Sweden bitter

Sweden bitter or Swedish herbs is the name for a bitter spirit . However, it is not a luxury product in the conventional sense, but is considered a natural remedy . Internal and external use should be made according to the appropriate dosage recommendations. In addition to ready-made products, the basic ingredients ("Swedish herbs") and instructions for making your own are also available in free trade, so that the bitter spirit can be used with a wide variety of names and compositions. The Swedish bitter is said to have beneficial and sometimes healing properties. So it is supposed to alleviate a variety of paresthesia and suffering, but this has not been scientifically proven. The products cannot always be clearly classified and move in a gray area between food and pharmaceuticals . The taste of the Swedish bitter is similar to the Angostura bitter .

history

The name goes back to the nationality of the Swedish doctors and chemists Urban Hjärne and Klaus Samst . Urban Hjärne had a laboratory on Kungsholmen in which he prepared his own medicines from "secret" ingredients. In 1692 he received permission to sell Elexir amarum through pharmacies. The doctor Klaus Samst is said to have rediscovered the recipe in the 18th century. It had been known to the Samst family before, but had been forgotten. Furthermore, Paracelsus is said to have developed a similar remedy as early as the 16th century. The Austrian herbalist Maria Treben finally helped the Schwedenbitter to become better known with her bestseller Health from God's Pharmacy , published in 1980 .

composition

The following example recipe refers to an amount of 1.0 liter of brandy , grain schnapps or the like. The mixture is made up with the alcoholic liquid in a bottle; after a few days it is filtered and the filtrate used.

• 6.7 g aloe (you can also use gentian root or wormwood powder )
• 3.3 g of myrrh
• 0.13 g saffron
• 6.7 g senna leaves
• 6.7 g of camphor
• 6.7 g rhubarb root
• 6.7 g of citric root
• 6.7 g of manna cannelata
• 6.7 g venetian theriac
• 3.3 g boar root
• 6.7 g angelica root

More extensive compilations with other ingredients are also known, from which the designation small and large Swedish bitter results.

criticism

Neither the name “Schwedenbitter” itself, nor the recipes are protected in any form by patents or copyrights. The composition and product quality - and as a result possible (positive and negative) effects and side effects - can fluctuate. Officials complain about the use and dissemination of "Sweden bitter" and similar products as a dangerous transfer of medically potentially effective, but uncontrolled substances and compositions under food and drug law .

See also

• Crown essence
• Theriac

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office Karlsruhe: Sweden bitter, a tiresome topic from the gray area between drugs, food and cosmetic products ( Memento from May 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive )

literature

• Maria Treben: Health from God's pharmacy - advice and experience with medicinal herbs , Ennsthaler Verlag, Steyr, 1980, ISBN 978-3-85068-090-5 (Dosage and application from p. 60)

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !