Dorothy FarrarFaulbaum
The buckthorn was named for its bark, which gives off a foul smell. In addition, it is also suitable for the treatment of various complaints.
Definition and Occurrence
The alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is a plant species that is also called real buckthorn. It belongs to the genus of buckthorns (Frangula) and is part of the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). The alder buckthorn owes its name to its slightly foul-smelling bark, which can be used as a laxative . The shrub is also popular as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks.
The alder buckthorn belongs to the perennial deciduous shrubs. The plant usually reaches a height of between 2 and 3 meters. On rare occasions, it even matures into a small tree, growing to between 8 and 9 meters tall.
While the bark of young alder buckthorns takes on a greenish colour, over time it turns brown-grey. One of the characteristics of the buckthorn is its obovate leaves, which are pointed at the front. In the months of May and June, the white-green flowers of the alder buckthorn appear, which can be found on cymes with two to ten flowers.
Between July and September, the flowers produce globular drupes that are first green in color and then red and finally purplish-black. The alder buckthorn has its home on the European continent. It is particularly common in England and Wales.
Its distribution area extends from Europe to Anatolia in Asia Minor, the Caucasus and North Africa. Even in North America it is present as a neophyte. The medicinal plant prefers to grow in damp areas, in alluvial forests, light deciduous forests, moors and hedges.
Ingredients, effect and dosage
The most important ingredients of the alder buckthorn are the anthranoids, the main components of which are made up of glucofrangoline A and B. They are found in the bark of buckthorn trees, but only develop after a year’s storage or through hot air drying. The substances are said to have a more pronounced effect than swelling agents. As a result, they have a stimulating effect on the intestines and are suitable for treating constipation. The laxative effect is evident about eight hours after ingestion. Other ingredients in the alder buckthorn include tannins , bitter substances , saponins , glucofrangoline and glycosides .If it is fresh buckthorn bark or if it was stored too briefly, it must not be eaten. It contains toxic components that lead to severe vomiting . After about two weeks of use, it is advisable to stop using it. This leads to a loss of potassium , which in turn can lead to muscle and heart problems. One form of administration of the buckthorn is the buckthorn tea. To prepare it, the bark is first crushed. Then the user gives a teaspoon with the bark to 250 milliliters of cold water, which is then boiled. The steeping time is 30 minutes. It is recommended to take the tea before going to bed. The laxative effect sets in the next morning.
The buckthorn bark is also suitable for mouthwashes . 250 milliliters of vinegar are added to the crushed bark. After the cold application, the preparation can be boiled up and used against inflammation of the mouth. External use in the form of compresses and washes is also possible. These are used to treat skin diseases.
Other administration options for the alder buckthorn are a tincture, incense powder as part of aromatherapy and an apple wine decoction. With the latter, the cider is mixed with half a teaspoon of buckthorn bark and is said to prevent arteriosclerosis and strokes.
What does it help against?
- mouth inflammation
importance to health
The first medicinal use of the buckthorn took place between the 13th and 14th centuries. However, the useful plant has been forgotten over the years. It was not until the 16th century that they were used therapeutically for constipation, which was carried out on a larger scale between the 17th and 19th centuries. The health importance of buckthorn bark is still considered to be high today.
So the herbal remedy is important to facilitate defecation in diseases in the anus region such as anal fissures or hemorrhoids. The same applies to drainage before surgical interventions. Homeopathy also uses the bark of the alder buckthorn for medicinal purposes and uses it as a rhamnus to treat diarrheal diseases.
Sometimes the use of buckthorn bark also causes undesirable side effects. These include, above all, gastrointestinal cramps. In such cases the dose should be reduced. If you overdose on the buckthorn or give fresh buckthorn bark, there is a risk of severe vomiting.In addition, the organism loses important minerals if the herbal remedy is used for more than 14 days. In addition, if the alder buckthorn is administered for too long in this context, the intestinal sluggishness increases.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.