It goes without saying that most people prefer a sweet or salty flavor over a bitter one these days, but did you know that bitter foods are foundational parts of traditional diets because of their actions on digestion? It’s true! Bitter plants were incorporated into the beginning of almost all meals as a way to facilitate healthy digestion.
Why were these types of foods consumed? Well, I think Hippocrates summed it up well when he said, “All disease begins in the gut.” If you look at the majority of health problems we face these days, most times you can trace their roots back to some sort of nutrient deficiency or gut related problem.
My little 9 year old girl just had her first period. I was shocked. I felt like I had a few more years before this happened. I thought I had done everything right. I breast fed her. I buy organic, she drinks from metal or glass. I read where doing a liver detox would slow puberty. When I look online it’s overwhelming. Any suggestions?
Hi, Angie. I’m not too familiar with this so you may want to check with a clinical herbalist that works with clients just to be sure.
First, let me say, give yourself some grace. It sounds like you’ve done all you could to help your daughter not be exposed to excess hormones so it’s either her body testing things out (as in she had her period and then won’t have another one for some time) or it’s actually time for this stage in life. Nine does sound young, but there’s a wide age range when it comes to this sort of thing. I believe any time between 9 and 17 is considered normal. The first way to tell if this is actually the right time for her for this to happen is to do some research on the stages of puberty and see whether or not she’s gone through the previous stages before menses begins. This can help you to know if her body is ready or if it could possibly be something else causing it. Early puberty, or “precocious puberty,” is typically only diagnosed if a child is 7 years old or younger. Environmental factors and insulin resistance (usually with obese children) can cause puberty to begin earlier as well.
With that said, liver supportive herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion root can be helpful when it comes to strengthening the liver so it can effectively detox the blood of toxins and hormones. Herbs that support the endocrine system and help with hormone balance (licorice root, wild yam, and vitex) can be helpful, and nutritional herbs with an affinity for the reproductive system (red raspberry leaf and red clover) can be beneficial as well.
Best of luck with your little lady, Angie, and I hope this has been somewhat helpful!
Hi Meagan, thanks for taking time to share your knowledge on natural ways to keep our bodies – the temple of God in good health. God bless this ministry ?
Thank you very much, Abigail! I appreciate the prayers!
Glad to see you’re in my area… I’m close to Norris lake, so once I learn to identify these herbs, I’ll be able to find them… very interesting..
Can you purchase bitters for kids vs making them?
Yes! Many bitter tinctures are appropriate for children when used at the correct dose. Here’s a great one from Herb Pharm and another one from Urban Moonshine — two of my favorite sources for herbal bitters.
What would be a good dose for a 1 , 4 , and 5 year old for liver detox ?
While bitters are typically safe for children, there is rarely a need for small children to use them unless there are signs of digestive or liver stagnation or heat. Bitters work to “detox” the liver because they get the fluids moving and help to tone the tissues of the liver. If you think your child would benefit from bitters, for this reason, a typical adult dosage is around 30-60 drops 15-minutes before each meal. To determine your child’s dosage by weight, you can use the chart in this dosage blog post. Best of luck!