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Herbs & Supplements
Sacred Bark
Scientific Name: Rhamnus purshiana
Other Names: Bitter Bark, California Buckthorn, Cascara, Chittem Bark, Purshiana Bark, Sagrada Bark
What side effects should I watch for?
Major Side Effects
Fresh Rhamnus purshiana bark or bark that has not been aged properly contains chemicals that cause intense vomiting.
If Rhamnus purshiana is used in high doses or for prolonged periods, it can lead to reduced potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can result in muscle weakness and potentially dangerous changes in heart rhythm.
Taking Rhamnus purshiana is believed to have caused a type of hepatitis that involves the build up of bile in the liver's bile ducts. Known as cholestatic hepatitis or intrahepatic cholestasis, this condition results in symptoms such as intense itching and yellow-colored skin.
Less Severe Side Effects
Taking Rhamnus purshiana has been associated with abdominal cramping.
Regularly taking anthraquinone laxatives for many years may cause the inside of the intestines to darken from pink to brown in color. This condition, known as pseudomelanosis coli, is thought to result from discoloration by the pigments in the laxative products. Some researchers suggest that pseudomelanosis coli may lead to intestinal diseases, but no definite link has been established.
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Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.
This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.
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What side effects should I watch for? 
