The History of the Swedish Bitter
The story goes that this tincture was invented in the Middle Ages by the legendary scientist and alchemist Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim, also known as Paracelsus, who wanted to create an elixir from plants to prolong life and youthfulness. After a resounding success, the miracle elixir fell into oblivion, the original recipe being preserved and passed from father to son only by a family of Swedish doctors named Samst.
After the death of one of the last doctors from the family, the famous Swedish doctor Dr. Claus Samst who was the rector of the Faculty of Medicine in Uppsala, the original Swedish bitter recipe was discovered amongst his letters. Given the long life of Dr. Samst (who died at the age of 104, after falling from a horse) and those of his ancestors, it is presumed that the Swedish bitter is actually really effective.
Swedish bitter has once again been rediscovered four decades ago, alongside the publishing of the extraordinary book “Health from the God's Pharmacy” by the Austrian herbalist Maria Treben. The experienced plant healer said that this herbal bitter can cure almost any disease. She has proven the efficiency of the Swedish bitter for an impressive range of diseases, from indigestion and migraines to cancer, and almost impossible to cure skin diseases.
Today, there were all kinds of versions of the Swedish bitter recipe, in addition to the original one which used 32 different plants. Some recipes use 22 plants, others 11 or 8 and some recipes even ask for 180 plants.
"OLD MANUSCRIPT" given to Maria Treben Elixir Ad Longam Vitam" -Elixir for a Long Life
(Transcript of the Swedish Bitters' curative power)
1. If they are frequently breathed in or sniffed, the base of the skull is moistened or a moistened cloth applied to the head, they dispel PAIN AND DIZZINESS and strengthen the brain and MEMORY.
2. They help dim eyes and take away redness and all pain, even if the EYES ARE INFLAMED. They rid them of SPOTS AND CATARACTS, if the corners are moistened in time or a moistened piece of cloth is applied to the closed lids.
3. PUSTULAS (ie. acne, boil, cyst) AND ECZEMA of all kinds, as SCABS in the nose or elsewhere on the body, are healed, if they are often and well moistened.
4. For TOOTHACHE a tablespoon of these drops is taken with a little water and kept in the mouth for a little while or the aching tooth is moistened. The pain soon eases and the putrefaction disappears.
5. BLISTERS ON THE TONGUE or other infirmities of the tongue are frequently moistened with drops and healing soon occurs.
6. If the THROAT IS HOT OR INFLAMED, so that food is only SWALLOWED WITH DIFFICULTY, these drops are swallowed slowly, morning, noon and evening and they take away the heat and heal the throat.
7. For STOMACH CRAMPS, 1 tablespoonful is taken.
8. For COLIC, 3 tablespoons are taken slowly, one after the other, and relief will soon be felt.
9. The rid the body of WIND (GAS) and cool the liver, eliminate all troubles of the intestines and stomach and help CONSTIPATION.
10. An excellent remedy for STOMACH DISORDERS, if the DIGESTION is faulty or food cannot be kept down.
11. They are beneficial for PAIN IN THE GALL BLADDER. 1 tablespoonful daily in the morning and evening, and at night compresses and soon all pain will disappear.
12. For DROPSY (the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water), 1 tablespoon in white wine is taken in the morning and evening for 6 weeks. The major underlying causes of dropsy are congestive heart failure, liver failure, kidney failure, and malnutrition.
13. For PAIN AND BUZZING IN THE EAR a piece of cotton wool is moistened and put into the ear. It is very beneficial and brings back LOST HEARING.
14. For MORNING SICKNESS, 1 tablespoon of the drops in red wine is given in the morning for 3 days, half an hour later a walk is taken. Then breakfast with no milk. These drops should not be taken after drinking milk.
15. In the last 14 days of PREGNANCY if 1tablespoon of the drops is taken mornings and evenings, it PROMOTES THE BIRTH. For easy EXPELLING OF THE AFTER BIRTH, a coffee spoonful is given every 2 hours, until the afterbirth is expelled without pain.
16. If, after a birth when the MILD DRIES UP, inflammation develops, it quickly sub-sides if a moistened piece of cloth is applied.
17. They Expel WORMS, even TAPEWORMS, in children and adults, the amount taken by children being according to age. A piece of cloth moistened with drops is applied to the navel and kept moist.
18. They rid children of PUSTULAS (ie. acne, boil, cyst). The children are given these drops according to age, diluted with water. If the pustules start to dry up they are moistened frequently with these drops and no scars will develop.
19. For JAUNDICE very soon all complaints disappear, if 1 tablespoon of these drops is taken 3 times daily and compresses are applied to the SWOLLEN LIVER.
20. They open all HEMORRHOIDS, and heal KIDNEYS, rid the body of all unnecessary liquids without further treatment, taking away MELANCHOLY AND DEPRESSION and improve appetite and digestion.
21. HEMORRHOIDS are reduced, if, in the beginning, they are moistened frequently and if the drops are taken internally, especially before going to bed, they soften the hemorrhoids.
22. If someone has FAINTED, open his mouth if required, give him 1 tablespoon of the drops and he will come to.
23. This remedy rids you of the pain of SPASM (cramps) so that it will cease in time.
24. For CONSUMPTION “Lung Infections” (a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs like Tuberculosis) take them daily in the morning or on empty stomach and continue the treatment for 6 weeks.
25. If the MENSTRUAL FLOW CEASES for a 40+woman or is too heavy, she takes these drops 3 days and repeats it 20 times. They will, what is too much, quiet and, what is too little, even out.
26. This remedy also helps to cure "WHITES"(white vaginal discharge.)
27. If someone is afflicted with EPILEPSY, he has to be given these drops on the spot and he should then take this remedy exclusively, since it strengthens the affected nerves as well as body and rids it of all sickness.
28. They heal LAMENESS and rid you of DIZZINESS AND INDISPOSITION (unable to do something because they are ill).
29. They heal also hot PUSTULAS (ie. acne, boil, cyst) AND ERYSIPELAS.
30. If someone has FEVER, be it hot or cold, and is very weak, he is given 1 tablespoon of the drops and the patient, if he is not overloaded with other medications, will in a short time come to, the pulse will start to beat again and the fever, no matter how high it was, will pass and the patient will soon be better.
31. The drops also heal CANCER, OLD POCKMARKS (are typically caused by old acne marks, chickenpox, or infections that can affect the skin, such as staph. The results are often deep, dark-colored scars), WARTS AND CHAPPED HANDS. If the wound is OLD OR FESTERING OR PROUND FLESH has developed, every-thing is washed well with white wine and a piece of cloth moistened with the drops is laid upon it.
32. They heal, without danger, all WOUNDS, be they from a stab or a hit, if they are moistened frequently. A piece of cloth is taken, moistened with the drops and the wounds covered therewith. They takeaway the pain in a short time, permit no BLEMISH OR PUTREFICATION and heal also old wounds which were caused by a SHOT. If there are holes, the drops are sprinkled into the wound which need not necessarily be cleaned before hand. Through repeated applying of the moistened cloth healing occurs in a short time.
33. They take away SCARS, even if very old, WOUNDS AND CUTS, if moistened up to40 times with them. All the wounds heal and leave no scars.
34. They heal all FISTULAS (sores, or ulcers, to form on the inside wall of the intestine or nearby organs), even if they seem incurable, be they as old as may be.
35. They heal all BURNS AND SCALDS, be they caused by fire, hot water or fat, if the injuries are moistened frequently. No blisters form, the heat is taken out and even festering blisters are healed.
36. They serve against SWELLING AND BRUISES, be they caused by a blow or a fall.
37. If someone cannot eat with APPETITE, they bring back the lost taste.
38. In ANEMIA they bring back the lost color, if taken for a period in the mornings. They cleanse the blood and form new blood and promote circulation.
39. RHEUMATIC PAINS in the limbs are eased if the drops are taken morning and evening and a moistened cloth is applied to the aching parts.
40. They heal FROST BITTEN HANDS AND FEET, even if there are open parts, if a moistened cloth is applied as often as possible, but especially at night.
41. For CORNS, a cotton ball, moistened with the drops, is applied and kept moist. After 3 days the corns fall out or can be removed painlessly.
42. They heal too BITES of mad dogs and other animals, if taken internally since they heal and destroy all poison. A moistened cloth is laid upon the wounds.
43. For PLAGUE and other INFECTIOUS DISEASES it is well to take them repeatedly since they heal PLAGUE BOILS AND SWELLINGS, even if already in the throat.
44. He who cannot sleep at night takes these drops before going to bed. For nervous SLEEPNESSNESS a piece of cloth moistened with diluted drops is laid upon the heart.
45. A DRUNK can be sobered on the spot with 2 tablespoonfuls.
46. He who takes these drops mornings or evenings daily needs no further medication, since they strengthen the body, tone up the nerves and the blood, take away the TREMBLING OF HANDS AND FEET. In short, they take away all illnesses. The body stays supple, the face young and beautiful.