12801

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/27/2024 - 18:37
Top Product Attributes

  • Common Name

    Cramp Bark

  • Botanical Name

    Viburnum opulus L.

  • Part Used

    Bark

  • Clinical Summary

    Click here

  • Monograph

    Click here

  • Alcohol

    30%

  • Dose

    5 to 80mL weekly

Cramp bark is an antispasmodic and uterine tonic. It has traditionally been used to relieve tension and pain from muscle cramps.

Main Product Attributes
A guide to Cramp Bark and its properties

  • Traditional Use

    Cramp bark was valued for its antispasmodic properties by 19th-century Eclectic practitioners and used for all types of cramping. It was considered a uterine tonic and was particularly noted for its effectiveness in managing painful menstrual cramps, labour pains, and threatened miscarriage. Beyond its role in reproductive health, cramp bark was considered a reliable smooth and skeletal muscle relaxant and applied in various spasmodic conditions of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems.

  • Actions

    Antispasmodic, antioxidant, vasorelaxant, hypotensive, uterine tonic, partus preparatory, anti-abortive

  • Indications

    •    Painful cramping associated with menstruation and labour pains
    •     Spasms and cramps in various systems, including the digestive system, bronchial system (such as in asthma), and skeletal muscles, particularly in the back and legs
    •     As a relaxant on uterine muscles, useful for spasmodic and congestive uterine conditions such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis or pelvic inflammatory disease pain
    •     Spasmodic contractions of the bladder, which can occur in urinary tract diseases such as irritable bladder or urinary tract infections
    •     To augment antihypertensive prescriptions by acting as a vasorelaxant
    •     Threatened miscarriage

  • Energetics

    Dry, bitter, astringent, sweet, warm, relaxing

  • Use in Pregnancy

    There is insufficient reliable information available on the use of the hydroethanolic extract of cramp bark in pregnancy. Avoid using.

  • Contraindications & Cautions

    Caution is advised where there is known allergy or hypersensitivity reactions to the Adoxaceae family (formerly Caprifoliaceae).

  • Drug Interactions

    Exercise caution in coadministration with medications that are metabolised by CYP1A2 and CYP2C19. Exercise caution in coadministration with antihypertensive medications, as preliminary in vitro research has indicated that cramp bark has hypotensive effects due to peripheral vasodilation caused by the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle.

  • Dietary Information

    Vegan friendly. Gluten and dairy free.

  • Substitutes

    Dong Quai, Wild Yam, Paeonia, Motherwort and Black Cohosh