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BUCKTHORN BARK
Buckthorn is a shrub or small tree growing up to 25 feet tall. Its slender branches are tipped with sharp spines. Opposite, elliptical or oval, pointed, sharp-toothed leaves, about 1-3 inches long, are dark green and smooth with visible lateral veins. Clusters of greenish flowers (May-June) produce berrylike fruits that contain three or four seeds and turn black when ripe. As the species name cathartica indicates, buckthorn was long known to be a cathartic, or powerful laxative. The berries are the part of the plant used for this purpose, and they are extremely unpleasant tasting. In 1650 a syrup of buckthorn was listed in a British pharmacopoeia, and it included ingredients, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and aniseed, to cut the bitter taste. In the 19th century children in need of a laxative were given buckthorn syrup laced with ginger and sugar. The fruits or berries of buckthorn are recommended in modern herbals as a laxative.
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