Cascara buckthorn is the plant Frangula purshiana, also known by the botanical synonym Rhamnus purshiana. In the European Medicines Agency’s assessment, “cascara” means preparations made from its bark—not every plant called buckthorn. Those assessed preparations are used for short-term relief of occasional constipation, but they are not suitable for everyone.
What is cascara buckthorn?
Cascara buckthorn is a North American shrub or small tree whose bark has been used in herbal medicinal preparations. Kew’s Plants of the World Online lists Frangula purshiana as the accepted botanical name and Rhamnus purshiana as a synonym. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) uses Rhamnus purshiana in its medicinal assessment.
The name can cause confusion: the EMA assessment concerns cascara bark from this species, not all plants with “buckthorn” in their common name. If you are identifying a plant or considering a product, check its botanical name and the plant part listed on the label.
What is cascara bark used for?
The EMA’s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products concluded that the assessed cascara bark preparations can be used for short-term treatment of occasional constipation. This is an EU herbal-medicinal assessment, not a blanket endorsement of every cascara product or a claim that products are authorized or appropriate in every country.
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Cascara contains anthraquinones. According to the EMA, these stimulate bowel movements and affect the absorption of water and salts in the bowel, helping soften its contents. The EMA describes the conclusion as based on well-established use, supported by bibliographic data, clinical experience and the known mechanism. It also notes that studies evaluating cascara alone or combined with other laxatives are lacking; the assessment should not be mistaken for a body of robust modern clinical trials.
Preparations and product labels
The EMA describes medicinal preparations made from dried, comminuted bark. The bark may also be processed with a solvent to produce liquid or dry extracts. Its public summary includes herbal tea, solid oral forms and liquid oral forms. The reviewed evidence does not establish that one form is superior to another.
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- Evergreen Foliage: Its evergreen nature means that the shrub remains vibrant and green throughout the year, offering consistent aesthetic appeal irrespective of the season. With its naturally rounded and compact growth habit, it's ideal for smaller gardens, borders, or even container gardening.
- Beautiful Aesthetics: Snow White Indian Hawthorn boasts attractive, glossy green leaves that serve as a perfect backdrop for its abundant pure white flowers. These flowers bloom in spring and can add a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape.Perfect for hedges, foundation plantings, and even standalone specimen plants.
- Full sun to partial shade. Providing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day will help the plant produce abundant flowers and maintain a compact, dense growth habit. It can tolerate partial shade, but too much shade can lead to leggy growth and fewer flowers. While this shrub is relatively adaptable, it prefers well-draining soil. Ensure that the planting location doesn't retain water for extended periods, as standing water can lead to root rot.
- USDA Zones: The Snow White Indian Hawthorn is generally hardy in USDA zones 7-10. This means it can tolerate winter temperatures down to as low as 0°F to 10°F in Zone 7, depending on specific conditions and protection measures.
A cascara sagrada bark tea is one possible preparation category, not a guarantee of quality, standardization, effectiveness or safety. When assessing any product, verify the botanical identity and plant part, preparation type, disclosed ingredients or standardization, directions and duration warnings, contraindications, and the regulatory context where it is sold. Follow that product’s own leaflet rather than inferring a dose from the form.
Who should not use it, and what are the risks?
The EMA says cascara must not be used by children under 12, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or in several medical circumstances, including bowel obstruction, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, unexplained abdominal pain and severe dehydration. Anyone with a relevant condition should seek medical advice rather than self-treating.
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- Colorful: Eleanor Taber Indian Hawthorn is renowned for its abundant clusters of pink flowers in spring, complemented by its glossy, dark green foliage that sometimes takes on a purplish hue in colder weather. A mature plant generally reaches a compact size of 3-4 feet in height with a similar spread.
- Where to Plant: This Indian Hawthorn variety is an evergreen shrub, maintaining its vibrant foliage throughout the year. It is suitable for foundation plantings, hedges, or as an individual specimen in gardens and landscapes.
- Low Maintenance: Eleanor Taber prefers full sun to partial shade. While it can adapt to varying light conditions, a sunnier spot will enhance its blooming potential. Minimal pruning is required, but to encourage a bushier growth or maintain a specific shape, trim after the flowering season.
- USDA Zones: Adapted to USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11, Eleanor Taber Indian Hawthorn needs regular watering, especially during its initial years. Once established, it showcases a degree of drought tolerance, though it's still recommended to water it during prolonged dry spells.
Reported side effects include allergic reactions, abdominal pain or spasms, and diarrhea. The EMA also identifies potential interactions or concerns for people taking cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmics, medicines that may prolong the QT interval, diuretics, adrenocorticosteroids or liquorice root. If you take medicines or have a health condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist before using cascara.
Duration and when to seek advice
In its EU public summary, the EMA describes use for adults and adolescents over 12 and says it should not exceed one week; it notes that use two to three times per week is usually sufficient. This is not individualized dosing advice, and a product’s leaflet provides the practical instructions for that preparation. Do not extend use beyond the stated limit without professional advice.
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- Versatile Aquatic Plant: Hornwort is a starter plant suitable for any aquarium or pond that grows well floating or planted and provides nutrient absorption and oxygenation for the water
- Shipping Protection Recommendation: If your local area experiences extreme heat or cold, we recommend having your mail held at the post office on the day of arrival to protect plants from the elements until you pick them up
- Hitchhiker Precaution: We remove visible hitchhikers from plants before shipping, but it is impossible to be 100% certain. We recommend rinsing your plants before adding them to your pond or aquarium if you have concerns
- Temperature Tolerance: Hornwort can survive a wide range of temperatures and can even overwinter in most areas, making it adaptable to various climate conditions
- Normal Acclimation Process: It is normal for the plants to shed some leaves after shipping as they settle into their new environment, and once established they will grow very quickly given plenty of nutrition
Consult a doctor or pharmacist if constipation persists or worsens. Severe or unexplained abdominal symptoms, or symptoms that suggest an obstruction or another contraindication, call for medical assessment rather than cascara use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the US regulatory record differs
The EMA assessment is not US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. FDA records show that a May 9, 2002 final rule reclassified cascara sagrada from Category I to Category III. The FDA’s later M007 final administrative order lists cascara sagrada ingredients among ingredients that are not generally recognized as safe and effective (not GRASE). These records describe US regulatory history; they do not establish current authorization for a particular product or market availability.
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- IMPORTANT: Please note that during times of extreme weather, live plants will can suffer due to extreme temps. During winter, do not order live plants when temperatures are expected to go below 20F at the lowest point during the day.
- LIVE AQUARIUM PLANT - 1 hornwort coontail live aquarium plant
- SIZE - 1 Hornwort bundle with multiple stems usually 6-10 inches. Size will vary slightly as these are live plants
- LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE - We guarantee live arrival on all of our livestock provided you don't order when temperatures are expected to go below 20F at the lowest point during the day. If a plant ever arrives dead send us a clear photo of the plant in the unopened bag and and we will replace once verified.
- We do our very best to respond fast and ship happy, healthy plants. If you have any questions or concerns please message us we are always happy to help!
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