Digestive Bitters

[Daniel]

Hey @naslam1603 ,

Let me help you with “the drawing board”! I’ll give you some other tips as well (some are new, some you already know… but perhaps providing you more context might help you make a better plan. The plan is based on the tough trio: low stomach acid, delayed gastric emptying, and mucosal sensitivity.

Alcohol-Free Digestive Bitters:

If you’re sensitive to alcohol or prefer to avoid it, there are still effective alcohol-free bitters that support bile flow and digestive enzyme signalling. In place of alcohol, these formulas typically use glycerin, a sugar alcohol that acts as a gentle solvent (compared to alcohol) to extract beneficial plant compounds.

Glycerin has its upsides: it’s soothing, sweet-tasting, and can help soften stools by drawing water into the colon. But it also comes with a caveat, because it’s a fermentable sugar alcohol, it may aggravate symptoms in people with SIBO or sensitive gut flora.

So as always: start low, go slow, and listen closely to your body’s response.

When it comes to alcohol-free bitters that are also safe for people with histamine intolerance, the list narrows quite a bit. But here’s one that passes my filters and is worth considering:

• Energetix Core Bitter: Contains Dandelion root, yellow dock, gentian, burdock root and is alcohol-free.

If you only have access to alcohol-based bitters, it’s totally okay to let the alcohol evaporate: just place your dose (say 5–10 drops) into a small amount of hot water and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. You’ll lose most of the alcohol but still retain the bitter effect.

Prokinetic Support (for delayed emptying)

Bitters alone might not fully restart motility, especially if inflammation or nervous system dysregulation is in the way. A gentle prokinetic can help move things along:

• MotilPro (by Pure Encapsulations): This combines ginger, 5-HTP, and artichoke extract. It’s often used in functional medicine to support gut motility without being too stimulating.

• Standalone ginger extract: Even 500–1000 mg of powdered ginger with meals can gently nudge stomach emptying and reduce that “rock in your stomach” feeling.

Gut Lining and Heartburn Support

Given your heartburn and sensitivity after protein, supporting the gut lining is just as important as stimulating digestion. Here are some options that are well tolerated:

• Zinc Carnosine: Helps repair the stomach lining and reduce inflammation. Doses around 75 mg, taken between meals, are often effective.

• GI Revive (by Designs for Health): As I’m writing this, I remember you once mentioned you couldn’t tolerate one of the ingredients. But since I’m unsure, I’ll mention it anyway and leave the choice to you. GI Revive is a strong blend of DGL, slippery elm, marshmallow, and aloe. It’s one of the best full-spectrum gut-lining formulas out there.

• MegaMucosa (by Microbiome Labs): Supports immune regulation in the gut and repairs the mucosal barrier. Includes dairy-free IgG and amino acids.

• DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice): You can chew this before meals to reduce acid-related discomfort and protect the stomach lining. Again… I remember you tried something like this, but I’m not sure anymore if you stopped this because if side effects.

• Marshmallow root or slippery elm tea: These are old-school but still incredibly effective if you prefer a gentle and food-grade approach.

Putting It All Together

Bitters might give you a gentle nudge and help you with digestion. Just start low (3 to 5 drops is enough to begin) and track how your body responds. You could try combining:

• A glycerin-based bitter 10 minutes before meals

• A small ginger capsule or MotilPro during or right after meals

• A mucosal repair agent like Zinc Carnosine or GI Revive between meals

Also, don’t underestimate the impact of post-meal movement (even a 10-minute slow walk) and meal spacing (3–4 hours between meals) to support the migrating motor complex.

Wishing you relief and a clear next step,
Daniel

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by  Daniel.

[naslam1603]

Hi Daniel,

Once again, thank you very much for your detailed and thoughtful response. I really appreciate it.

I’ll take a look with the alcohol free digestive bitters first, as my stomach lining is feeling a bit irritated and I want to avoid anything too harsh. I’ll make sure to double check the ingredients, especially for orange or citrus extracts, which can be a trigger for me. If needed, I might consider the alcohol versions in small amounts, possibly diluted in warm water.

As for the mucosal lining support, you were absolutely right about GI Revive, it’s an excellent product. Unfortunately, I can’t take it due to the pork derived mucin, which I can’t take. I do take slippery elm, marshmallow root powders, L-glutamine, zinc L-carnosine, and DGL regularly. I’ve also used Megamucosa in the past and found it helpful, so I’m planning to go back to that now that my gut lining feels more reactive again.

Thanks again for all the options and your helpful insights.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by  naslam1603.