You should consider several safety concerns before you decide if you should use cascara sagrada. It can cause abdominal cramping, loss of electrolytes, and dependency. Using cascara sagrada for longer than two weeks can cause you to be unable to have a bowel movement without the help of a laxative.
Talk to your doctor before using cascara sagrada. Make sure you read label instructions carefully before using cascara sagrada. This laxative may also interact with other medications. The dosage for laxatives that contain other substances depends on how much cascara sagrada is present. Drink plenty of liquids with any laxative you take. A good guideline is to drink six to eight glasses of water per day. This will keep you hydrated and soften your stool.
Follow any additional instructions on the product label. Read more: 6 Natural Constipation Remedies ». Laxatives are used to treat constipation and there are many different products available to use. Learn about the different types of laxatives, how…. While laxatives and stool softeners can help you overcome a bout of constipation, these medications come with side effects. Cascara sagrada works by stimulating muscle contractions in the intestines. These help move the stool through the bowels, easing constipation.
The compounds that play a role here are the anthraquinones in cascara. They act as irritants to the colon and promote muscle contractions also called peristalsis and stool evacuation 1. Anthraquinones achieve this by inhibiting the absorption of water and electrolytes in the intestines.
The constipation-relieving effects of cascara were mentioned in the edition of The British Medical Journal 2. Hence, we recommend its use in a herbal form — because the efficacy of this shrub is unparalleled.
The anthraquinones in cascara sagrada help ease constipation. Some sources suggest its efficacy in promoting liver health and preventing cancer — but we need more research on that. The anthraquinones in cascara deserve the credit here. These compounds have laxative effects and help in gastric emptying. As discussed, these anthraquinones work by triggering muscle contractions in the intestines. Studies have recognized the strong purgative effects of the bark of cascara.
It also helps to treat various forms of dyspepsia or indigestion 4. Cascara can also be used as treatment for irritable bowel syndrome 5. Cascara may also benefit the liver. It contains a compound called emodin, which was protective against induced liver damage in rats 6 , 7. In the study, rats with acetaminophen-induced liver damage experienced some liver protection after treatment with emodin.
However, there is limited information on this. We suggest you check with your doctor before using cascara for this purpose.
One study investigated the anticancer effects of aloe-emodin, a component of cascara, on human liver cancer cell lines.
The compound was found to stop cancer cell proliferation and even induce cancer cell death 8. The study concludes by stating that cascara might be useful in preventing cancer — especially that of the liver.
It can grow to be around 32 feet tall and has grayish-black bark. Cascara sagrada, which is used medicinally, is the dried bark of the cascara tree which is made available in solid and liquid forms.
Cascara sagrada bark contains chemicals called anthraquinones, which provide its color and also its laxative effects. As a traditional medicine, cascara was used by Native Americans as an herbal laxative.
In more recent years, cascara sagrada was approved by the FDA as an ingredient in commercial laxatives, but reservations began to be raised about the effectiveness and safety of this herbal remedy for constipation. Consequently, makers of OTC laxatives with cascara were told by the the FDA to either remove or reformulate their cascara products by November 5, Fast forward to present day and cascara is now only available as an herbal supplement, but not as a drug.
Other than being an herbal supplement, cascara is also currently employed in the processing of some sunscreens.
Constipation is said to effect at least 14 percent of the adult world population. This common health concern can be the result of lifestyle choice such as poor diet or medication side effects, or it can be related to a medical condition. However, severe cases with acute liver failure and development of ascites and portal hypertension have been described.
This is exactly why cascara sagrada supplements are typically only considered safe for a one week maximum of usage and recommended dosages should not be exceeded. Cascara is considered a botanical stimulant laxative and as such it works by causing increased peristalsis muscle contractions in the intestines, which helps to move stool through the bowels to produce a bowel movement.
Cascara bark also contains resins, tannins and lipids. While senna is said to be a popular choice for constipation relief in the Middle East, cascara is most popular in North America.
Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Cirillo C, Capasso R. Constipation and botanical medicines: An overview. Phytother Res. Final rule. Fed Regist. Surveillance of suspected adverse reactions to herbal products used as laxatives. Eur J Clin Pharmacol.
Dietz B, Bolton JL. Botanical dietary supplements gone bad. Chem Res Toxicol. Freeman HJ. World J Gastroenterol. Kaiser Permanente. Updated May 24, Cascara sagrada. Updated Sept 9, Liu LWC. Chronic constipation: Current treatment options. Can J Gastroenterol. Herbal remedies for management of constipation and its Ayurvedic rerspectives. J Int Med Sci Acad. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.
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