Laxative herbs, from gentle aperients to strong purgatives: cascara sagrada, senna, rhubarb, the bile stimulants and Christopher's other cathartics. Chapter 5 teaches this family as a whole.
- Cascara Sagrada
- Barberry
- Butternut Bark
- Mountain Flax
- Turkey Rhubarb
- Senna
- Mandrake
- Wahoo
- Balm of Gilead
- Balmony
- Culver's Root
- Bitter Root
- Cape Aloe
No. 36Cascara Sagrada
Traditional uses and main actions
Christopher's chief laxative and the heart of his Lower Bowel Tonic. It moves the bowel and also tones its muscles, so over time the bowel works better on its own. Used for chronic constipation and in bowel cleansing.
How it's prepared
Capsules or tincture of bark aged at least one year (fresh bark causes violent cramping); in formulas.
Typical amounts
Capsules, 1 at bedtime to start, increasing by 1 a day until the bowels move comfortably (Schulze's method); tincture, 1–2 dropperfuls at bedtime.
Cautions and interactions
Short term or in a rebuilding formula, not as a crutch. Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children under 12, or with abdominal pain of unknown cause, Crohn's disease, colitis or a blocked bowel. Long use lowers potassium (digoxin, diuretics).
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 37Barberry
Traditional uses and main actions
Christopher lists it as both a cathartic and a tonic. A bitter, yellow, berberine-rich bark that stimulates bile flow, which gently moves the bowel, and tones the liver and digestion. Used for sluggish liver, gallbladder congestion, poor appetite and infections. Part of the Lower Bowel Tonic.
How it's prepared
Decoction; tincture; capsules.
Typical amounts
Tincture, 1–2 dropperfuls 2–3 times a day; decoction, 1 teaspoon per cup, 2 cups a day.
Cautions and interactions
Not in pregnancy or for newborns. Lowers blood sugar; affects how the liver clears some drugs. Use for weeks, then rest.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 38Butternut Bark
Traditional uses and main actions
A mild, dependable laxative that does not leave constipation behind it, gentle enough for children, the elderly and pregnant women in the old herbals. Also a liver tonic and worm remedy.
How it's prepared
Decoction; tincture; capsules.
Typical amounts
Decoction, 1 teaspoon per cup at bedtime; tincture, 1 dropperful at bedtime.
Cautions and interactions
Gentle, but still a laxative: short term in pregnancy and for children, in smaller doses.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 39Mountain Flax
Traditional uses and main actions
A small wild flax that the old herbalists used as a laxative, and for liver complaints and rheumatism.
How it's prepared
Infusion.
Typical amounts
Infusion, 1 teaspoon per cup at bedtime.
Cautions and interactions
Strong in larger doses: can cause vomiting. Not in pregnancy. (Common flax seed, Linum usitatissimum, is a gentle bulk laxative and food.)
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 40Turkey Rhubarb
Traditional uses and main actions
Two remedies in one: in small amounts the root is astringent and tonic and settles diarrhea; in larger amounts it is a reliable laxative. Part of Christopher's Lower Bowel Tonic and a great herb of Chinese medicine.
How it's prepared
Powder or capsules; tincture; decoction.
Typical amounts
As a laxative, ½–1 teaspoon powder or 1–2 capsules at bedtime; for diarrhea, a small pinch.
Cautions and interactions
Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with intestinal blockage, Crohn's disease or colitis. High in oxalates (kidney stones). Lowers potassium with long use. (Garden rhubarb leaves are poisonous; this is the root of a different species.)
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 41Senna
Traditional uses and main actions
Christopher's syllabus lists both the Alexandrian and East Indian (Tinnevelly) senna. A strong, reliable laxative that works in 6–12 hours; one of the three key herbs in Schulze's Intestinal Formula #1, with cape aloe and cascara.
How it's prepared
Tea (cold infusion is gentler); capsules; tablets.
Typical amounts
Tea, ½–1 teaspoon leaves per cup at bedtime (adding ginger or fennel prevents cramping); short courses.
Cautions and interactions
Short term only (a week or two). Cramping is common without a carminative. Not in pregnancy, breastfeeding, for young children, or with abdominal pain of unknown cause, Crohn's, colitis or a blocked bowel. Lowers potassium with long use.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 42Mandrake
Traditional uses and main actions
Christopher's "powerful liver purge": a strong stimulant of the liver and bile, used by the old herbalists in tiny amounts, in formulas, for a congested liver and stubborn constipation. Its resin (podophyllin) is used by doctors on warts. (The mandrake of Genesis is a different plant, Mandragora.)
How it's prepared
Tiny amounts of the dried root, in formulas only.
Typical amounts
Only as a very small part of a formula, as Christopher used it.
Cautions and interactions
The strongest of the cathartics and poisonous in larger amounts: it causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. The leaves, roots and unripe fruit are poisonous (the fully ripe yellow fruit is eaten). Never in pregnancy, for children, or alone.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 43Wahoo
Traditional uses and main actions
A liver and gallbladder stimulant and mild laxative used by the Eclectics for a sluggish liver, gallbladder congestion and constipation from poor bile flow.
How it's prepared
Tincture or decoction, usually in formulas.
Typical amounts
Tincture, 5–20 drops up to 3 times a day.
Cautions and interactions
The berries are poisonous. Not in pregnancy. Use in small amounts.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 44Balm of Gilead
Traditional uses and main actions
The sticky, fragrant spring buds of the balsam poplar, named after the famous resin of Gilead. Christopher listed them among the cathartics; they are best known as an expectorant for coughs and an infused oil or salve for sore muscles, bruises, burns and dry skin.
How it's prepared
Infused oil or salve of the buds; tincture; cough syrup.
Typical amounts
Tincture, 1 dropperful 2–3 times a day for coughs; oil and salve outside freely.
Cautions and interactions
Contains salicylates: avoid with aspirin allergy. Some people are allergic to the resin (test on the skin).
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 45Balmony
Traditional uses and main actions
A bitter liver and gallbladder tonic that Christopher listed as both cathartic and tonic: it stimulates bile, improves appetite and digestion, gently moves the bowel and expels worms.
How it's prepared
Tincture; infusion.
Typical amounts
Tincture, 10–30 drops before meals; infusion, 1 teaspoon per cup, 2 cups a day.
Cautions and interactions
Generally safe. Not in pregnancy.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 46Culver's Root
Traditional uses and main actions
An Eclectic remedy for a sluggish liver with constipation, chronic indigestion and jaundice; it stimulates bile and moves the bowel. (Christopher's syllabus also calls it speedwell.)
How it's prepared
Tincture or decoction of the dried root.
Typical amounts
Tincture, 10–30 drops up to 3 times a day.
Cautions and interactions
Use only the dried root; the fresh root is violently purgative. Not in pregnancy.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 47Bitter Root
Traditional uses and main actions
Listed by Christopher among the cathartics, used by the old physicians as a laxative and for dropsy (edema).
How it's prepared
Historically, decoction of the root in small amounts.
Typical amounts
Historically small, measured amounts; other herbs do this work more safely today.
Cautions and interactions
Contains heart-active compounds like those of foxglove: not a home remedy. Never with heart medications.
Taught in Lesson 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapter of the same number in this book).
No. 48Cape Aloe
Traditional uses and main actions
Dr. Schulze's favorite laxative and one of the three key herbs in his Intestinal Formula #1. The bitter yellow sap under the skin of the leaf (not the clear gel) is one of the strongest stimulant laxatives, and also stimulates bile.
How it's prepared
Capsules of the powdered dried latex, usually in a formula.
Typical amounts
In a formula, starting with 1 capsule after dinner and increasing by 1 a day until the bowels move comfortably, as Schulze teaches.
Cautions and interactions
Strong: short term. Not in pregnancy (it can bring on contractions), breastfeeding, for children, or with hemorrhoids, colitis, Crohn's or abdominal pain of unknown cause. Lowers potassium with long use. (The clear inner gel is a different, gentle remedy: see Aloe Vera.)
Taught in Lessons 3, 5 of Arukah's Herbalism certification (the chapters of the same number in this book).