Known as a natural laxative, Cascara Sagrada comes from the Pacific Northwest tree known as the Rhamnus Purshiana. It is the bark of this tree that has been used for decades to help with intestinal issues by Native American tribes who believed that cascara sagrada is sacred. It is the glycosides in the cascara sagrada that work with the large intestine to cause your body to contract and produce bowel movements when you are constipated. Other properties that are important in cascara sagrada include tannins, lipids, and resins which help to soothe the colon at the same time.

Cascara sagrada is a mild laxative and will not cause severe diarrhea like so many others. This is because the bark that it comes from is aged properly rather than just given in the natural state which can cause an irritation to the gastrointestinal system. It can safely be used by anyone, but is most often recommended to people who have underlying problems with the rectal area. For example, if someone has had anal or rectal surgery where the pressure that the bowel puts on that area can cause discomfort or pain, cascara sagrada makes it more comfortable to have a bowel movement without overdoing it.

When taking the cascara sagrada laxative it should be done with a large glass of water, in the lowest dose possible to make sure that you do not take too much at one time which can cause too many bowel movements too soon. Usually a bowel movement will be had within eight hours of taking the cascara sagrada supplement but if not you can increase the dose until you are having regular, easy bowel movements.