Definition

Noun: 1. A medicinal laxative: The dried bark of the cascara buckthorn tree (Rhamnus purshiana), used primarily as a stimulant laxative to treat constipation.

Usage

• Cascara sagrada is used as a noun to refer specifically to the dried bark product or the herbal preparation derived from it.
• It is typically used in contexts related to herbal medicine, pharmacology, and natural health remedies.

Examples

• The herbalist recommended a tea made from cascara sagrada for digestive relief.
• Cascara sagrada has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples of North America.
• Some over-the-counter laxatives contain cascara sagrada as their active ingredient.

Advanced Usage

• Pharmaceutical Use: In modern contexts, cascara sagrada is often standardized and used in the preparation of liquid extracts, tablets, and capsules.
  • The pharmacist explained the proper dosage of the cascara sagrada extract.

Variants and Related Words

• Cascara (noun): A common shortened form of "cascara sagrada."
  • The label simply listed the ingredient as cascara.
• Rhamnus purshiana (noun): The scientific botanical name for the cascara buckthorn tree.
• Sacred bark (noun): A direct English translation of the Spanish name "cascara sagrada."

Synonyms

• Laxative bark
• Chittem bark (an older common name)
• Purshiana bark

Notes on Meaning

• The term cascara sagrada is Spanish for "sacred bark," reflecting its historical medicinal importance.
• Its use is primarily restricted to the medicinal context described. It is not a general term for any bark or tree.

Noun

1. dried bark of the cascara buckthorn used as a laxative