CASCARA SAGRADA FRANGULA PURSHIANA

CASCARA SAGRADA (Frangula purshiana (DC.) J. G. Cooper) +

Synonym :
- Rhamnus purshiana DC.

Activities (Cascara Sagrada) :
- Antibacterial (1; HH2); Antiherpetic (1; APA; HH2); Antileukemic (1; APA); Antiseptic (1; APA; DEM); Antispasmodic (f; PED); Antiviral (1; APA; HH2); Bitter (1; PED); Depurative (f; DEM); Diuretic (f; CRC); Emetic (1; APA; DEM); Fungicide (1; FNF); Hepatotonic (f; PED); Hydragogue (1; PH2); Laxative (2; APA; FNF; HH2; PED; PNC; PH2; SKY); Peristaltic (2; PNC); Poison (f; DEM); Prostaglandigenic (1; PH2); Sunscreen (f; APA); Tonic (f; DEM; PNC).

Indications (Cascara Sagrada) :
- Arthrosis (f; DEM); Bacteria (1; HH2); Biliousness (f; DEM; FEL); Cancer (1; APA); Catarrh (f; FEL); Chickenpox (1; APA); Constipation (2; APA; FEL; HH2; KOM; PH2; PNC; SKY); Cramp (f; PED); Duodenosis (f; FEL); Dysentery (f; DEM); Dyspepsia (1; FEL; PNC); Flu (1; APA); Fungus (1; FNF); Gas (f; PED); Gastrosis (f; DEM; FEL); Gonorrhea (f; DEM); Headache (f; FEL); Hemorrhoid (1; PNC); Hepatosis (f; DEM); Herpes (1; APA; HH2); Infection (1; DEM; FNF); Jaundice (f; FEL); Leukemia (1; APA); Mycosis (1; FNF); Proctosis (f; PH2); Rheumatism (f; DEM); Ringworm (1; FNF); Sciatica (f; DEM); Shingles (1; APA); Sore (f; DEM); Swelling (f; DEM); VD (f; DEM); Virus (1; APA; HH2); Water Retention (f; CRC); Worm (f; DEM); Wound (f; DEM).

Dosages (Cascara Sagrada) :
- 1/2 tsp powdered bark/cup water, morning and/or night, for short periods (APA); 1 - 2.5 g powdered bark (PNC); 1 g bark (HHB); 1 - 3 g dry bark (PED); 2 g dry bark:10 mg alcohol/10 mg water (PED); 100 - 300 mg dry bark extract (PNC); 2 - 5 ml liquid bark extract (CAN; PNC); 1/2 tsp tincture (APA); 1 - 5 ml tincture (SKY); 2 - 6 ml fluid extract (APA); 1 ml (ca. 10 drops) StX (fluid); 2 (450 mg) capsules at bedtime (NH).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Cascara Sagrada) :
- Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Contraindicated in hemorrhoids and nephropathy (CAN), intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown causes, any enteritis (appendicitis, colitis, Crohns disease, IBS), hemorrhoids, nephropathy, menstruation (AHP). AHP also says not to use in cases of abdominal pain or diarrhea. Discontinue use if or watery stools occur. Consult a health care provider before using in cases of pregnancy or nursing. Not for long-term use or overdosage (AHP). CAN cautions that anthraquinones are laxative and irritant to the GI tract. Because of the anthraquinones, nonstandardized preparations should be avoided in pregnancy and lactation (CAN). Not for children under 12 years old. Do not use bark that has not been heat-treated or aged 1 year (AHP). While widely used, anthranoid-containing laxatives can be habit forming; some contain compounds suspected of being cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and even tumorigenic; epidemiological studies in Germany reveal that abusers of anthranoid laxatives have three times higher rate of colon carcinoma (AEH). Some herbal laxative preparations such as cascara, for example, can cause an increase in the potency of digoxin (Depiro, 1997). Chronic use may lead to hypokalemia, increasing efficacy, perhaps dangerously, of cardiac glycosides, perhaps antiarrhythmics. Hypokalemia can be increased with corticosteroids, diuretics, and licorice root (KOM). Cathartic cascarosides induce the large intestine to increased peristalsis, inducing bowel movement. Clinical comparison of patients preparing for colonoscopy showed that GoLytely alone and Senna alone with enema did better than a mix of GoLytely with Cascara. Cascara was last choice for cleanliness and quality of the exam (PH2).