The black alder is a popular ornamental shrub for parks and gardens. In medicine, its bark is used as a laxative.
Occurrence and cultivation of the sloth tree
Already in the Middle Ages, the laxative effect of the bark of the sloth tree was known. Before that, it was already used to treat dental and skin diseases. The rotten tree is an ornamental shrub of the buckthorn family. It owes its name to the unpleasant smell of its bark. The bark is dried and crushed and used in medicine as a laxative. As a rule, the rot tree grows as a multi-stemmed shrub, more rarely in the form of a tree. The shrubs reach a height of 2 to 3 meters with a diameter of the individual stems up to 5 centimeters. The trees grow up to 8 meters high with a trunk diameter of up to 15 centimeters. The bark of the young shoots is initially green and smooth, later gray-brown and cracked. The flowers of the rot tree are inconspicuous white and have an intensely sweet fragrance. From them develop green fruits, which later turn red and black when fully ripe. The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees, which is why the alder buckthorn is widely used, especially in gardens of beekeepers and insect lovers. The plant prefers a subcontinental to suboceanic climate. Moist to wet soil is preferred, but waterlogging is not well tolerated. The plant is widespread in Europe and northern Asia. In North America, there is a related plant, the American sloth tree, with similar characteristics. However, this species is reported to have an even stronger laxative effect. All parts of the plant are classified as poisonous.
Effect and application
Medicinally effective is the bark of the rot tree. This must be stored or artificially aged for at least one more year before use. Harvesting of the bark takes place exclusively in the months of May to June, before flowering, when the active ingredient content is at its highest. Responsible for the medicinal effect are the ingredients anthrone and dianthrone glycoside. During storage, these oxidize to anthraquinones. Premature ingestion of the preparation, i.e. before the oxidation is complete, leads to severe vomiting. With prolonged storage, the active ingredient content decreases and so does the medicinal efficacy. Unlike many other laxatives, the effect is not based on physical processes but on a biochemical reaction. By breaking down the ingredients, more water is transported into the intestine, which softens the stool. As a result, the volume increases and intestinal activity is stimulated. Due to these processes, it can take 8 to 10 hours before the desired effect occurs. A tea is used, which is prepared from 2 grams of the bark cut into small pieces. This is poured over boiling water and strained after 10 to 15 minutes of infusion. The tea can also be prepared as a cold extract. For this purpose, the same amount of bark is prepared with cold water and must now infuse for 12 hours. Tablets containing the active ingredient can also be used. The laxative effect of sloth tree bark was already known in the Middle Ages. Before that, it was used to treat dental and skin diseases. However, these uses fell into oblivion and have no significance today. Worth mentioning is only a folk medicine use of a decoction with vinegar as a mouthwash for inflammation in the oral cavity. Folk medicine also describes the efficacy of sloth tree bark in liver and gallbladder complaints, but there is no confirmed evidence for this. A compress soaked with a decoction of sloth bark is said to be effective against skin impurities. Since there are no known side effects on the skin, this may well be tried. The bark of the sloth tree is also used in homeopathy. Here, due to the similarity between symptom and effect, the main application is in the treatment of diarrhea.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Despite the development of chemically produced drugs, the bark of the sloth tree has great medical importance to this day. It is used for diseases that require easier defecation. These can be, for example, hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Also, for bowel evacuation before surgery, sloth bark is still used today. Often, sloth bark is offered in teas mixed with other effective medicinal plants.However, the medicinal plant is more suitable for acute than for chronic conditions. It is recommended to use it for a maximum period of one to two weeks. Continuous use over this period can cause potassium deficiency, which subsequently leads to cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, the drug should also be taken only after consultation with the doctor in case of a known heart disease. Children and pregnant women should not take preparations with sloth tree bark due to the lack of scientific studies. This is especially true for pregnant women: higher dosages can cause miscarriages. In the past, this unpleasant side effect was specifically used to perform illegal abortions. Treatment with sloth bark is also not recommended in cases of inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal obstruction. Reduction of natural intestinal activity is also possible with continuous use of the drug. In case of a chronic disease, a change of diet should be the first choice. If this is unsuccessful, gentler remedies than sloth bark can be resorted to after consulting a physician. Due to the sometimes quite severe side effects if the drug is not handled properly, ready-made preparations should be used. In addition to teas, tablets with a controlled level of active ingredient are also available.
