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| Departments » Herbal Medicine » Materia Medica » Rhamnus purshiana |
Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.
Rhamnus purshiana (Cascara)
| Botanic Name | Rhamnus purshiana |
| Common Name | Cascara Sagrada, Californian Buckthorn, Sacred Bark |
| Family | Rhamnaceae |
| Parts Used | Dried Bark |
| Habitat | USA 1
Mountainous areas of north-west North America 3 |
| Constituents | Anthraquinone
glycosides (including emodin, chrysophanic acid, aloe-emodin,
cascarosides A,B,C, and D)
Tannin Volatile oil (rhamnol) 3 |
| Actions | Stimulating
laxative (gentler than others in its class) 3
Bitter tonic Mild Purgative 2 |
| Applications | Atonic
constipation 3
Chronic constipation 2 Sluggish bowel interfering with health or recovery 6 |
| Body Systems | Digestive |
| Energetics | Promotes
bowel movements and relieves constipation.
Clears heat and promotes bowel movements. Cold Laxative and purgative. 4 Cold, bitter7 |
| Dosage | 1 – 3 gms
well-dried bark before retiring 3
1 – 2 mls tincture at bedtime Liquid Extract 1:2 1 – 2 mls tds |
| Combinations | Should be combined with aromatics and carminitives 2 to prevent griping |
| C/I Cautions | Standard precautions as with all anthraquinone containing herbs |
| BHP | Constipation
Occassional constipation where soft stool is desirable in cases of anal fissures/haemorrhoids |