Herbal Laxative 101: Understanding Buckthorn


If you are considering using Buckthorn as an herbal laxative, it is important to understand the two key types of Buckthorn as well as its relation to another popular herb for constipation, cascara sagrada. Buckthorn is the common name for a variety of different species of shrubs and small trees originating primarily from Europe. For the purposes of constipation relief, there are two main species to look at - Common Buckthorn or R. cathartica and Alder Buckthorn or R. frangula .


Common Buckthorn as Herbal Laxative

Common Buckthorn is the stronger natural laxative because its berries have a very high concentration of a chemical called anthraquinone glycosides. These chemicals are the primary mode of laxative action for all the Buckthorn family species. Common Buckthorn’s anthraquinones are derived from the berries of the plant. The berries are very unpleasant tasting and are often cut with some other form of herb (like cinnamon) to reduce the bitter taste. Sometimes the berries are mixed with sugar to form a laxative syrup. Common Buckthorn is barely utilized anymore because its high anthraquinone content makes it very stimulant – inducing bowel movements, but also cramping and diarrhea.


Alder Buckthorn as Herbal Laxative

Alder Buckthorn is more commonly used than R. cathartica, primarily in Europe, where it originates. It contains 3-7% anthraquinones – still a very high concentration compared to many herbal laxatives. The bark of the Alder Buckthorn is harvested in the summer and dried because fresh bark would be very irritating to the human GI tract.


Anthraquinones in Buckthorn

Both Alder Buckthorn and Common Buckthorn have high enough anthraquinone content to cause nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal spasms. Anthraquinones in general are problematic because there is still considerable medical debate about their safety as an herbal laxative. Studies have shown that anthraquinone usage can damage the nerves and surface cells of the colon and possibly increase growth rate for tumors. Anthraquinones also cause a darkening of the colon called “melanosis coli”, which has been linked in some studies to an increased risk of colon cancer. There are forms of Buckthorn like cascara sagrada that are favored constipation remedies due to their lower anthraquinone content, but there is still risk involving the usage of this chemical as an herbal laxative.



Laxatives that are Non-Stimulant - Alternatives

If you are concerned about the use of a stimulant natural laxative, you might want to look towards a more holistic, long-term solution. A natural laxative like StayRegular doesn’t utilize any dangerous stimulant ingredients to provide constipation relief. Its “quad-action” formula relieves constipation by drawing water into the colon with essential minerals, rebalancing the colon’s beneficial bacteria, providing special fiber for stool movement, and supplying the nutrients the body needs to relax into comfortable bowel movements. While StayRegular might take a little longer to balance the system, the effects will be more comfortable, safer, and longer-lasting than stimulant solutions.