Description
- Botanical Name - Rhamnus frangula
- Other Names - Alder Buckthorn, Glossy Buckthorn, European buckthorn, black alder tree, European black alder
- Origin - Albania
- No Fillers or Additives
- Best taken as a tablet, can be used as a tea but is hard to drink given its bitter taste. May also be prepared as an extract.
Buckthorn is never used fresh. It is collected in the summer, and then must be aged for at least a year to break down its anthrone chemicals. If the buckthorn is not aged, it is not laxative, it is purgative, causing intense intestinal spasms and vomiting. The herb can be artificially aged by heating or aeration, but some useful constituents may be lost. Used in tea blends and tonics. May also be tinctured in alcohol or encapsulated.