Cascara sagrada
Remedy of chronic constipation and sluggish liver. Atonic bowel — no urging. Gallstones with right upper quadrant pain. Hepatic headache. Restores bowel tone without griping.
Source
Prepared from the dried bark (aged 1 year) of Rhamnus purshiana (Rhamnaceae).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Chronic constipation from atonic bowel — no urging. Restores bowel tone naturally. Gallstones with right upper quadrant pain. Hepatic headache. Sluggish liver with constipation. Non-griping laxative action. Rheumatic pains in back.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Dull, heavy from constipation.
General Symptoms
Liver and bowel. Worse from inactivity. Better from motion, after stool.
Physical Symptoms
Rectum
Chronic atonic constipation — no urging. Restores bowel tone. Non-griping.
Abdomen
Gallstones. Right upper quadrant pain. Sluggish liver.
Head
Hepatic headache — dull, frontal.
Back
Rheumatic pains.
Modalities
Better From
Motion, after stool
Worse From
Inactivity, rich food
Constitutional Type
Chronically constipated with sluggish liver.
Clinical Indications
Chronic constipation (atonic), gallstones, sluggish liver, hepatic headache
Comparative Materia Medica
Alumina has atonic constipation but with dryness. Nux vomica has constipation with ineffectual urging. Chelidonium has liver with right scapular pain.
Safety Information
Not established.
Cascara sagrada is an FDA-approved stimulant laxative. Contains anthraquinone glycosides. Chronic crude use causes melanosis coli. Safe in potentised forms.
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