Evidence supporting the use of: Bitter Principles
For the health condition: Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed)

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Synopsis

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

Bitter principles, often derived from herbal bitters such as gentian, dandelion, or artichoke, have a long-standing history of use in traditional medicine systems for supporting digestion and liver function, including issues associated with a sluggish gall bladder or after gall bladder removal. Traditional European herbalism and some forms of traditional Chinese medicine recommend bitters to enhance bile flow and stimulate digestive secretions, thereby helping with fat digestion and overall digestive health. The rationale is that the bitter taste receptors on the tongue trigger a reflex increase in gastric and biliary secretions, which could theoretically compensate for reduced bile flow in cases of gall bladder dysfunction or absence.

However, scientific validation of these effects is limited. There are some small studies and animal experiments indicating that certain bitter herbs may enhance bile production or release, but comprehensive clinical trials in humans—especially targeting those with a removed gall bladder—are lacking. Most modern uses of bitters for gall bladder health are thus rooted in tradition rather than robust scientific evidence. The level of supporting evidence is modest, warranting a rating of 2, as traditional use is strong but scientific corroboration is weak or preliminary.

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