Frangula, Alder Buckthorn, Glossy Buckthorn
frangula alnus
Medicinal Actions
Allergenic, Antiangiogenic, Anticancer, Antiherpetic, Antiviral, Cholagogue, Cytotoxic, Depurative, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Hydragogue, Laxative, Peristaltic, Tonic
Primary Conditions Treated
General Dosage
1.5 g; 0.5–2.5 g bark; 1.8–7.3 g bark; 2 tsp bark in cold tea 1 ×/day; 2–5 ml liquid bark extract 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml liquid extract; 20–180 mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives/day.
Safety & Contraindications
Class 2b. Contraindicated in some types of hemorrhoids and nephropathy, intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown causes, any enteritis, and menstruation. Do not use more than 8–10 days. Not for use in cases of diarrhea or abdominal pain. Discontinue use if diarrhea or watery stools occurs. Consult a health care provider in cases of pregnancy or lactation. Not for long-term use or overdose. Commission E reports for bark, contraindications, adverse effects, and interactions of anthranoid laxatives. While widely used, anthranoid-containing laxatives can be habit-forming. Some contain compounds suspected of being cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and even tumorigenic; epidemiological studies in Germany reveal that abusers of anthranoid laxatives have a three times higher rate of colon carcinoma. Anthraquinones are laxative and irritate the GI tract. Because of the anthraquinones, nonstandardized preparations should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Because the anthraquinones in freshly dried buckthorn bark, it can cause extreme GI irritation, including severe intestinal spasm, as well as vomiting. The bark is aged for a year to allow oxidation of the anthrones.