Cramp Bark (Snowball Tree) 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Cramp Bark (Snowball Tree) – 100 g ($16.99), 50 g ($10.99), 25 g ($7.99)

Benefits:
PMS/Menstrual Cramps
Research from in vitro studies reveals that cramp bark can block the spasms of smooth muscle, so it’s not surprising that one of cramp bark’s most well-known uses as a traditional herbal remedy is for menstrual cramps that can accompany PMS. It’s known to help soothe even severe cramping that is associated with nausea, vomiting and sweaty chills.

Cramp bark is traditionally prepared by placing two teaspoons of the dried bark into a cup of water, bringing it to a boil and then simmering it for 10 to 15 minutes. This tea can be consumed three times per day for cramps. Another option is four to eight milliliters of tincture three times per day.

Cramp bark’s name comes from its use as a pain treatment for cramps, particularly menstrual cramps. Some research indicates that cramp bark fruit extracts help relax muscles and blood vessels, which can relieve pain and reduce blood pressure. Other herbal supplements from the Viburnum family, such as black haw, may exert similar effects (6, 7). Still, despite its long history as a treatment for cramps, there is little scientific evidence to support this claim (6).

Some people also use cramp bark to treat symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). One study found that an herbal supplement containing cramp bark, among other ingredients, helped reduce symptoms of PMS. However, more research is needed to understand if cramp bark itself is effective for this use (4).

Endometriosis  Endometriosis is a medical disorder in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus. The fruits of Viburnum opulus have been used to treat gynecological disorders, including dysmenorrhea (painful periods) as well as ovarian cysts.

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmocology in 2016 wanted to see if cramp bark could also improve endometriosis. In an animal model study, endometriosis was surgically induced in subjects and then cramp bark fruit extracts were administered for four days.

The subjects treated with the extracts of Viburnum opulus berries showed significant improvement in their endometriosis compared to the control group. The study concludes that the herb’s chlorogenic acid content, along with its other phenolic compounds, are likely responsible for its positive effects on endometriosis.

Miscarriage  According to experts in the field, cramp bark has long been used as a spasmolytic (or antispasmodic) during pregnancy, particularly in miscarriage prevention. This use as an herbal remedy in pregnancy is said to go back to Native American tribes.

Cramp bark is known to be a top pick by herbalists in the United Kingdom for preventing miscarriage. Several active substances in Viburnum opulus, including scopoletin and aesculetin, have been labeled as having antispasmodic effects on the uterus.

Midwives sometimes choose cramp bark for a threatened miscarriage, as well as early labor, during actual labor and for after-labor cramping. While this may sound strange, herbs are known for sometimes having opposite effects on the body depending on the quantity used, when and how they are used, and whether or not an herb is used alone or in combination with other herbs.

Muscle Relaxant  Cramp bark has a lengthy history as a natural muscle relaxant. As mentioned earlier, it is known to help relieve menstrual cramping due to its ability to stop smooth muscle spasms. For this reason, it’s also known to help relieve muscle spasms and aches throughout the body, such as in the back or legs, whether related to PMS or physical exertion.

Cramp bark can block smooth muscle spasms which includes:
Gastrointestinal Tract (stomach, intestines, and other digestive organs helps with digestion and nutrient absorption)
Cardiovascular System (blood vessels helps regulate blood flow and blood pressure)
Urinary System (bladder and ureters assist with urination and waste removal)
Reproductive System (uterus and other reproductive organs plays a role in childbirth and other reproductive functions)
Respiratory System (airways helps regulate airflow to and from the lungs)
Eyes (Smooth muscle in the iris controls pupil dilation and constriction, and the ciliary muscle adjusts the shape of the lens for focusing, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Cancer  A study published in 2018 in the Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics points toward possible anti-tumor and anti-cancer effects of Viburnum opulus. Using an animal model, researchers demonstrated how extracts from gilaburu juice (juice made from the berries of the cramp bark plant) displayed in vivo antitumoral activity.

Another study published in 2013 used an animal model to evaluate possible positive effects on colon cancer in particular. Overall, researchers found that the groups of animal subjects with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon cancer that were treated with gilaburu juice for 30 weeks experienced a reduction in mean total number of tumor lesions. The researchers concluded that “gilaburu juice may be useful for the prevention of colon cancer at the initiation stage.”

Kidney  It appears cramp bark is effective in preventing kidney stones and can benefit overall kidney health. It’s believed its citrate content is partly responsible for this effect. In fact, one study reported, “Because V. opulus contains citrate as high as lemon juice does and it is a potassium-rich and calcium and sodium-poor fluid, it can be an alternative to pharmaceutical treatment in mild-to-moderate degree hypocitraturic stone patients.” Meanwhile, another study published in 2019 revealed that “V. opulus is an herbal treatment alternative that facilitates the passage of ureteral stones <10 mm.”

Kidney Stones.  Some people can develop kidney stones due to a lack of citrate in their urine. Healthcare providers often recommend that these people consume a kidney stone diet. This includes foods high in citrate, such as lemons and limes. Cramp bark fruit is also high in citrate, which makes it a viable alternative for people who develop kidney stones (1).

In one study in 103 people with small kidney stones, those who took cramp bark alongside the medication diclofenac excreted more kidney stones in a shorter period than those who only took diclofenac (2). Those who took cramp bark also needed fewer additional treatments to remove their kidney stones and required less pain medication (2).

Other benefits
Cramp bark is high in flavonoids and carotenoids — two antioxidants that can help prevent and reverse cellular damage in your body (8, 9). They may also help reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, these antioxidants have been found to have antidiabetic effects in animal and test-tube studies (9, 10).

One study in rats found that the antioxidants in cramp bark may help treat endometriosis, a disease that affects the female reproductive system (11).

Researchers are also using cramp bark alongside materials like copper and silver to make microscopic nanostructures with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (12, 13). Although the test-tube and animal research on these nanostructures is in its early stages, they could be used to develop new medications or medical devices (12, 13).

In addition, cramp bark is commonly used in alternative medicine to treat insomnia and anxiety. However, research on these benefits is extremely limited (3). Finally, researchers have also found that cramp bark juice slowed the growth of tumors in rats (5 ). Nevertheless, since this evidence is limited to animal and test-tube studies. Further research in humans is needed to fully understand the effects of cramp bark in this regard.

Botanical Name: Viburnum opulus:
English: Snowball Tree
Also, known as: Guelder rose, Guelder-Rose, Common Guelder-Rose, Schling, Obier, High Cranberry, Guelder Rose, Squaw Bush, Rosa da queldres, Viburno loppo, European Cranberrybush, Bois à Quenouille, Boule de Neige, Cranberry Bush, High-bush Cranberry, Obier, Rose de Gueldre,
Habitat: North America/Europe
Origin: Albania
Harvested: Wild or Cultivated
Parts Used: The trunk and root bark

General Information:
Viburnum opulus is a deciduous shrub with a rounded, spreading habit that typically grows to 10-15° tall. Growing in low rich lands, woods, and borders of fields, presenting a showy appearance of flowers in June. It features lace cap type white flowers in spring in flat-topped 3″ wide cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by larger sterile florets, drooping clusters of cranberry-like red berries (drupes) in the fall and three-lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves.
The berries are technically edible and are red, very acidic berries, resembling cranberries, but are very bitter in taste and are not recommended for eating fresh off the shrub. The berries are a rich source of Vitamins C and K. Fruits tend to shrivel after frost. The foliage turns a sometimes-attractive purplish-red in fall. They remain on the bush after the leaves have fallen and throughout the winter. The bark has no smell but has a peculiar bitter and astringent taste, which leaves a clean feeling in the mouth. Viburnum is the active principle found in the dried bark of the stem.
The bark is stripped before the leaves change color in the fall, or before the buds open in the spring.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.