The cut or powdered black alder bark and dry extract can be taken in liquid or solid dosage forms and as a tea or cold macerate. The bark is now found in only a few tea preparations, including filter bags.
Average daily dose
The mean daily dose, unless otherwise prescribed, is 20-30 mg of hydroxyanthracene derivatives, calculated as glucofrangulin A. However, on an individual basis, simply select the lowest dosage necessary to achieve soft-formed stools.
Sloth tree: incipient
To prepare a tea from alder buckthorn bark, 2 g of the finely chopped bark (1 teaspoon equals about 2.4 g) is poured over boiling water and strained after 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, alder bark can be mixed with cold water and left to infuse at room temperature for about 12 hours. However, taking sloth bark in the form of tea is hardly common today.
When should you not use alder buckthorn?
Sloth bark should not be used in cases of intestinal obstruction, appendicitis, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and abdominal pain of unknown cause. Also, children under 12 years of age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not take sloth tree preparations due to insufficient research and experience.
Directions for use of alder buckthorn
- Please note that the onset of action of alder buckthorn bark occurs only after 8-10 hours.
- Laxatives should not be taken for more than 1-2 weeks at a time without medical advice. Prolonged use may lead to an increase in intestinal sluggishness.
- Sloth bark should not be the remedy of choice for constipation, before that should always first try to eliminate constipation through dietary changes or swelling preparations.
- Sloth bark should be stored dry, cool and protected from light.
- Before use, the fresh bark should be stored or treated with heat for at least one year.
