A beautiful and elegant deciduous shrub, the guelder rose is a popular garden ornamental but can also be found thriving in the woodlands of the eastern Untied States. Commonly referred to as cramp bark by herbalists, the plant is aptly named after its major beneficial quality. Cramp bark is not only a beauty to look at with its distinguished, white flowers but the bark hosts a wide range of traditional uses as well.
A member of the Adoxaceae or honeysuckle family, Viburnum opulus is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and naturalized to North America. Cramp bark has bunches of white flowers resembling snowballs, ripening into clusters of edible, red berries. The large deciduous shrub grows up to 15 feet (5 m) tall and 15 feet wide and thrives in moist lowland forests. The bark is often stripped before the leaves change color in the fall, or before the buds open in the spring.
Cramp bark has a long history of use as for its healthful properties and as a food source. The fresh berries were harvested and eaten like cranberries or made into jam. Once dried, the berries have even been used to make ink. For centuries, the bark was used in traditional European herbalism for its wellness supporting properties. Appropriately named, the stripped bark has historically been employed for its relaxing actions and to support the healthy release of the muscular skeletal system. In Native American healing traditions, cramp bark was utilized for women’s issues and its astringent properties. The guelder rose is an important plant in Ukrainian and Slavic folklore and art. Legends state that the plant is associated with protection and feminine powers. Typical preparations of the bark include decoctions, infusions, and extracts.
Our organic cramp bark tincture is macerated by our expert extract team for quality and effectiveness. Cramp bark extract can be taken in water, juice, or herbal tea such as turmeric ginger tea. It is often a component of herbal formulations and can be combined with herbal extracts such as skullcap extract, vitex extract, or passionflower extract.
Ingredients
Organic alcohol, water, and dried organic cramp bark.
Packaging & Shipping
• 1 oz., 2 oz., and 4 oz. extracts come in amber glass bottles with a dropper.
• 8 oz. size comes in an amber glass bottle with a plastic screw cap and does not include a dropper.
• 32 oz. extracts come in plastic bottles with a plastic screw cap.
Precautions
No known precautions. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.
