Cascara Sagrada

Cascara sagrada is a small to medium-sized tree native to the provinces and states of the Pacific coast, including British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. The bark of the tree is removed, cut into small pieces, and dried for one year before being used medicinally.  Fresh bark of cascara sagrada has emetic (vomit-inducing) properties and is therefore not used.

Northern California Indians introduced this herb, which they called sacred bark, to 16th-century Spanish explorers. As it is much milder in its laxative action than the herb buckthorn, cascara sagrada became popular in Europe for constipation. This bark has been approved in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia since 1890.

Cascara sagrada is high in hydroxyanthraquinone glycosides called cascarosides. Resins, tannins, and lipids make up the bulk of the other bark ingredients. Cascarosides have a cathartic effect that stimulates the colon to increase its muscular contractions (peristalsis), resulting in bowel movements.