Alder buckthorn

• TeaBarkInternalEMA well-established

  Short-term occasional constipation

  Preparation & dosage

  Pour 150 ml of hot water over 0.5 to 2.5 g of dried frangula bark aged at least one year, steep 10 to 15 minutes, then strain. Take once daily, preferably in the evening. The dose is standardised to 10 to 30 mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives (calculated as glucofrangulin A) per day; always use the lowest effective dose. Do not use for longer than one week without medical advice.

  Dry amount

  0.5–2.5 g

  Doses per day

  1×

  Max duration

  1 weeks

  ⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — Only for adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.

  Sources: [1] [2] [4]

• TinctureBarkInternalEMA well-established

  Standardised extract for constipation

  Preparation & dosage

  Liquid or standardised dry-extract preparations of frangula bark are dosed to deliver 10 to 30 mg hydroxyanthracene derivatives (as glucofrangulin A) per day. Take once daily in the evening, always at the lowest individually effective dose. Short-term only, maximum one week. Standardised commercial products are more reliably dosed than home-made tinctures.

  Doses per day

  1×

  Max duration

  1 weeks

  ⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — Only for adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.

  Sources: [1] [2]

• TeaBarkInternalTraditional use

  Traditional digestive stimulation

  Preparation & dosage

  Traditionally, a weak infusion of the aged bark was used as a gentle means of stimulating bowel activity and digestion. Steep 0.5 to 2 g of stored bark in 150 ml of hot water for 10 minutes. This use is traditional and not supported by clinical trials; the same safety limits as for the laxative use apply.

  Dry amount

  0.5–2 g

  Doses per day

  1×

  Max duration

  1 weeks

  ⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — Only for adults and adolescents over 12 years of age.

  Sources: [4] [5]

Frangula bark is an anthraquinone-containing stimulant laxative and should be used only short term (maximum one week) and not continuously without medical advice. Fresh bark is toxic and causes violent vomiting, nausea and colicky abdominal pain; only bark aged at least one year or heat-treated at 80 to 100 °C may be used. The berries and leaves are also toxic. Do not use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children under 12 years. Prolonged or excessive use can cause electrolyte losses, especially loss of potassium, habituation, worsening of constipation (atonic colon) and harmless discolouration of the urine. Seek medical advice if symptoms persist.