Herbal bitters, recipe for weight control, indigestion

FROM the young to the old, the use of herbal
bitters as a recipe for indigestion, weight control,
detoxifiers and antibacterial agents taken either
internally or externally, depending on the
manufacturer and treatment, is common.
Its long history and the belief that herbal
products are natural and safe makes herbal
bitters a ready alternative to turn to for
medical conditions ranging from weight
control, indigestion, tooth ache, insomnia
skin allergies to skin allergies.
Herbal bitters, originally formulated by
Paracelcus are available in various
formulations (both alcoholic and non-
alcoholic versions). It is known to generally
contain rhubarb root, aloe, saffron,
camphor, angelica root, zedvoary root,
carline thistle root, myrrh, senna leaves and
theriac venezia.
Phytochemical analysis shows that herbal
bitters contain complex carbohydrates,
alkaloids, vitamins and minerals that have
antioxidant, antiviral and antispasmodic
properties. These ingredients work together
to reduce inflammation, control pain, relax
muscles and improve digestion and
elimination as well as boost appetite in
some people.
However, starting from the common herb
planted at the back of the house to treat
malaria to herbal bitters , an age long
preparations that is marketed all over the
country with different trade names,
researchers are always concerned about the
long term side effects of all herbs and
herbal products.
U & D Sweet Bitter is a registered herbal
supplement prepared from roots, leaves,
flowers and fruits of different herbs. It is
one of the widely used and marketed herbal
bitters in Eastern Nigeria. The marketing
label acclaimed it is therapeutic in medical
conditions such as typhoid fever, malaria
and stomachache.
No doubt, the National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
the regulatory authorities involved in
ensuring safety of registered
pharmaceutical products in Nigeria has
certified it is safe based on the results of its
effects on kidney and liver function tests.
Unfortunately, findings of a 2008 study
published in Pakistan Journal of
Pharmaceutical Science indicated that it may
have toxic effect on the spleen, pancreas
and heart.
The researchers were from Abia State
University, College of Health Sciences, Uturu,
Abia State, Toxicology Unit, Department of
Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus,
Anambra State and Department of
Biochemistry, Federal University of
Technology, Minna, Niger State.
In the three month study, three groups of
albino rats (150-200g), 539, 1077 and
1616mg/kg aqueous extract of U & Dee
Sweet Bitter, were administered orally while
deionized water was given to the control
group. Animals had access to deionized
water and were fed ad libitum with rat
chow for 90 days.
The feed and fluid consumption of the
animals were measured on daily basis while
the body weight was measured weekly.
Animals were anaesthetized with ether after
90 days, bled sacrificed, heart, spleen and
pancreas were excised and weighed.
The parameters they measured included
food and fluid intake, body weight, absolute
and relative weights of the, spleen,
pancreas, heart. Serum glucose, low density
lipoprotein LDL (bad cholesterol), high
density lipoprotein HDL (good cholesterol)
were also determined.
They wrote, although “our results show that
U & D Sweet Bitter caused significant
decrease in total blood cholesterol, low-
density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density
lipoprotein (HDL), but “ U& D Sweet bitter did
not seem to have any beneficial effect in
the reduction of blood glucose level, a
feature which would have been desirable in
the management of diabetes mellitus as
claimed by the herbal practitioners.”
While suggesting that the reduction in blood
cholesterol level was protective for the
heart, they declared that the significant
reduction in the weight of the heart coupled
with a change in one of the biochemical
parameters is an indication of the toxicity
of the test substance.
Considering the significant reduction in the
weight of the heart by herbal bitters and
the possibility of the chemical compounds
in the herbs changing heart rate, blood
pressure and glucose levels, they cautioned,
“people with cardiac problems, high blood
pressure, or blood sugar disorder such as
diabetes must be especially cautious.“
U & Dee Sweet Bitter is a mixture of roots,
leaves, flowers and seeds of different herbs
and these make for potential
misidentification or cross contamination of
the active ingredients. Among the
phytoconstituents found in U & Dee Sweet
Bitter extract are flavonoids, which may be
mainly responsible for its medicinal uses.
However, unlike the flavonoids found in red
wine which tends to protect the heart, the
flavonoids found in U & Dee Sweet Bitter
did not show similar effect on the heart as
evidenced by the cholesterol profile and
the weight of the heart.
The researchers submitted that although
herbal supplements may be considered to
be safe, some are known to be toxic at high
doses and others may have potentially
adverse effect after prolonged use due to
factors ranging from overdosing,
contaminated formulations to the inherent
toxicity of the herbs of choice.
In addition, other reported side effects of
herbal bitters included dehydration, allergy,
rashes, cramps or indigestion.
Experts have also warned pregnant women,
nursing mothers and people diagnosed
with such medical conditions as kidney
disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS),
Crohn’s disease and chronic gall bladder
issues.
Herbal bitters could also cause adverse
reactions if taken in combination with other
drugs like sedatives, antidepressants and
tetracycline antibiotics.