Bitter-tasting substance that increases gastric secretions, tonifies the stomach, increases deficient appetite, and increases stomach acidity. These all aid deficient digestion.
A bitter-tasting substance or formula used to increase a deficient appetite, improve the acidity of stomach secretions (and protein digestion), and slightly speed up the orderly emptying of the stomach. A good bitter tonic should possess little, if any, drug effect, only affecting oral and stomach functions and secretions. Dry mouth, bad gums, teeth problems with bad breath in the morning, and weak digestion, often with constipation, are the main symptoms. A bitter tonic has little effect in normal digestion.
A substance that promotes appetite and digestion by stimulating the secretion of digestive juices.
A substance with an acrid, astringent, or disagreeable taste which stimulates the flow of saliva and gastric juice. Such tonics are taken to increase the appetite and to aid the digestive process.