Product Description
Cascara sagrada is a natural laxative made from the reddish-brown bark of a tree (Rhamnus purshiana) native to western North America.
Early plant chemists have identified the active laxative constituents in cascara sagrada bark as anthraquinone derivatives. These compounds stimulate peristalsis, the vigorous wavelike contractions of the large intestine that keep food moving through the digestive system. When cascara speeds the process up, the body produces a softer, quicker bowel movement because the intestine has had less chance to absorb the liquid from the stool. Several studies have shown that cascara sagrada is effective in easing chronic constipation in elderly people
In addition to being used as a laxative, it has been used as a treatment for gallstones, liver ailments, hemorrhoids, fissures, and even cancer. Some people use it as a "bitter tonic." You can sometimes find it used as a flavoring agent in foods such as candy, frozen dairy desserts, and baked goods—no joke--and is used in the processing of some sunscreens.
