Cascara Sagrada: What It Is and How to Use It

Spanish missionaries and settlers in California named it cáscara sagrada — "sacred bark" — after learning of its use from Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest, who had used the bark traditionally long before European contact. The name reflects how highly it was regarded as a traditional remedy.

Fresh cascara bark is considered too harsh — traditional practice holds that the bark must be aged at least a year (or heat-treated) before use, which mellows its intensity. Reputable suppliers sell only properly aged bark. This is one reason to buy from a trusted source rather than harvesting it yourself.

The traditional preparation is a decoction: simmering the bark in water for 10–15 minutes. It has a distinctly bitter taste and is often blended with aromatic herbs like ginger, fennel, or peppermint. Traditional herbal references describe it as a stimulant laxative — it is not for daily or long-term use, and anyone considering it should talk to a healthcare professional first.

It has an interesting regulatory history: cascara was once an official over-the-counter laxative ingredient in the U.S., but the FDA removed it (along with senna alternatives like aloe latex) from the approved OTC category in 2002, citing a need for more safety data. It remains widely available as a traditional herbal ingredient in herb shops. This history is factual context, not a recommendation.

Did you know? In the late 1800s, cascara sagrada became one of America's first herbal exports — tons of Pacific Northwest bark were shipped worldwide, and at one point it was among the most widely used laxative ingredients on the planet (source: U.S. Forest Service / American Herbal Pharmacopoeia histories of Rhamnus purshiana).

Visit William's Natural Foods at 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA — open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. Our staff are happy to help you find cascara sagrada in the bulk herb section.