Unterschied Melissengeist, Hildegard von Bingen, Bitterstern & Dr. Jaglas Elixiere

Difference between lemon balm spirit, Hildegard von Bingen, Bitterstern & Dr. Jaglas elixirs

Klosterfrau Melissengeist, Hildegard von Bingen, Bitterstern and Dr. Jaglas elixirs: What are the differences?

Almost every household has either Klosterfrau Melissengeist , Bitterstern or a product that was developed according to the teachings of Hildegard von Bingen . Many even swear by all three variants. But how do the products actually differ? Do they all contain the same bitter herbs or bitter substances ?

Klosterfrau Melissengeist at a glance

Klosterfrau Melissengeist is marketed by the Klosterfrau Healthcare Group, which is based in Zurich (Switzerland). The traditional herbal medicine was originally invented around 200 years ago by a nun who founded her company Maria Clementine Martin Klosterfrau in Cologne in 1826. Throughout her life, she devoted herself passionately to researching herbal healing powers. Her so-called melissa water quickly became very popular and is still used today to treat a wide variety of ailments.

What is in Klosterfrau Melissengeist?

Klosterfrau Melissengeist is composed of 13 different medicinal herbs:

Elecampane rhizome
Angelica root
Gentian root
Galangal rhizome
Cloves
Ginger rhizome
Cardamom seeds
Lemon balm leaves
Nutmeg seeds
Bitter orange peel
Black pepper fruits
Cinnamon blossoms
Cinnamon bark

The recipe contains high-proof alcohol to ensure that the valuable active ingredients and bitter substances are optimally extracted from the medicinal plants, are preserved over the long term and harmful bacteria have no chance. This serves as a replacement for synthetic preservatives, but also ensures that the natural healing power can develop perfectly. Ethanol has the property of improving the absorption of certain active ingredients in our digestive tract.

Five milliliters of Klosterfrau Melissengeist contain 3.1 grams of alcohol. This corresponds to 79 percent by volume. The recipe is therefore intended exclusively for adults, and the dosage recommendations should be strictly observed.

What does Klosterfrau Melissengeist help with?

Klosterfrau Melissengeist can help with a wide range of complaints. These include colds and gastrointestinal complaints as well as nervousness, inner restlessness, sensitivity to the weather and insomnia. When the remedy is applied externally, it helps to relieve muscle tension and sore muscles.

Products based on the original recipes of Hildegard von Bingen

Hildegard von Bingen lived from 1098 to 1179 and was not only a Benedictine nun, abbess, composer and poet, but also a gifted scholar in the fields of natural sciences and medicine, who was passionate about holistic medicine. Some call her "Germany's first female doctor to write" because she wrote two important works on natural sciences and medicine: Physica and Causae et curae. Even then, Hildegard von Bingen knew how valuable and beneficial bitter herbs and their bitter substances are.

The products offered today by a wide range of manufacturers are based on the knowledge of scholars that has been passed down over centuries. They are available as drops and capsules, as a potion and as skin care products. Most of them are said to be the old original recipes, and great importance is attached to preserving and passing on Hildegard von Bingen 's advice in its original form.

Although the composition of the products is usually very different, the focus is always on raw materials from Mother Nature. From A for elecampane leaves to L for lungwort to Z for zedoary root, the spectrum of medicinal plants is broad. Many products are also made on an alcohol basis, although the concentration is usually not as high as in Klosterfrau Melissengeist. For example, a potion with hart's tongue herb or carnation root usually contains around nine percent alcohol.

A typical herbal bitter based on a recipe by Hildegard von Bingen , which contains many important bitter substances, has a volume of 35 to 40 percent. It is one of the few "universal recipes" of the scholars, which means that it promotes general well-being (even after eating), invigorates, refreshes and gives new energy.

What should you look out for when buying Hildegard von Bingen products?

Since there are many different suppliers, you should always take a close look at the exact composition of the products. Purity is also an important aspect. All bitter herbs and ingredients used should be as pure and high quality as possible. The method of preparation is also important. Therefore, rely on manufacturers who use gentle methods that do not impair the valuable bitter substances.

Things to know about Bitterstar

Bitterstern is a brand of the manufacturer Laetitia, which has been around since 1992. The company was founded by a Munich-based alternative practitioner, and two years later a naturopathic doctor joined the company. The products are based on findings from medicine, natural science, naturopathy and empirical medicine. Since 2019, Laetitia has been part of the family business Dr. C. SOLDAN natural and health products.

As a herbal bitter, Bitterstern contains extracts from 17 herbs and plants. Many of these, but not all, are also contained in Klosterfrau Melissengeist . The application is completely different, however, because the bitter substances are not absorbed by ingesting them using a measuring cup, but by dripping them under the tongue. This is supposed to make the active ingredients particularly effective. Bitterstern also contains a relatively high amount of alcohol: a value of 59 percent by volume is stated.

At least seven drops can be placed under the tongue up to five times a day. Since the bitter substances are also good for children, pregnant women and recovering alcoholics, the manufacturer recommends that the bitter herbs be boiled before administration to the relevant groups of people so that the alcohol can evaporate.

What effect does Bitterstar have?

Bitterstern has been tried and tested for 30 years. The bitter substances can regulate appetite, aid digestion and promote general well-being. The bitter drops are free of artificial preservatives.

Dr. Jaglas Elixirs

The popular Dr. Jaglas artichoke , maca and ginseng elixirs are herbal bitters with over 30 monastery herbs. The elixirs mainly contain herbs that are known from medicine, not from food.

Dr. Jaglas' artichoke, ginseng and maca elixirs are based on a medieval monastery pharmacy recipe. This monastery elixir is comparable to Klosterfrau Melissengeist and is produced and sold exclusively in the Jaglas family pharmacy. The bottle is labeled: "One teaspoon after eating", as the elixirs are suitable for consumption after eating. The elixir consists of 13 tinctures, each of which consists of 1-3 herbs such as lemon balm tincture, arnica tincture and cinchona bark tincture.

How the herbal tinctures are made is taken from the German Pharmacopoeia. The different tinctures mature for different lengths of time and are only combined at the end.

Only herbs, berries, roots and barks with a high content of essential oils and bitter substances are used in production. To ensure that these herbs also have this high content of essential oils, only herbs that are certified according to German Pharmacopoeia quality are used. This quality level indicates that a standardized high content of ingredients such as bitter substances and essential oils is included and the correspondingly high purity is guaranteed.

The alcohol in the elixirs is necessary to dissolve the bitter substances and essential oils. The elixirs can be used either teaspoon by teaspoon after a meal, as a digestif 2cl at room temperature, with ice cubes or simply as a base for drinks, e.g. with tonic or sparkling wine. They are also great as an aperitif. If you only want the bitter substances , you can also put a teaspoon in a glass of mineral water. Since the elixirs are primarily bitter herbs with a high content of bitter substances, they are also called herbal bitters, stomach bitters, digestifs, semi-bitters or amaros. All statements are correct.