Taking Buckthorn Bark and Berry

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Can You Use Buckthorn Bark and Berries as a Medical Treatment?

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Buckthorn bark and berry are considered modern herbal treatments, and they are becoming more popular in the all-natural health and wellness scene. While a lot of modern-day consumers may have a healthy skepticism of conventional medical treatments, it’s not always a good idea to forgo prescription medications and FDA-approved treatments in favor of herbals. Vegetables, plants, and berries do indeed contain many beneficial phytonutrients. But natural doesn’t always mean 100% safe. So, is it possible to use buckthorn bark and buckthorn berry as a treatment method for specific health problems?

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What is Buckthorn Bark?

Buckthorn bark is also known as alder buckthorn or Frangula Alnus. The plant is part of the genus Rhamnus, the name deriving from the Greek word for “branch.” There are three species of alder buckthorn, and all three have been traditionally used to the same degree for similar medicinal benefits.

The Purging or Common Buckthorn is a six-foot-tall, multi-branched shrub that can sometimes grow as tall as twelve feet high. It grows indigenously to North Africa, North Asia, and parts of Europe. The plant is found growing in abundance throughout England in calcareous soils that are commonly found throughout only certain regions of the country. Buckthorn likes to grow wild near brooks and throughout thickets where the ground is most calcareous. The plant can also be found in one single locality in Scotland.

The bark of the buckthorn is smooth and blackish-brown, while twigs are gray. The plant gets its name from smaller branches that have spines or thorns on them. The leaves form in small bunches also called footstalks, and grow on the opposite base of smaller shoots. The leaves are egg-shaped and jagged on the edges. The plant generates small, green-yellow flowers, followed by blackberries that are about the size of a pea. Bees enjoy the buckthorn flowers, while cows will avoid the plant. Goats, sheep, and horses are also known to eat the buckthorn.

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What are the Origins of Buckthorn Bark and Berries as a Medical Treatment?

It is thought that buckthorn bark and berries were first processed into a laxative by the Anglo-Saxons. During the Renaissance era, the plant had uses similar to those of Senna and cascara – other natural remedies for constipation. The bark and berries of the buckthorn plant are known to have a purging effect, hence their traditional name of The Purging Buckthorn. In the 1600s and 1700s, buckthorn was included in the London Pharmacopeia in 1650. It was also listed in the 1867 version of the book. By this time, however, the plant was mostly used to treat health issues in animals.

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How was Buckthorn Used as a Treatment Option?

Originally, buckthorn bark and berries were used as a purgative for children, but this practice was soon stopped because of how violently and quickly the herb worked to make people vomit or pass stool. To make a buckthorn treatment, the berries were juiced and boiled down with ginger and pimento with sugar added as a laxative or purgative drink.

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The earliest known recordings of buckthorn bark and berry as a medicine dated as far back as the Norman Conquest in the middle ages. Welsh doctors at that time used the berries to make a laxative, mixing it with honey to sweeten the otherwise bitter taste. Today, buckthorn bark and berry purgatives are mainly used in veterinary practices. The herbal is mixed with castor oil and given mostly to constipated dogs. Legends of buckthorn state that eating a bird who has feasted on the buckthorn plant can have a purgative effect, and that the Crown of Thorns was allegedly made of buckthorn.

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How Effective is Buckthorn Bark and Berry?

Buckthorn bark and berry used as a purgative is exceptionally effective. The effect of drinking the herbal was so severe that it fell out of favor as a treatment for humans. It is still used today for animals.

What are the Adverse and Long-Term Effects of Consuming Buckthorn Bark and Berries?

Buckthorn may work well as a purgative, but unfortunately, it can cause permanent damage to the colon. It has also been discovered that buckthorn bark and berry laxatives can damage the cellular lining of the colon. This is one of the reasons why the drink has fallen out of favor, despite its effectiveness.

What Other Herbs or Drugs can be Used for Constipation?

Generally, constipation is a simple issue to treat, and it is also a pervasive issue. There are numerous, effective, and safe prescriptions and OTC laxatives on the market today that can treat constipation. Overuse of laxatives can cause changes in bowel functioning, and consumers must use laxatives while under the care of a physician. Changes in diet and increasing water intake and exercise can also prevent and reduce instances of constipation. Consuming fiber-rich foods and eating more whole foods, fruits, and vegetables can improve bowel function.

However, sudden bowel changes lasting more than a week can signify something more serious. Consumers should make an appointment with their physician if they experience constipation that lasts for more than two weeks or does not resolve even with the use of medication and dietary changes.

Can CBD Treat This Issue?

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CBD is not an FDA-approved medication and cannot treat constipation in humans. CBD is considered a supplement and is not subjected to the FDA’s strict guidelines and testing criteria that are present with prescription and OTC medications. The research into CBD’s effectiveness as a natural remedy for a range of health issues is still ongoing and inconclusive. But it is possible to purchase a CBD product without a prescription at a health food store, grocer, boutique, or online.

It is also crucial that people speak to their doctor before adding a CBD supplement to their diet. That said, CBD is non-addictive, and the side effects are few and far between. If your doctor has okayed your desire to use CBD, get started today with Hugs CBD. Order online and have a high-quality CBD product delivered conveniently to your home.

Last updated September 23 2019

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