Cascara Sagrada - Uses, Side Effects, and More

Who should not use cascara sagrada?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take cascara sagrada.

• Cascara
• Cascara sagrada
• Frangula purshiana
• Rhamnus purshiana
• Any of the ingredients in the specific product

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific cascara sagrada products they stock.

Digestive Tract Problems. Tell your health care provider if you have constipation with stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting. These could be symptoms of a more serious condition. Cascara sagrada should not be used if you have certain stomach problems, including a gut blockage or tear, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, appendicitis, poop stuck in your digestive tract (fecal impaction), bleeding in your digestive tract or rectal bleeding, or blood in your poop.

What should I know about cascara sagrada before using it?

Cascara sagrada is available as a tea and a dietary supplement. Very small amounts may also be added to food as a flavoring. It cannot be marketed to treat or cure a disease.

Read and follow the directions on the specific product you are taking, or take it as recommended by your health care provider.

Keep cascara sagrada out of the reach of children. Children under 12 years of age may be at increased risk for side effects from cascara sagrada. Speak with a health care provider about the possible risks.

In rare cases, taking cascara sagrada has caused parts of the colon in some people to become darker, a condition called melanosis coli. This color change does not cause any symptoms, but it is not clear whether it can affect your health. Your risk of developing this condition is higher if you use cascara sagrada regularly for a long time. Speak with your health care provider if you have concerns.

Cascara sagrada may cause your urine to turn reddish-brown or bright yellow. This change in color is harmless and should go away after you stop taking cascara sagrada.

If you are using cascara sagrada for constipation, you should not take it regularly for more than one week unless your health care provider tells you to do so. If you have rectal bleeding or blood in your poop, stop taking cascara sagrada and contact your health care provider right away.

Herbal products, such as cascara sagrada, naturally contain many chemicals. The amount of each chemical in a specific cascara sagrada product can change for many reasons, including the area where the tree was grown, the weather during growth, the time of year when it was harvested, and the way that the tree was processed after it was harvested. If you switch to a new bottle or a different brand, you may not have the same effects or side effects because of this variability. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns.

Cascara sagrada is available in different forms, including tea, dried and ground powder, tablets, and capsules. Each of these forms may contain different amounts of the chemicals that are naturally found in the plant.

The FDA has not tested cascara sagrada products to confirm that they contain the ingredients stated on their labels. Some dietary supplements have been tested by third-party organizations to confirm that they contain the ingredients listed on their labels and do not contain any harmful chemicals. Learn more about how to choose a safe dietary supplement product here.

What should I tell my health care provider before using cascara sagrada?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if cascara sagrada is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

• A new change in your bowel habits that lasts for two weeks or more
• An electrolyte imbalance, including low potassium levels
• Kidney or liver problems

Other Medicines and Supplements. Cascara sagrada may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking cascara sagrada, tell your health care provider about any prescription or OTC medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how cascara sagrada could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Cascara sagrada passes into breast milk and may cause harm to an infant or a small child. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.