Re: Great question

Swedish bitters are very different from Chinese bitters. I don't do well with Swedish bitters at ALL.

Swedish bitters are an aid to digestion, but not to the liver entirely. Here are the ingredients in the most popular kind of swedish bitters:

Aloe, Manna, Senna, Rhubarb Root, Zedoary Root, Theriac Venetian, Angelica Root, Carline Thistle Root, Myrrh, Camphor, Saffron in an Alcohol and Water Base

All of these herbs are in the bitter/astringent/Sour type, which increase YIN and react mainly to the circulatory system. Aloe, for instance, encourages blood vessels to contract, which is great if you have hemrrhoids. Since most of us, especially in North America, have too MUCH yin, this is not the best answer. We need things that are warm and moist (yang) in their action.

The gb/liver Flush FAQ has a list of herbs and supplements that are good for the liver, as does www.liverdoctor.com and www.sensiblehealth.com (the Chinese Bitters lady). I've always done best with Bupluerum, Chinese Gentien, Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root, B vitamins, MSM. Tweet