Swedish Bitters
Western
Urban Hiärne, Royal Physician to the King of Sweden
The original version of Urban Hiärne:
* Venice Treacle (Theriac) is a large compound with over 60 ingredients. However, a number of reformed versions and substitutes exist (see below).
Infuse the crushed herbs in the Vodka for 2 weeks, strain, and add Sugar.
Typical modern version:
* Venice Treacle (Theriac) is a large compound with over 60 ingredients. However, a number of reformed versions and substitutes exist (see below).
Beat and steep in 1.5 liters of 38-40% rye or fruit spirit (Brandy). Stand in the sun or in a warm place for 2 weeks. Strain into bottle and store in a cool place. It is traditionally said to get better with age.
Opens Obstructions, cleanses and regulates Digestion, relieves Toxin
1. Colds, Influenza, Epidemic disease, to prevent and treat
2. Acne, applied topically and taken internally
3. Itching, with Camomile
4. Stomach Cramps
5. Constipation
6. Edema
7. Jaundice
8. Liver Swelling
9. Gall Bladder pain and inflammation
10. High Cholesterol
11. Spasms and Cramps
12. Scrofula, Lymphadenitis
13. Internal Wounds and Ulcers
14. Headache
15. Poor or Failing Memory
16. Vertigo
17. Dizziness, with Rosemary
18. Labor: take a tablespoonful daily in Raspberry leaf tea for 2 weeks before labor
19. ‘A Drunk can be sober on the spot with 2 tabelspoonfuls’. (Treben)
Topically:
20. Eczema, diluted and applied topically
21. Herpes
22. Earache, dropped into the ears
23. Tinnitus, dropped into the ears
24. Red and Inflamed Eyes, applied on cotton balls to the eyelids
25. Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Hay Fever, 5–10% diluted in salt water as a nasal irrigation
26. Fistulas, applied regularly
27. Burns and Scalds, diluted and applied
28. Scars, applied regularly for 40 days
29. Applied as a compress to Tumors and Cancers
30. Toothache, topically
31. Sore or Swollen Throat and Tonsillitis, diluted in Sage tea and gargled
32. Frost Bite
33. Corns, Warts, applied topically
Dose: 1 teaspoonful–1 tablespoonful, diluted in warm water, once or twice daily.
1 Tablespoon in Wine twice daily for Edema; 2 Tablespoonfuls at once was recommended to sober up a drunk.
Applied topically, either diluted or straight, depending on the condition.
A 5–10% dilution in a suitable infusion or distilled water can be used topically in the eye or nose.
1. Avoid in Pregnancy
The Swedish Pharmacopoeia of 1775 reduced Theriac from over 60 ingredients to just 9. From this time, it stands to reason that “Theriac” used in Swedish Bitters probably used the reformed version. The formula (with approximate dosages) is given below:
Angelica 300 grams
Gentian 200 grams
Valerian 90 grams
Zedoary
Cardamon
Myrrh
Saffron
Opium 30 grams ea.
It can be looked upon as an expanded version of Common Pills, composed of Aloe, Myrrh and Saffron. Over the past 1000 years, numerous addition and modifications to this have been used, primarily to protect against the Plague and other infectious and Epidemic diseases. The addition of Theriac to Common Pills is obviously intended to strengthen the effect against Epidemic diseases with the other herbs added to strengthen the effect. See also Pestilential Pills.
Due to the efficacy of the formula, its use has been expanded to have numerous benefits and uses. Its popularity in recent times has been increased by Folk Healer Maria Treben.
Swedish Bitters is generally accepted to have been created by Urban Hiärne (1641–1724), a Royal Physician to the King of Sweden.
It, and versions of it, became common in many European herbals of the 18th century. A French herbal (L’Alberte Moderne, 1773) listed this formula as “Elixir of Long Life”.
GENERAL
–Making Early Modern Medicine: Reproducing Swedish Bitters
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of selected polyherbal preparations: Oroki herbal, Swedish bitters and Yoyo bitters
POTENT ANTIOXIDANT:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
–Composition and in vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Swedish Bitters
LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
–Analyses of the effects of Swedish bitters on selected metabolic profiles
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
HYPOGLYCEMIC:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
IMMUNOSTIMULATING:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
HEPATOPROTECTIVE:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
CARDIOPROTECTIVE:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
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How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures
Tradition:
Western
Source / Author:
Urban Hiärne, Royal Physician to the King of Sweden
The original version of Urban Hiärne:
Herb NameAloeMyrrh Rhubarb Venice Treacle * Agaric Saffron Zedoary Gentian Vodka Sugar |
|
* Venice Treacle (Theriac) is a large compound with over 60 ingredients. However, a number of reformed versions and substitutes exist (see below).
Infuse the crushed herbs in the Vodka for 2 weeks, strain, and add Sugar.
Typical modern version:
Herb NameAloeSenna Camphor Rhubarb Zedoary Manna Angelica Venice Treacle * Myrrh Carline Thistle root Saffron |
|
* Venice Treacle (Theriac) is a large compound with over 60 ingredients. However, a number of reformed versions and substitutes exist (see below).
Preparation:
Beat and steep in 1.5 liters of 38-40% rye or fruit spirit (Brandy). Stand in the sun or in a warm place for 2 weeks. Strain into bottle and store in a cool place. It is traditionally said to get better with age.
Function:
Opens Obstructions, cleanses and regulates Digestion, relieves Toxin
Use:
1. Colds, Influenza, Epidemic disease, to prevent and treat
2. Acne, applied topically and taken internally
3. Itching, with Camomile
4. Stomach Cramps
5. Constipation
6. Edema
7. Jaundice
8. Liver Swelling
9. Gall Bladder pain and inflammation
10. High Cholesterol
11. Spasms and Cramps
12. Scrofula, Lymphadenitis
13. Internal Wounds and Ulcers
14. Headache
15. Poor or Failing Memory
16. Vertigo
17. Dizziness, with Rosemary
18. Labor: take a tablespoonful daily in Raspberry leaf tea for 2 weeks before labor
19. ‘A Drunk can be sober on the spot with 2 tabelspoonfuls’. (Treben)
Topically:
20. Eczema, diluted and applied topically
21. Herpes
22. Earache, dropped into the ears
23. Tinnitus, dropped into the ears
24. Red and Inflamed Eyes, applied on cotton balls to the eyelids
25. Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Hay Fever, 5–10% diluted in salt water as a nasal irrigation
26. Fistulas, applied regularly
27. Burns and Scalds, diluted and applied
28. Scars, applied regularly for 40 days
29. Applied as a compress to Tumors and Cancers
30. Toothache, topically
31. Sore or Swollen Throat and Tonsillitis, diluted in Sage tea and gargled
32. Frost Bite
33. Corns, Warts, applied topically
Dose:
Dose: 1 teaspoonful–1 tablespoonful, diluted in warm water, once or twice daily.
1 Tablespoon in Wine twice daily for Edema; 2 Tablespoonfuls at once was recommended to sober up a drunk.
Applied topically, either diluted or straight, depending on the condition.
A 5–10% dilution in a suitable infusion or distilled water can be used topically in the eye or nose.
Cautions:
1. Avoid in Pregnancy
Modifications:
The Swedish Pharmacopoeia of 1775 reduced Theriac from over 60 ingredients to just 9. From this time, it stands to reason that “Theriac” used in Swedish Bitters probably used the reformed version. The formula (with approximate dosages) is given below:
Angelica 300 grams
Gentian 200 grams
Valerian 90 grams
Zedoary
Cardamon
Myrrh
Saffron
Opium 30 grams ea.
It can be looked upon as an expanded version of Common Pills, composed of Aloe, Myrrh and Saffron. Over the past 1000 years, numerous addition and modifications to this have been used, primarily to protect against the Plague and other infectious and Epidemic diseases. The addition of Theriac to Common Pills is obviously intended to strengthen the effect against Epidemic diseases with the other herbs added to strengthen the effect. See also Pestilential Pills.
Due to the efficacy of the formula, its use has been expanded to have numerous benefits and uses. Its popularity in recent times has been increased by Folk Healer Maria Treben.
Swedish Bitters is generally accepted to have been created by Urban Hiärne (1641–1724), a Royal Physician to the King of Sweden.
It, and versions of it, became common in many European herbals of the 18th century. A French herbal (L’Alberte Moderne, 1773) listed this formula as “Elixir of Long Life”.
GENERAL
–Making Early Modern Medicine: Reproducing Swedish Bitters
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of selected polyherbal preparations: Oroki herbal, Swedish bitters and Yoyo bitters
POTENT ANTIOXIDANT:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
–Composition and in vitro Antioxidant Capacity of Swedish Bitters
LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
–Analyses of the effects of Swedish bitters on selected metabolic profiles
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
HYPOGLYCEMIC:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
IMMUNOSTIMULATING:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
HEPATOPROTECTIVE:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
CARDIOPROTECTIVE:
–Evaluation of the Effects of Swedish Bitters on Albino Rats
Back To TINCTURES
Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures