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Rooted

Other / General · also Digestive

Poor appetite (after workup)

4 plants

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Unexplained anorexia is a workup. Culinary bitters (artichoke, dandelion, ginger) before meals are the traditional appetite nudge. Cannabis is a different legal/clinical object and is not in this ranking as a prescription. Kids failing to thrive are not bitters.

Primary plants

  1. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
    1
    GingerHuman data

    Zingiber officinale

    Aromatic before meals; nausea-appetite overlap.

    Typical. Culinary 1–2 g dried or fresh in food.

    Safety. Extracts: bleeding.

  2. Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
    2
    ArtichokeStrong traditional

    Cynara scolymus

    Bitter/choleretic before meals if dyspepsia coexists.

    Typical. Leaf extract or culinary heart.

    Safety. Bile-duct obstruction.

Supportive plants2
  • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
    DandelionStrong traditional
    Taraxacum officinale

    Root as a bitter. Traditional, not an appetite drug trial.

    Typical. Root bitter or culinary greens.

    Safety. Asteraceae.

  • Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
    FennelStrong traditional
    Foeniculum vulgare

    If bloating is suppressing intake.

    Typical. Seed tea.

    Safety. Apiaceae.

When this is not enough

  • Weight loss + night sweats, obstruction, severe depression/SI, child FTT, swallowing failure

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All other / general diagnoses