General Description
Cascara sagrada (also known as wahoo) is a small, deciduous tree
native to the Pacific coast from northern California to British
Columbia. A member of the buckthorn family, cascara grows up to
8 meters in height and has thin, ovate leaves, which are 5 to 15
centimeters long, with pronounced veins, serrated edges, and pointed
tips. Cascara flowers in spring, displaying clusters of tiny, greenish-yellow
flowers, which eventually give way to spherical, berrylike fruit.
The fruit, which changes in color from red to black as it ripens,
is about 12 millimeters in diameter, containing two or three pea-sized
seeds. The plant has a distinctive reddish colored bark, which is
used for medicinal purposes.
Health Applications
- Constipation
- Colon cleansing
History and Traditional Use
Native Americans used cascara sagrada bark for a variety of medicinal
purposes, but its most important use was as a remedy for constipation
and upset stomach. The plant's name, which is Spanish for "sacred
bark," was bestowed upon it by Spanish explorers in the seventeenth
century. The bark was used widely as a laxative throughout the
United States in the 1800s, earning a listing in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia
in 1890.1
Chemical Composition
Cascara bark contains a number of anthracene derivatives (designated
as cascarosides A through F), which exert laxative effects.2
These compounds influence the motility of the colon, inhibiting
stationary contractions while stimulating propulsive contractions.
This accelerates intestinal passage, reducing liquid absorption
for softer stools.3 The fresh bark contains free anthrones,
which can cause severe vomiting, and possibly spasms. The bark
must be stored for a year or artificially aged with heat in order
to neutralize these compounds.3
Dosage/Toxicity
The recommended daily dosage for cascara is for dried bark, extracts,
or preparations providing 20 to 30 mg of anthracene derivatives,
calculated as cascaroside A. The correct individual dosage is
the smallest dosage necessary to maintain soft stools.3
Cascara should not be used for an extended period of time (1-2
weeks) without medical supervision. It should not be used during
pregnancy or lactation, by children under 12, or by people suffering
from intestinal inflammation or abdominal pain of unknown origin.3
Some individuals experience cramp-like side effects, which may
require reduction of dosage. Cascara overdose can cause electrolyte
and fluid imbalance.3 |
