Cholagogues & Choleretics

Cholagogue: increases gallbladder contractions, increasing bile flow

Choleretic: stimulates bile production in the liver and increases the liver’s excretion of acid into the gallbladder, increasing bile flow

Note that most bitter herbs are cholagogues and choleretics.

Examples:

• Aloe vera (aloe) latex

• Arctium lappa (burdock)

• Baptisia tinctoria (wild indigo)

• Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium (Oregon grape)

• Berberis vulgaris (barberry)

• Chelidonium majus (greater calandine)

• Chelone glabra (balmony)

• Chionanthus virginicus (fringetree bark)

• Cynara scolymus (artichoke)

• Dioscorea spp. (wild yam)

• Eupatorium perfoliatum (boneset)

• Gentiana lutea (gentian)

• Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal)

• Iris versicolor (blue flag)

• Leptandra virginica (culver’s root)

• Peumus boldus (boldo)

• Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)

• Rumex crispus (yellow dock)

• Salvia officinalis (sage)

• Taraxacum officinalis (dandelion)