Buckthorn
by Anna Fraser
(Rhamnus catharticus)
Family : Rhamnaceae
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Other common names:
Crossthorn, Highwatthorn, Waythorn, Hartsthorn, Ramsthorn.
Some say that the common name 'Bucksthorn' is a translation of 'cervi
spina' (= buck'd thorn), whcih was an early name for the plant, referring
to the characteristic spines on the branches. Others attribute the name to
the resemblance of the short shoots to the antlers of the roebuck.
Similarly, the name 'Crossthorn' is thought to find its origin in the fact
that the short shoots occur opposite each other and so form a cross.
The family name 'Rhamnaceae' is derived from the Greek root 'rhamnos',
meaning a 'branch' and probably refers to the shrub-like character
of the trees in this family. 'Catharticus' comes from the Greek 'kathartikos'
and means a 'cleanser' or 'purifyer'. This refers to the
purgative character of the tree.
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Native to Europe from the Alps to
southern Scandinavia, North Asia and eastern North America on a wide range of
soils up to 1200 m altitude. We can find it in open woodlands, shrub, thickets
and hedgerows, from dry calcareous (lime-rich) soils to fen-peat. On the British
Isles it is found localised in England, Wales and Ireland, but it is very rare
in Northern England and probably absent in Scotland.
The Buckthorn is less common than its close relative, the Alder Buckthorn, and
although they may be found growing together occasionally, it is less likely to
grow in damp and acid places. It prefers drier shrub land with a more lime-rich
soil.
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General:
The Buckthorn is a shrub or small tree with many branches and quite dense
foliage. Its main stem and branches have an erect habit, but the lower branches
and foliage sometimes grow close to the ground. Often it grows no higher than a
human being, but in the right conditions it will mature into a small tree of up
to 6 metres, and occasionally a specimen as high as 10 metres has been found.
The stiff-looking branches grow pretty well opposite each other and on close
inspection, we find that there are two kinds of shoots: long, stiff and erect
shoots with nearly opposite leaves and short horny looking shoots which bear the
flowers and fruit, as well as bunches of leaves, which are often not opposite.
These short shoots have a very knobbly character, as if a couple of centimetres
has been added to them at the time. we can see many scars where the stalks of
leaves and where the fruits used to be attached. The leaf buds are pointed, like
small claws and their scales are brown-black and slighty velvety. We find the
thorns everywhere at the tips of the branches.
The bark:
The bark is an orange-brown to black colour, but the twigs can be more dark-ask
coloured. The inner bark is orange. At first the bark is quite smooth and shiny
but, with age, the bark of older stems become ruddy, rough, fissured and scaly.
The leaves:
The stalked leaves are oval shaped with a pointed tip and are about 3-6 cm long
and 2-5 cm wide. their edges are finely toothed and they have 2-4 pairs of
side-veins, which curve upwards with the oval shape of the leaf. The colour is a
smooth dark green above and slightly paler below. The young leaves and stalks
have soft down underneath and in the older leaves we can sometimes still feel
the remains of this down on the the veins at the bottom side of the leaf. In
autumn the dull dark green leaves turn a yellowish green, or sometimes brownish,
before they fall off.
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The flowers:
The flowers are very small (4-5 mm across), yellowish green and appear in
May-June. they grow on longish stalks, usually in bunches (although they also
occur singly) from the leaf axils of last year's shoots.
As a rule, we find male and female flowers on separate trees. Sometimes,
however, we may find pseudo-hermaphrodite flowers with a mere rudiment of either
the stamens or the ovaries and occasionally some of the flowers are truly hermaphrodite
with both stamens and pistil.
The flowers consist of a small cup with four sepals (the leaves of the calyx)
folding out crosswise, like a four pointed star and secreting honey. The four
petals are very minute, even obsolete, and the four stamens, when present, are
superposed on them. The ovary sits in the cup of the calyx and swells after
fertilisation into a pea-sized drupe. The pollen is white.
The fruits:
The black berry-like fruit matures in October. It is about 6-10 mm across and
carries 3-4 dark brown stones in it, each with a single seed.
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It is very rare to see cultivated
Buckthorn and when the berry-like fruits are required for medicine, they are
usually collected from the wild.
The seed can be collected in autumn, as soon as the berries are ripe and planted
in a seedbed straight away.
Alternatively, heeled stem cuttings may be taken in summer and these are easily
rooted.
In the autumn, the lower branches can be pinned into the soil and by the
following autumn, they will have send their roots down and can be safely cut off
from the parent tree.
As a hedging plant, the Buckthorn is inferior to the Hawthorn, if a solid, dense
hedge is required.
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Buckthorn wood has no reputation
for excelling in any particular quality, as far as I'm aware. Please let me know
if you have any information about or experience with the wood.
We know from archeological evidence, that it was used in the Iron Age, along
with other species, for making the charcoal, which was used for smelting.
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Bees and butterflies like to visit
the flagrant flowers. Goats, sheep and horses will nibble at the leaves, but
cows don't like the foliage.
The bark and berries (from an approximate quantity of 15 berries or more) cause
vomiting, diarrhoea, and are nauseating and poisonous to people.
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Parts used:
The ripe fruits or berries are collected in September to October. When over-ripe
they become soft and squashy. The berries are seldom dried, but the juice is
usually expressed after collection. At first the colour of the juice is green,
but on storage it turns to a reddish or purplish-brown colour. This is due to
the acidification of the sugars and mucilaginous matter in the juice. It has a
bitter taste and a nauseous odour. In the old days, berry collectors would
usually dilute the juice, with 6 parts of water to 1 part of juice, before it
was sold to the pharmacies.
To preserve the mixture, it was made into a syrup by dissolving an equal weight
of sugar into it.
The bark is hardly ever used as laxative, since the berries are more
suitable for this purpose. It will however made a strong purgative and for this
purpose the two year old bark from the branches is collected in April-May, dried
and stored for at least a year. Leave the bark in a dark place, but do not
seal it up airtight, because it needs to undergo a further chemical process for
at least a year before it is safe to use. The fresh bark is a gastro-intestinal
irritant and acts as a poison that causes violent vomiting and abdominal pains.
A fermentation process occurs during storage which destroys the emetic
frangularoside.
Constituents:
Includes Antraquinone glycosides, frangula emodin, shesterin, chrysophanol,
rhamnosterin, rhamnocide, rhamnocogenol, traces of cyanogenetic heterosides
(which have a calming effect), yellow pigments, pectin, vitamin C, a tannic
acid, sugar and gum.
Actions:
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Laxative and purgative - works
by stimulating the peristaltic movements of the large intestine. The
antraquinone glycosides can be digested due to the action of bile. When this
happens, they are absorbed by the small intestine into the bloodstream. Six
to eight hours later they will have a purging effect on the large intestine.
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Alterative and depurative -
i.e. it "purifies the blood".
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Diuretic - helps to secrete
excess water in the body.
CAUTION:
Large doses (from about 15 berries or more) can irritate the gastro-intestinal
mucosa to the point of bleeding, causing vomiting and severe diarrhoea. Fresh
bark is poisonous and should never be used. The dried bark has to be stored at
least a year before usage.
Pregnant women and people with heamorrhoids should not use Buckthorn, as it can
cause an influx of blood to the abdomen.
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Constipation:
Up to 1867 syrup of Buckthorn was still an official purgative medicine in the
British Pharmacopoeia. Mrs. Grieve says that "until late in the 19th
century, syrup of Buckthorn ranked among the favourite rustic remedies as a
purgative for children, prepared by boiling the juice with pimento and ginger
and adding sugar."
It has to be remembered that, at one time, most illnesses were treated either by
purging the system or blood-letting and this may account to some extent for the
widespread use of Buckthorn syrup in the past. Administering medicine should of
course never be a routine affair, but every individual case must be carefully
considered before appropriate action is taken. It may well be that
unhygienic living conditions and the patterns of illnesses accompanying
those circumstances may have warranted a policy of purging, and that this became
outdated when clean water and public sewers were gradually introduced in the
Victorian era.
However, there is still a valid case to be made for 'cleaning out the system' in
the 21st century, because many of the symptoms of the illnesses we get are
trying to do speed up this very process.
Gradually the use of Buckthorn was replaced by more exotic laxatives, such as
Cascara Sagrada, the Californian Buckthorn, and Senna. Both these laxative
medicines also work due to the presence of antraquinone glycosides.
Opinions amongst herbalists are divided on the quality of Buckthorn as
purgative medicine. Some say its actions are too severe and others maintain that
it is an effective and safe laxative. It is my opinion that both speak the
truth, because the secret lies in careful dosage, tailored to the individual
response of the user.
The dosage of the syrup depends of course on how much it has been diluted with
water. If you want to make this syrup, you may like to aromatise it with herbs
and spices, like aniseed, fennel, cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg and ginger, etc.
Calculate carefully what would be the equivalent of the recommended dose of
about 8 - 12 berries if taken in the form of your syrup. Start with taking half
of this dose on retiring at night and increase this dosage in accordance with
the laxative result you obtained. Alternatively an infusion of the berries can
be made by bringing the desired quantity of berries briefly to the boil in a cup
full of water. Turn the heat off and leave to infuse for 15 minutes. Again it is
wise to start with a lower dosage to see what is right for your particular body.
Children and elderly people should of course always take much smaller doses
anyway, in accordance with their body weight.
It is never wise to take laxative for a prolonged period! Please read the advise
below:
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Constipation has a wide
range of causes and should never be treated with laxatives only, but great
attention should be given to the effects of diet, exercise, stress and
personal habits (never put off going to the toilet when you need to do,
etc.) on the bowel.
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The three major ways in
which laxatives may be put to good use in constipation are:
1. As short term relief in atonic constipation, i.e. where the bowel is
too relaxed and peristalsis is lacking or extremely slow.
2. As short term relief in spastic constipation, i.e. where the bowel is
over-tensed and not moving because it is cramped (For example in Irritable
Bowel Syndrome).
3. In the initial phase of a bowel re-education programme for people who
suffer habitual constipation. The real cause of the problem must be
treated by a change to a more wholesome diet and lifestyle (more exercise,
different ways of coping with stress, etc.).
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Since laxatives with
Antraquinone glycosides (this class also includes Senna and Alder
Buckthorn) may take about 6-12 hours before it becomes effective as a laxative, it is
often taken at night before going to bed. The reason for this is that they
are first taken up into the via the digestive process and then act on the
bowel musculature via the blood stream.
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In cases with a lot of
flatulence, a carminative such as Caraway seeds, Fennel seeds or Chamomile
may be added.
Slimming:
Buckthorn was used in moderate doses in slimming cures, because, due to the
traces of cyogenetic heterosides, which have a calming effect, it can be taken
as a laxative for several days without causing irritation. This practice is
certainly not recommended and is only mentioned here for the sake of recording
the traditional uses of Buckthorn as completely as possible.
Obesity is of course a huge problem in our modern society, due to the easy
availability of a large variety of tasty junk food, which derives its
attractiveness to the taste buds mainly from fats, sugars or substances such as
salt. The best policy of tackling obesity is to change to a diet of wholemeal
foods and plenty of bulk in the form of fresh vegetables and fruit. Such a diet
tends to be immensely satisfying without being fattening. Try satisfying the
deep desire for food ('hunger pangs') obese people may get between meals with
always having one or two glasses of water before anything is eaten, or some
clear soup (cabbage leaf soup is particularly effective) and an apple.
Experiencing appetite, in spite of having eaten large amounts, may be due to
many factors.
Always consider the possibility that a modern diet of attractive looking
junkfood, grown often in depleted soil with artificial fertilisers, may be
deficient in the total range of minerals and vitamins we need. So this can be
one cause why we never feel quite satisfied. Another may be that we have
accustomed our stomach to large meals and we need to gradually 'shrink' the
stomach by eating smaller quantities. Many of us have a strong genetic
inclination, inherited from ancient responses in times of scarcity, to eat what
we can while we can. So don't waste your precious life feeling bad about
yourself. Accept this fact and explore which strategies work for you, so you
will not eat in excess. Also remember, that feeling good about where your life
is going and what you are doing can be a great help.
Sensible exercise is of course also a priority in any attempt to loose
weight. Modern life styles and jobs often do not give us the regular exercise we
need to use up all the calories we eat and to keep fit.
Veterinary medicine:
Buckthorn has been used in veterinary medicine as a purgative, for example for
dogs. The Buckthorn juice or syrup was often mixed with equal parts of castor
oil.
Spiritual and emotional:
Buckthorn medicine helps us to eject what is not needed and so strengthens our
life force and our ability to renew ourselves.
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"From the dried berries, a
series of rich but fugitive colours is obtained; the berries used to be sold
under the name of 'French berries' and imported with those of Rhamnus
infectorius from the Levent. If gathered before ripe, the berries furnish
a yellow dye, used formerly for staining maps or paper. When ripe, if mixed
with gum-arabic and lime-water, they form the p igment 'Sap or bladder green',
so well known to water-colour painters. The bark also affords a yellow
dye." (Mrs. Grieve)
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The Californian Buckthorn, Rhamnus
purshiana, produces a laxative drug known as 'cascara sagrada', which
means 'the sacred bark'. Because we so often think that products from
far-away countries have exotic magic and because of much advertising in
the early 1900's, cascara sagrada has largely replaced our one-time use of
Alder Buckthorn bark and Buckthorn syrup, made from the berries, in herbal medicine.
Buckthorn is often confused with the Alder Buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula.
Buckthorn is of similar size, but has a more bushy
habit, slightly smaller leaves with fewer side veins. It has real thorns,
which the Alder Buckthorn does not have.
The Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is not related, in spite of
its name. It belongs to a different family (Elaegnaceae) and so does
not possess any of the properties of the Rhamnaceae. Sea Buckthorn is a thorny
shrub with willow-like leaves, which grows on the sandhills and cliffs of the
British East coast (and elsewhere in Europe). Its long sucker roots bind the
sandy dunes on which it grows. Its orange berries can be made into a
refreshing jelly and a decoction of them has been used for skin complaints.
The roots and foliage yield a yellow dye.
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Like its close relative, the
Alder Buckthorn, the Buckthorn spirit helps us to eject what is not needed and
so strengthens our life-force. The tree clears the way for new habitats, new
opportunities. As a medicine it is a powerful laxative and a good blood-purifier.
Letting go of what we hold within, can -for many of us- be one of the most
painful processes we ever face as human beings. We don't like to empty
ourselves. Words like 'full'fil-ment', 'satisfaction', 'completion', 'consumation',
'content', 'abundance', all describe the best we feel life has to offer. All
have happy associations with 'fullness'.
Loosing too much at any one time is heartbreaking, devastating, even dangerous
to us. Maybe it is no coincidence too that a large dose of Buckthorn medicine
is toxic to us.
Yet, in our love for fullness, we gather a lot of dross that clogs us up. Life
is movement, process, a dance in space and time, always changing,
transforming, taking in and letting go, holding and releasing.
When we hold on too many things, every step becomes heavy with the weight of
it all. We become heavy with 'having'.
Throughout the centuries horned animals have been a symbol of strength and
power. The horns have the power to open up a new pathway and clear obstacles.
Shaped in the form of the waxing and waning moon, they represent cycles. On
their own, they are penetrating. Together they are shaped like a receptacle.
The horns that clear the way give virility and fertility: the horn of plenty.
The Buckthorn with its 't-horns' and its antler-like shoots, shares in this
spirit. It clears the way for 'being', rather than 'having' and
so it helps us to 'be-have', which means striking a balance between
having and being. If we let go of the accumulated dross, we create space to be
renewed, to be new feeling, to be new experience.
The strong growth of the Buckthorn transforms the places in which it shoots
roots. It is one of the pioneer trees, heralding a new richer environment,
preparing the soil for bigger trees, who will eventually grow taller than this
vigorous bush-tree and take its place.
Buckthorn tree, we honour thee!
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