# Plant Monograph: Buckthorn
**Name of plant:**
Buckthorn
**Catch phrase (Carmina Gadelica or traditional invocation if available):**
No specific *Carmina Gadelica* invocation for buckthorn has been identified. The plant has, however, a longstanding association with cleansing and purgation because of its traditional use as a laxative.
**Family:**
Rhamnaceae — Buckthorn family
**Genus and species:**
*Rhamnus cathartica* L.
**Other names:**
Common buckthorn, European buckthorn, purging buckthorn, European waythorn, ramsteg, *Rhamnus cathartica*. It should not be confused with alder buckthorn (*Frangula alnus*) or cascara (*Frangula/Rhamnus purshiana*), which are different species. ([EFSA Journal][1])
**Brief introduction:**
Common buckthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa and now widely naturalized in North America. It has opposite or sub-opposite branches, small greenish flowers and black, berry-like fruits. The species name *cathartica* refers to its traditional purgative action. The berries and bark contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives capable of stimulating intestinal motility, making buckthorn historically important as a strong laxative but also giving it significant safety concerns.
**Traditional uses:**
* Used as a strong laxative and purgative for constipation.
* Used traditionally to promote bowel evacuation in cases of intestinal sluggishness.
* Used historically as a purgative in preparations intended to "cleanse" the body.
* Berries were sometimes used in traditional preparations for worms and other intestinal complaints.
* The bark and berries were used medicinally in European folk traditions, although the berries can produce considerable gastrointestinal irritation.
**Historical use:**
* European herbal medicine employed the berries as a purgative.
* Dried fruits were historically used in laxative preparations.
* The bark was also used medicinally for purgative purposes.
* Buckthorn fruits were incorporated into older pharmacopoeias and compound preparations.
* The berries were also used as a source of pigment and dye, while the shrub itself was used as a hedging plant.
**Parts used and method of use:**
* Dried ripe berries.
* Bark and, historically, other aerial portions.
Used as:
* Dried berry preparations.
* Infusions or decoctions in historical herbal medicine.
* Liquid extracts and compound laxative preparations.
* Occasionally used externally or industrially as a source of natural pigment.
**Use in healing (modern herbal practice):**
* Historically used as a stimulant laxative for occasional constipation.
* Traditionally used when a strong purgative action was desired.
* Sometimes included in older cleansing or detoxifying herbal formulas.
* Modern medicinal use is limited because of the safety concerns surrounding hydroxyanthracene derivatives.
* It is **not appropriate as a routine long-term laxative**; prolonged stimulant-laxative use can disturb fluid and electrolyte balance. EFSA specifically identifies *Rhamnus cathartica* among plants containing hydroxyanthracene derivatives requiring safety consideration. ([DOI.org][2])
**Pharmacology and biochemistry:**
* **Hydroxyanthracene derivatives** — including anthraquinone-related compounds responsible for the purgative action.
* **Emodin and related anthraquinones** — occur among the anthraquinone constituents of buckthorn.
* **Flavonoids, tannins and other phenolic compounds** — contribute to the plant's broader phytochemical profile.
Mechanisms:
* Hydroxyanthracene derivatives are metabolized in the large intestine to active compounds that stimulate intestinal motility.
* They can increase intestinal water and electrolyte secretion, softening stool and accelerating transit.
* Excessive stimulation can produce cramping, diarrhea, dehydration and electrolyte disturbances.
Overall profile: **A potent traditional stimulant laxative rather than a gentle digestive herb.** Its pharmacological activity is well established, but its safety margin is narrower than that of bulk-forming or osmotic laxatives. Modern regulatory authorities place substantial restrictions on hydroxyanthracene-containing laxatives, particularly concerning prolonged use. ([DOI.org][2])
**Common dosage:**
* Dried berries: Historical preparations varied considerably; **no general modern self-treatment dose is recommended**.
* Bark: Historical medicinal preparations existed, but standardized safe dosing is not appropriate without identification and controlled preparation.
* Extract: Must be standardized to its hydroxyanthracene content; product-specific dosing should be followed.
* Hydroxyanthracene-containing preparations: Regulatory safety assessments have cited a maximum of approximately **30 mg/day of hydroxyanthracene derivatives from dried *Rhamnus cathartica* berries** in certain European regulatory contexts; this is a safety reference, **not a recommendation for self-medication**. ([DOI.org][2])
**Safety factors (including side effects):**
* Excessive doses can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting.
* Prolonged use can cause dehydration and disturbances of potassium and other electrolytes.
* Repeated stimulant-laxative use may contribute to dependence on laxatives and impaired normal bowel function.
* Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless specifically directed by a qualified clinician; hydroxyanthracene-containing laxatives are generally not recommended in these populations. ([DOI.org][2])
* Avoid in intestinal obstruction, unexplained abdominal pain, inflammatory bowel disease or other conditions in which stimulant laxatives are contraindicated.
**First aid / adverse reaction response:**
* **Mild abdominal cramping or diarrhea:** Stop the preparation and replace fluids and electrolytes.
* **Persistent or severe diarrhea:** Discontinue use and seek medical assessment, particularly if dehydration develops.
* **Weakness, muscle cramps, palpitations or confusion:** These may indicate significant electrolyte disturbance and require prompt medical attention.
* **Severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fainting or suspected overdose:** Seek urgent medical/poison-control assistance rather than attempting to counteract the purgative with another medication.
**Drug interactions:**
* May increase potassium loss and therefore interact adversely with medicines affected by low potassium, including certain cardiac glycosides.
* Potassium depletion may increase the adverse effects of some diuretics and other potassium-lowering medicines.
* May reduce the absorption or alter the effectiveness of orally administered medicines if intestinal transit is greatly accelerated.
* Avoid combining with other stimulant laxatives unless specifically directed by a clinician; concurrent use increases the risk of excessive diarrhea and electrolyte imbalance.
**Horticultural requirements:**
* USDA / Canadian zone: Approximately USDA Zones 3–8.
* Soil pH: Approximately 5.0–8.0; adaptable to a wide range of soils.
* Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
* Moisture: Moderate; adaptable once established but grows particularly well in reasonably moist soils.
* Other notes (growth habit, harvest timing, etc.):
* **Growth habit:** Deciduous, thorny shrub or small tree, commonly reaching approximately 3–6 m.
* **Flowering/fruiting:** Small greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring; female plants produce clusters of black, berry-like fruits in late summer and autumn.
* **Harvest timing:** Historically, fruits were gathered when mature; medicinal bark was generally collected from young branches.
* **Habitat:** Woodland edges, hedgerows, disturbed ground, roadsides and abandoned fields. In North America it is an invasive species in many regions.
* **Propagation/cultivation notes:** Propagates readily from seed, particularly after natural or artificial stratification. Because common buckthorn is invasive in parts of Canada and the United States, deliberate cultivation should be avoided where prohibited and local regulations should be checked.
**Sampling of clinical reports / studies:**
* **Clinical evidence:** Modern clinical evidence specifically supporting *Rhamnus cathartica* is limited; its historical laxative action is principally attributed to hydroxyanthracene derivatives.
* **Safety assessment:** EFSA has evaluated the safety of hydroxyanthracene derivatives and specifically lists *Rhamnus cathartica* dried berries among botanical sources requiring restrictions and safety consideration. ([DOI.org][2])
* **Pharmacological evidence:** Anthraquinone-related constituents stimulate intestinal secretion and motility after metabolism in the colon.
* **Phytochemical evidence:** Buckthorn contains hydroxyanthracene derivatives, anthraquinones, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds.
* **Overall assessment of evidence:** **The laxative pharmacology is well established, but safety concerns substantially limit modern use.** Buckthorn is better regarded as a historically important stimulant laxative than as a general-purpose medicinal herb.
[1]: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5090?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Safety of hydroxyanthracene derivatives for use in food - - 2018 - EFSA Journal - Wiley Online Library"
[2]: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5090?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Safety of hydroxyanthracene derivatives for use in food - - 2018 - EFSA Journal - Wiley Online Library"
Educational Use Only: The information presented on this page is provided for educational, historical, and informational purposes only. ArdNemeton na Tuatha and Bhùth Draoi do not provide medical advice. Always consult your physician and pharmacist before using any herb, mushroom, supplement, or botanical product for medicinal purposes. Traditional uses described herein do not constitute medical claims.