Rhamnus purshiana
(Cascara)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Acts on the large intestine (cascarosides)
• Inhibits protein synthesis in neoplastic cells due to decreasing cellular respiration rates and decreasing glycolysis
• Laxative
• Possess cytotoxic mechanisms (rhein and emodin)
• Stimulates peristalsis
• Tones relaxed muscles of the GI tract

Clinical Indications:

• Cancer prevention
• Chronic constipation

Contraindications:

• Inflammatory disorders:
  
  Appendicitis
  Colitis
  Crohn's disease
  Irritable bowel
  Ulcerative colitis
• Pregnancy
• Using for more than 10 days may cause electrolyte and water loss

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• May increase potency of cardiac glycosides, including Adonis, Convallaria, Digitalis, Helleborus, Strophanthus and Urginea, due to electrolyte loss
• Concurrent use with diuretics may lead to electrolyte imbalances

Chemical Constituents:

• Aloe-emodin
• Anthrquinone glycosides including:
  
  Barbaloin
  Cascarosides A, B, C and D
  Chrysaloin
  Frangulin
• Chrysophanol
• Emodin
• Heterodianthrones palmidin A, B, and C, dianthrones
• Oxanthrone
• Rhein
• Tannins

Toxicity:

• Cascara bark that is at least 1 year old is non purgative
• Symptoms include:
  
  Abdominal pain
  Diarrhea with nausea and vomiting
  Kidney damage
• Treatment:
  
  Activated charcoal
  Avoid use of drugs
  Emesis or gastric lavage

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).