THE ANCESTRAL

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Proper pH balance is crucial for almost every bodily function, including your immune system, muscles, joints and digestion.  

Bitter foods and herbs were a common part of the ancestral diet, they are nutritious and contain a variety of plant-based chemicals that have health benefits. Today’s modern palette largely favors sweet and savoury foods, bitters have almost disappeared from our daily lives.

Ever wonder why bitter cocktails were served before feasting on a meal?.   Our taste bud receptors get a heads up and send a message to the Liver to prepare for what will be coming down the pipeline.  Bitters alert the liver and regulate bile.  Bile breaks down fats and proteins in the small intestines.  Having bitters before a feast is an age-old remedy to aid digestion.  In some cultures, they would chew on some bitter herbs before and after a meal.  The parsley on your plate was more than a colourful garnish, it is a mild bitter.

Bitter herbs are strengthening to the liver, which is responsible for processing the blood that passes through that organ. The quality of blood plays a big part in how well one responds to disease and infections. Our blood is naturally more neutral to alkaline. Blood that is acidic become desirable for viruses and pathogens.

The majority of viruses are acid-activated, viral membrane fusion depends on exposure to low pH. Once a virus infiltrates the host, H+is produced via glycolysis, this could lead indirectly to increased extracellular acidity.  H+ is the form of Hydrogen that produces the ATP enzyme that powers our cells and mitochondria.

Blood touches every part of the body. The liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. It also filters the blood of toxins and poisonous substance. These toxins are eliminated via the intestines and other toxins are passed onto to the kidney for further filtering and leave the body in the form of urine. The kidneys are what determine the pH of our blood.
Having a well functioning liver and kidney means blood is processed and properly cleaned and waste eliminated.

BUDA BITTERS

One of the most common traditional uses for burdock root has been to purify the blood. Recent evidence has found that burdock root can remove toxins from the bloodstream. A 2011 study found that burdock root effectively detoxified blood and promoted increased circulation.


Bitters are know to aid blood circulation and make more alkaline via the release of bile from the liver.  Many simple bitters such as dandelion, burdock, yellow dock and red clover are considered blood purifiers or alteratives, to help the body flush out stagnant fluid, shrink swollen lymph nodes and clear up swampy, stagnant conditions.  
 

Bitter herbs are natural blood purifier which many contain natural "soaps" called saponins. Saponins break down damaged red blood cells so that the iron and nutrients they contain can be "recycled" into making fresh cells. They also increase the absorption of nutrients across the intestinal lining. You can think of saponins as "laundry detergent" for your blood.  

Burdock and Dandelion were often paired in olden days as a spring tonic. This blend offers up the same gentle detoxification and uplifting properties as did those.

Salvia miltiorrhiza also  known as Dan Shen or Red Sage supplements both the qi and the blood, or invigorating blood circulation and eliminating stasis. The ability of to "thin" the blood and reduce blood clotting is well documented. 
 

Andrographis also know as King of Bitter long used in Chinese medicine for digestive complaints as well as flu, cough, and sore throat.  It is immune-stimulating and a anti-infective remedy. 

Viruses and pathogens do not thrive in a alkaline environment.
 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/13880209.2014.889720

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