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Cascara Sagrada

Posting Date: 06/30/2002

Cascara sagrada, Spanish for "sacred bark," comes from the American buckthorn tree native to the western coast of North America, from California to British Columbia, and as far inland as Montana. The Spanish priests of California may have learned about it from the Indians.

In any event, this laxative was not widely adopted until the nineteenth century. A member of the same genus, R. frangula, is the European buckthorn tree, which had been used at least since 1650.

Cascara sagrada is one of the few herbs approved as an over-the-counter drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The portion of the plant used is the bark.

Active Ingredients

The main ingredients are anthraquinones.

Emodin and aloe-emodin have also been identified, along with a number of nonlaxative ingredients.

Uses

Cascara sagrada is used as a laxative. The anthraquinones stimulate the bowel, leading to evacuation after approximately six to ten hours.

This herb also provokes secretion of fluid and minerals into the large intestine and inhibits their reabsorption. It is suggested for situations in which a soft, easily passed stool is desirable, such as hemorrhoids or following rectal surgery.

Cascara sagrada is not appropriate for regular use and can cause problems such as dependence if it is used too often.

Studies are being done to see if it is helpful in treating drug overdose, as a way of removing the drug from the lower intestine.

In addition, anthraquinones applied topically can protect skin from ultraviolet damage.

Extracts of R. purshiana can inactivate herpes simplex virus, but this property has not been utilized medically.

Dose

The usual dose ranges from 20 mg to 70 mg daily of the anthraquinones. Products containing cascara sagrada should not be used for more than eight or ten days.

Special Precautions

Fresh bark can cause nausea and vomiting. The bark should be stored for at least a year or undergo heat processing to eliminate this problem.