What is the effect of the alder bark?
The bark of the common sloth tree (Frangula alnus) is recommended for short-term use for occasional constipation. This use is also medically recognized for the bark of the American alder (Frangula purshiana), the so-called cascara bark.
The anthranoids (“anthraquinones”) contained in the bark are responsible for its laxative effect. However, they are formed only during the one-year storage or during the drying of the bark in the hot air stream. The anthranoids stimulate the movements of the intestines and increase the flow of water into the bowel. Thus, the stool is softened and transported more quickly toward the anus.
Do not take sloth tree preparations for longer than a week. Otherwise, there is a risk of heart problems and muscle weakness, among other things.
How is alder used?
It is recommended to drink such a cup of sloth bark tea in the evening before going to bed. You can also combine the sloth bark for tea preparation with other medicinal plants, such as chamomile or fennel.
Alternatively, there are ready-made preparations on the basis of sloth bark. For proper use and dosage, please read the package insert or ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Home remedies based on medicinal plants have their limits. If your symptoms persist for a long time, do not get better or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
What side effects can be triggered by sloth tree?
In rare cases, cramp-like gastrointestinal complaints or colic occur after taking Faulbaum preparations. In such cases, you should reduce the dose taken or refrain from taking it altogether.
During use, urine may become slightly discolored, but this is harmless.
Overdose or ingestion of the fresh sloth tree bark or cascara bark may cause severe vomiting.
In addition, prolonged use may result in protein and blood in the urine. Continuous use further increases intestinal sluggishness.
What you should pay attention to when using alder buckthorn
- Do not take sloth bark or cascara bark for more than one week. Otherwise, intestinal sluggishness and thus constipation may worsen.
- The loss of potassium due to frequent use of sloth bark may increase the effect of so-called digitalis glycosides. These are drugs that are prescribed for heart failure, for example. The effect of drugs against cardiac arrhythmia (antiarrhythmics) may also change.
- If, in addition to Faulbaum products, you also use diuretic drugs from the group of thiazide diuretics, the potassium loss may be further increased. The same applies to simultaneous use of adrenal cortical steroids as well as licorice root.
- In case of intestinal obstruction, inflammatory bowel diseases (for example Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) and abdominal pain of unknown cause, Faulbaum must not be used under any circumstances. For treatment of these complaints, please consult a doctor.
- Women with narrowing of the uterus should also not take lazy tree medicines.
How to obtain alder products
You can obtain the dried bark and various preparations containing alder buckthorn in pharmacies, drugstores and health food stores. Read the enclosed product information for proper and well-tolerated use. If you are taking other medications, you should first ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions with alder buckthorn.
What is common alder?
Common black alder (Frangula alnus, synonym: Rhamnus frangula) is native to all of Europe, western Asia, Asia Minor, and Caucasia. In North America it occurs wild. It can be found, for example, in sparse deciduous and coniferous forests (especially at the edge of forests), shrubberies, hedgerows, bogs, and along watercourses.
As a vigorous shrub or small tree, the common sloth tree can reach a height of three or more meters. When young, it has green bark, which later turns gray-brown and has characteristic gray-white transverse cork pores (lenticels). The leaves are entire and stiff, the flowers inconspicuous and greenish-white.
The American black alder (Frangula purshiana, synonym: Rhamnus purshiana) is native to the Pacific coast of North America and is also cultivated here. The sturdy tree, which grows to a height of ten meters, resembles the common sloth tree in terms of bark and leaves. Its flowers, however, are white.
The German name Faulbaum is derived from the foul odor of the fresh bark.
