Bitters are a group of natural substances that give plants a bitter taste. They are found in many medicinal and food plants, such as gentian (Gentiana), mugwort (Artemisia), dandelion (Taraxacum) and many others. Bitters have a wide range of biological properties and are often used in medicine and pharmaceuticals.
The main effect of bitters is to stimulate digestion. The bitter taste irritates the receptors on the tongue, which reflexively increases the secretion of saliva, gastric juice and bile. This helps to improve appetite, stimulates intestinal peristalsis and facilitates the digestion of food. Bitters also have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and hepatoprotective properties.
In medicine, bitters are used as part of gastric drops, tinctures and herbal preparations to treat digestive disorders, heartburn and loss of appetite. However, their use should be dosed, since excessive amounts can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.