Cramp Bark
Viburnum opulus
Personality:
The bark of this hardy shrub usually has a reddish hue which is sometimes more striking when made into tincture. Its taste is tart, tannic and slightly bitter. It grows well in the British climate and is occasionally found as an ornamental garden plant. Viburnum is particularly attractive in autumn, when it bears clusters or red berries and the leaves too, are fringed with red.
Sources:
Cramp Bark and the closely related Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) are used extensively by practising herbalists, but they are less widely available, to the general public. It is a more specialised herb than many others in this book but is stocked by most apothecaries and some wholefood shops. If you grow your own shrub allow it to become well established before harvesting the bark.
Uses:
Cramp Bark is used for all sorts of muscle spasm, including period pain and intestinal tension. It is usually taken internally but also works when applied locally, to painful, contracted muscles. I recommend adding Cramp Bark to mixtures for nervous tension, insomnia etc’ as relaxation of the muscles seems to trigger a general relaxation of the nervous system.
Actions:
Relaxant, astringent.
Dosage and preparations:
Tincture form is the easiest preparation for either internal or external use. Take 5-10mls of tincture up to three times per day. Reduce the dose when combining Cramp Bark with other remedies.
Combinations:
For nervous system relaxation combine with Valerian. This combination can be very effective for treating insomnia caused by thoughts that won’t settle down.