Cascara Sacrada

(Rhamnus Purshiana)

Source: Tree native to north-western Canada and the United States.

Medicinal Uses: Constipation.

Part used: Bark.

Forms available: Tea, capsules, liquid extracts.
Some products are standardised to 20 to 30 per cent anthraquinones.

Caution: May interact with heart drugs, corticosteroids and liquorice root; consult your doctor.
Don't use if you have intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown origin, diarrhoea, inflamed intestines (colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome).
Limit use to 10 days or less; consult a health-care provider before using it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Important information: To make the active principles milder the bark must be aged one year or be heat treated. Fresh dried bark produces a laxative that's too strong for safe use. It also induces vomiting.