Rhamnus cathartica Common buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) Deciduous shrub

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Rhamnus cathartica
Common buckthorn
Deciduous shrub
(1 Page of 5)

The Rhamnus cathartica plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Rhamnaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Common buckthorn.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Rhamnus cathartica
Common Name:  Common buckthorn
Family:  Rhamnaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The fruit is purgative but not seriously poisonous[186]. Other parts of the plant may also be poisonous[10, 19, 76, 186].

Mature Height:  6   Mature Width:  3

Habitat:  Fen peat, scrub, hedges, ash and oak woods, on calcareous often dry soils[17].

Medicinal Information: Both the bark and the fruit of common buckthorn have been used for their purgative effect upon the body, however they can be rather violent in their action and so are rarely used in human medicines[244]. The berries, harvested when fully ripe, are cathartic, depurative, diuretic, laxative and violently purgative[1, 4, 9, 19, 46, 61, 218, 238]. About 8 - 15 of the mature fruits, chewed before breakfast, are a strong and effective laxative for adults, they should not be used by children[9]. An infusion of the not quite mature fruits is gentler in its action[9]. Use with caution, in large doses the fruit can cause vomitting and violent diarrhoea[9, 21].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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