Buckthorn
By john | September 7, 2007
Dried buckthorn bark comes from the stems and branches of the Rhamnus frangula tree, which is imported from Russia, Yugoslavia, and Poland. It contains anthranoids and 3% to 9% anthraquinone glycosides, which include glucofrangulin A and Band frangulin A and B, which have a laxative effect.
The fresh bark contains reduced forms of anthrones and anthrone glycosides, which have an emetic component. Use of the untreated fresh herbs can irritate the stomach mucosa, causing severe vomiting, colic, and bloody diarrhea.
Buckthorn’s stimulant and irritant laxative effect on the large intestine is similar to, yet milder than, that of cascara sagrada. It has weaker antiabsorptive and hydragogic properties. The herb takes effect 6 to 8 hours after it’s administered. Unlike bulk-forming laxatives, stimulant laxatives act directly on the intestinal mucosa and commonly result in gripping and loose stools.
Anthraquinones stimulate active chloride secretion and increase the amount of water and electrolytes discharged into the large intestine and passed in stool. The motility of the colon is increased as stationary and stimulating propulsive contractions are inhibited, thereby resulting in faster bowel movements. Buckthorn is available as capsules, fluid extract, liquid formulations, and tablets. It’s also an ingredient in various teas.
Benefits And Uses of Buckthorn
Buckthorn is used as a laxative to treat constipation and to ease bowel evacuation in those who have anal fissures or hemorrhoids, and in those who have had rectalanal surgery. It’s also used orally to treat cancer. Buckthorn is also used as a tonic. Extracts of buckthorn bark are used topically in sunscreen products.
Administration
- Daily dose: Based on the quantity of its key component anthranoid, not on the quantity of dry herb; average daily dose based on hydroxyanthracine content is 20 to 180 mg; however, some sources list the daily dose as 20 to 30 mg of hydroxyanthracine derivative, calculated as glucofrangulin A .
- Tea: Prepared by pouring boiling water over 2 g (1 teaspoon equals about 2.4 g; 1 scant teaspoon, 2 g) of finely ground herb and straining after 10 to 15 minute.
- Cold infusion: Prepared by letting the herb steep for 12 hours at room temperature.
Side Effects of Buckthorn
Overuse or abuse of buckthorn may interfere with the effects of antiarrhythmlcs because of potassium loss and may potentiate the adverse effects of cardiac glycosides because of potassium loss. When buckthorn is used with corticosteroids or thiazide diuretics, there is an increased risk of hypokalemia, which may cause arrhythmias. The use of buckthorn and licorice may increase the risk of hypokalemia. The risk of hypokalemia is increased when buckthorn is used with potassium-wasting herbs such as horsetail herb or stimulant laxative herbs such as aloe, black root, blue flag rhizome, butternut bark, cascara sagrada bark, castor oil, colocynth fruit pulp, gamboge bark exudate, jalap root, manna bark exudate, podophyllum root, rhubarb root, senna leaves and pods, wild cumber fruit (Ecba/lium elaterium), and yellow dock root.
Buckthorn may be associated with GI cramping or gripping and dark yellow or red urine. Those with intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain of unknown origin, or acute inflammatory intestinal disease including appendicitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome, should avoid using buckthorn. Pregnant and breast-feeding patients and children younger than age 12 should also avoid use. Those with fluid or electrolyte imbalances should use buckthorn with caution because long-term use or abuse can cause hypokalemia and loss of fluid.
Clinical
considerations
- If buckthorn is being used as a laxative, the dosage should be individualized to the smallest dose required to produce a soft stool.
- Suggest that the patient try lifestyle changes such as increasing dietary fiber and fluid intake and increasing exercise to restore normal bowel function. Using a bulk laxative may also be preferable to using buckthorn.
- Patient shouldn’t use buckthorn for longer than 2 weeks without consulting his health care provider because overuse Can cause intestinal sluggishness and loss of fluid and electrolytes, especially potassium. Consequences of chronic hypokalemia include aggravated constipation, accelerated bone deterioration, nephropathies, albuminuria, hematuria, damage to the renal tubules, heart function disorders, and muscular weakness, especially when patient is also taking a cardiac glycoside or a diuretic.
- Buckthorn takes effect 6 to 8 hours after it’s administered, so it isn’t suitable for rapid emptying of the bowels.
- Patients with diarrhea or abdominal pain of unknown origin shouldn’t use buckthorn.
- If patient experiences adverse GI effects, advise him to reduce the dosage. If he experiences diarrhea or watery stools, he should stop using buckthorn.
- It’s unknown if the anthranoid level in buckthorn is high enough to cause diarrhea in breast-feeding infants.
- Buckthorn may cause precancerous pigment changes in the intestinal mucosa.
- Warn patient not to exceed the recommended dose. Signs and symptoms of overdose include vomiting and severe GI spasms.
- Warn patient not to delay seeking appropriate medical evaluation because doing so may delay diagnosis of a potentially serious medical condition.
- Advise patient who is pregnant or breast-feeding, or planning pregnancy, to avoid use.
- Tell female patient to report planned or suspected pregnancy to her health care provider.
- Inform patient that many so called dieter’s teas contain buckthorn.
- Tell patient to remind prescriber and pharmacist of any herbal supplement that he’s taking when obtaining a new prescription.
- Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a treatment with proven efficacy may be available.
Research summary
The concepts behind the use of buckthorn and the claims made regarding its effects have not yet been validated scientifically.
Tagged under:Alternative Medicines anthraquinone anthraquinones bloody diarrhea buckthorn bark cascara sagrada colic emetic glycosides hemorrhoids intestinal mucosa laxative effect loose stools stimulant laxatives sunscreen products
Topics: Alternative Medicines |
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