Cascara

Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) is a shrub or small tree that belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. It’s native to North America and Chile’s Pacific coast. It’s cultivated in Europe and in Kenya for healing purposes. Its common name is "cascara sagrada" which means "sacred bark": a legend claims that it was the bark used to build Noah's ark. Anthraquinone is extracted from the bark of trunks and branches. Cascara is traditionally used in phytotherapy because it helps regulate bowel movements and digestive function.