How to Get Cascara Bark

The cascara tree (Rhamnus purshiana) is native to the forests of North America's northwest coast, from northern California to southern British Columbia. Indigenous tribes have used the bark as a laxative since before Columbus arrived in the Americas. The Spanish introduced what they called cascara sagrada ("sacred bark") to Europe.



According to Flora Natural Health Products, the pharmacopoeias of at least 17 countries include cascara bark as a laxative. In addition to constipation, the bark is taken for conditions that require a softened stool, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures and rectal-anal surgery recovery.

Instructions

1

Harvest cascara bark in spring or early summer. Cascaras like to grow under conifers in rich, moist soil. Look for them beside streams and in other wet areas. Cascaras can be the size of a small shrub, but they can grow into 50-foot tall trees. Even the tallest cascaras have a trunk diameter of 18 inches or less. The thin, dark grayish-brown outer bark is smooth when young and becomes scaly with age. The bright yellow inner bark turns dark brown when exposed to air and light.

The alternate, oblong leaves feature prominent veins running from the middle vein out to the sawtooth edge. From May to June, the ends of the branches display clusters of small greenish white flowers, which produce black-purple berries by late summer.

You can harvest the bark from young or old trees, but older, larger trees can yield more bark.

2

Cut the bark with a knife or pry it up with a screwdriver. Take care not to cut a ring around the tree or you will kill it.

3

Saw the bark into pieces roughly 1 inch square. Wear a mask to avoid breathing in the sawdust.

4

Dry the bark on trays or racks. You can do this inside or outdoors, as long as the bark is protected from rain and exposed to the air. After one year of aging, the bark is ready for use.

5

Steep the bark to make a laxative tea. Chop the aged bark into small pieces with a knife or blender. Flora Natural Health Products recommends you pour boiling water over 1 to 2 grams (up to 4/5 tsp.) of finely chopped bark, steep for ten minutes and then strain. The concoction should start to work in six to eight hours and should not be used for more than a few days at a time.