Cascara Sagrada — A Natural Laxative Cascara sagrada comes from the bark of the Rhamnus purshiana tree, the largest species of buckthorn. Native American Indians and later immigrant Americans used it continually for over 1,000 years as a natural laxative. It is still the main ingredient in many over-the-counter laxatives sold in North America today. Researchers have identified the active ingredients in cascara sagrada as anthraquinone glycosides. Free anthraquinone and hydroxyanthracene derivative (HAD) are the main active glycosides responsible for cascara sagrada’s laxative effects. These substances cause increased peristalsis (contractions of the intestinal walls) in the large intestine. HAD also circulates in the bloodstream, stimulating a nerve center to trigger a laxative effect. Properly Aged to Optimize Active Constituents Our Cascara Sagrada is aged for one year to optimize the active constituents. The bark is peeled from the trees of the Pacific Northwest. To work properly, the bark must be carefully prepared, cured for at least one year or heated, and dried to speed up the aging process. Aging is essential because the fresh bark is very irritating to the gastrointestinal system, causing vomiting and intestinal spasms.

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