Cascara Sagrada 450mg | 100 Capsules | Swanson

Cascara Sagrada from Swanson

The name sounds almost solemn, and that is no coincidence. Cascara sagrada literally means sacred bark. It is the dried bark of a tree from the North American West Coast, Rhamnus purshiana, also known as Frangula purshiana. Swanson processes 450 mg of pure bark per capsule.

The sacred bark from North America

Cascara sagrada comes from a tree that grows along the Pacific coast, from California to Canada. The bark is harvested and then dried and aged for a period before it is processed. Spanish missionaries once gave the plant the name sacred bark, or holy bark.

The substances in cascara sagrada

The bark naturally contains hydroxyanthraquinone derivatives, a group of plant-specific compounds that are also known as anthraquinones. These substances give cascara its characteristic bitter profile. Swanson uses the whole bark in powder form, a full-spectrum approach, instead of a single isolated substance. This preserves the natural composition of the bark, with everything the plant produces itself.

Cascara sagrada

Cascara sagrada helps maintain healthy liver function and contributes to digestion*. In addition, cascara sagrada contributes to the normal functioning of the intestinal tract and helps maintain regular bowel movements*. Good to know: the capsule is made of gelatin, an animal protein, so this product is not plant-based.

In short, this is a straightforward herbal capsule: the whole, dried bark of the cascara, 450 mg per piece, in a jar of a hundred.

*Health claim pending European approval.