Herbs such as aloe (Aloe barbadensis/capensis), buckthorn bark and berry (Frangulae cortex/ Rhamni cathartici fructus),
cascara sagrada bark (Rhamni purshianae cortex), rhubarb root (Rhei radix), and senna leaf and pod (Sennae folium/fructus) may cause electrolyte imbalance and, therefore, may be particularly serious in patients with renal impairment.
The OTC monographs, which are being finalized now, incorporated hundreds of drugs and some medicinal herbs, including the active ingredients in many OTC laxatives (senna, psyllium seed, and
cascara sagrada) and a few decongestants (peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil).
The word cascara means bark and
cascara sagrada is Spanish for holy bark, so named because the Jesuit priests of California were some of the earliest people in the United States to recognize its value for use in medicines.
Green Coffee Bean Extract Cleanse, also containing 100% pure extract, was developed to support overall body cleansing with ingredients such as cape aloe, senna leaf and
Cascara sagrada.
Rhubarb has a stronger action, which unlike Senna or
Cascara Sagrada, can be used in small doses for a gender action.