It was the Spanish priests in California, who noted that the American Indian used the bark for medicinal purposes and named the tree Cascara Sagrada, meaning sacred bark. They stripped the bark from the Cascara Sagrada tree, dried it and let it age for a whole year before using it for medicinal purposes..The bark was then boiled in water and bottled for later use for the relief of constipation..
They also added many drugs derived from herbs to our modern Pharmacopoeia. Earning a seal of approval from USP through their Dietary Supplement Verification Programs is not easy. The NSF International, a non-profit organization, tests the products in the labs for the ingredients listed on the label. In 1877 the Spaniards noted the medicinal use of the Cascara Sagrada bark and that it was accepted by the American Physicians for the relief of constipation. It has been listed in US Pharmacopoeia since 1894 for this use.
The Cascara Sagrada bark is still commercially marketed as a laxative.
The use of the Cascara Sagrada bark, if carefully diluted is especially helpful for elderly and convalescent people. It stimulates the contracting of the bowel muscles. Make sure to insist on the aged bark, it is not as power full as the powder from the fresh Cascara Sagrada bark. In a quart of water add 4 teaspoons of the Cascara Sagrada bark, powdered, bring this to a simmer and let it steep. Drink 2 cups of the tea before the meal.
The Cascara Sagrada is also highly regarded as a tonic for the intestines and as a remedy for gallstones. In tablet form, look for the preparation which is standardized to contain 25 % hydroxythracene derivatives.
A skilled herbalist very often combines different herbs which compliment each other and are more acceptable to the body. Cascara Sagrada is often mixed with the herb Mint or Ginger. You find the Cascara Sagrada in the 14 botanical herb product KM, by Matol.
In Europe, one finds the two related Alder Buck thorns (rhamnus frangula) and (rhamnus cathartica). They have similar laxative properties but are not as mild as the Cascara Sagrada bark.
