Alder buckthorn

Rhamnus frangula

Alder buckthorn - a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 20 feet tall. It has glossy oval green leaves, 1-3 inches long, that are alternate and toothless. The bark is green when young, becoming gray and marked with whitish transverse ridges when older. Small greenish-white flowers (May- July) grow in small clusters at the leaf joints or at the tips of branches. Pea-size berries of alder buckthorn turn from green to red to black when mature (September).

Despite its name, alder buckthorn is neither an alder nor is it thorny. The name buckthorn is a translation of the shrub's fanciful but inaccurate Italian name, spino cervino, or "stag's thorn." Alder buckthorn was imported from Europe to North America long ago and grows wild in much of the continent's northeast. Nurseries today cultivate a variety named Tallhedge for hedges and windbreaks.

Galen, a Greek physician of the second century A.D., knew of alder buckthorn, although he did not distinguish clearly in his writings between it and other related species. All of these were credited at various times with the power to protect against witchcraft, demons, poisons, and headaches. The ancients ignored the more mundane but true value of the bark as a laxative, and it was not until the 1300's that alder buckthorn was used for that purpose. Buckthorn bark's laxative action is relatively gentle, and it may not have been considered powerful enough to be worthy of attention in a day when violent purgatives were in fashion.

Alder buckthorn wood was formerly used for shoe lasts, nails, and veneer. Its charcoal was prized by makers of gunpowder. The bark yields a yellow dye, and the unripe berries furnish a green dye.

Other names

• Alder Dogwood
• Arrowwood
• Black Alder Tree
• Black Dogwood
• European Black Alder
• Glossy Buckthorn
• Persian Berries

Parts used

Bark.

Uses

Alder buckthorn is a laxative and cathartic, and is most commonly taken as a treatment for chronic constipation. Once dried and stored, it is significantly milder than senna or common buckthorn and may be safely used over the long term to treat constipation and to encourage the return of regular bowel movements. Alder buckthorn is a particularly beneficial remedy if the muscles of the colon are weak and if there is poor bile flow. However, alder buckthorn should not be used to treat constipation resulting from excessive tension in the colon wall.
Alder buckthorn is also used to treat fecal Incontinence.

Habitat & cultivation

Alder buckthorn grows in the northeastern parts of the US and in Europe (except for the Mediterranean region and the extreme north). Alder buckthorn prefers marshy woodland. The bark of trees at least 3-4 years old is collected in late spring and early summer, and is dried and stored for at least 1 year before use.

Constituents

Alder buckthorn contains 3-7% anthraquinones (including frangulin and emodin), anthrones, anthranols, an alkaloid (armepavine), tannins, and flavonoids. The anthrones and anthranols induce vomiting, but the severity of their effect lessens after long-term storage. The anthraquinones found in alder buckthorn and closely related species act on the wall of the colon, stimulating a bowel movement approximately 8-12 hours after ingestion.

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