Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Bitter principles, also known as bitters, refer to a class of plant-based compounds that have a distinctly bitter taste and are commonly found in herbs such as gentian, dandelion, and wormwood. The use of bitters to support digestion and gastrointestinal health, including symptoms now classified as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), has a long tradition in European and Asian herbal medicine. Their historical use is based on the belief that the bitter taste stimulates digestive secretions, enhances appetite, and improves gut motility.

However, while bitters have centuries of traditional use for "dyspepsia," "indigestion," and "sluggish digestion," the direct application to IBS is less clearly documented in historical texts, as IBS is a modern medical diagnosis. Some traditional texts describe the use of bitters for symptoms like bloating, flatulence, and irregular bowel movements, which overlap with IBS.

Scientific evidence for the use of bitters in IBS specifically is limited. A few small studies suggest that bitters can increase saliva and gastric juice production, supporting digestion in general, but robust clinical trials for IBS are lacking. Systematic reviews and clinical guidelines do not currently endorse bitters as a first-line or evidence-based therapy for IBS. Thus, their use for IBS is justified mostly by tradition, with modest supporting evidence for general digestive benefit but not specifically for IBS.

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