’ll beat them all.

(Of course I’m still reading. I’m too busy to write to my own blog, though, and my current setup isn’t all that blog-update-friendly, and I feel I’ve said quite a lot already so finding new things to blog about isn’t easy anymore — you, however, should pretty please keep writing!)

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1499 Kiva Rose Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:36:48 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1499 Hmm, you think that dandy leaf even in food is too diuretic? I'd have definitely thought so in medicine or beverage, but didn't think anyone could reasonably consume enough to actually lower the blood pressure. With burdock, I have noted that burdock root of commerce tends to be fairly sweet with a bitter aftertaste, but much wild burdock i've tasted (at least in the SW) is pretty bitter (but so are lots of things in the SW that aren't other places). The blood pressure thing still applies of course. Hmm, I'll edit accordingly.... Thanks for the note. Glad to know you're still reading. :) Hmm, you think that dandy leaf even in food is too diuretic? I’d have definitely thought so in medicine or beverage, but didn’t think anyone could reasonably consume enough to actually lower the blood pressure.

With burdock, I have noted that burdock root of commerce tends to be fairly sweet with a bitter aftertaste, but much wild burdock i’ve tasted (at least in the SW) is pretty bitter (but so are lots of things in the SW that aren’t other places). The blood pressure thing still applies of course.

Hmm, I’ll edit accordingly…. Thanks for the note.

Glad to know you’re still reading. :)

]]> By: Henriette http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1498 Henriette Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:06:00 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1498 I'll disagree with you on the "dandelion leaf or burdock root is a good bitter for anybody". 1) both are too diuretic for anybody with low blood pressure: Low blood pressure + dandelion or burdock = fainting spells ... not my idea of a Good Thing. Especially as the leaf of dandelion (and burdock) is even MORE diuretic than the root of either, which makes it very diuretic indeed. 2) burdock root isn't bitter, it's very very sweet. It's one of my fav roots (although difficult to dig) - but of course, it will pull that low blood pressure even lower. I’ll disagree with you on the “dandelion leaf or burdock root is a good bitter for anybody”.

1) both are too diuretic for anybody with low blood pressure:
Low blood pressure + dandelion or burdock = fainting spells … not my idea of a Good Thing.

Especially as the leaf of dandelion (and burdock) is even MORE diuretic than the root of either, which makes it very diuretic indeed.

2) burdock root isn’t bitter, it’s very very sweet. It’s one of my fav roots (although difficult to dig) – but of course, it will pull that low blood pressure even lower.

]]> By: Kiva Rose http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1491 Kiva Rose Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:04:05 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1491 Hi Matt... yes, you're right, coffee is likely western culture's most popular (and abused) bitter. For some people, especially those without pre-existing adrenal burnout, coffee can actually be a very helpful beverage for digestion and new evidence even indicates that it may be useful in the treatment of insulin resistance. Have you tried substituting some bitter herb, food or beverage for your normal coffee to see if that, in itself, would normalize your digestion? If so, you have a simple fix if you'd like to get away from coffee. Coffee is specifically an aromatic bitter with warming energy... Hoptree (Ptelea) while tasting nothing like coffee (besides being an aromatic bitter) and lacking any stimulant qualities can help the digestion in a potentially similar way. Hi Matt… yes, you’re right, coffee is likely western culture’s most popular (and abused) bitter. For some people, especially those without pre-existing adrenal burnout, coffee can actually be a very helpful beverage for digestion and new evidence even indicates that it may be useful in the treatment of insulin resistance.

Have you tried substituting some bitter herb, food or beverage for your normal coffee to see if that, in itself, would normalize your digestion? If so, you have a simple fix if you’d like to get away from coffee.

Coffee is specifically an aromatic bitter with warming energy… Hoptree (Ptelea) while tasting nothing like coffee (besides being an aromatic bitter) and lacking any stimulant qualities can help the digestion in a potentially similar way.

]]> By: Matt http://bearmedicineherbals.com/terms-of-the-trade-4-bitters.html/comment-page-1#comment-1490 Matt Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:48:20 +0000 http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=404#comment-1490 There is one bitter herb that is widely used in mainstream western culture: coffee. I would love for you to expound a bit on the digestive effects of coffee. Personally, I have progressed from caffeine addiction into a digestive addiction to coffee. Although I can tolerate caffeine withdrawal, my gut feels "off" for a long time without coffee. There is one bitter herb that is widely used in mainstream western culture: coffee. I would love for you to expound a bit on the digestive effects of coffee.

Personally, I have progressed from caffeine addiction into a digestive addiction to coffee. Although I can tolerate caffeine withdrawal, my gut feels “off” for a long time without coffee.

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