Cramp bark’s name comes from its use as a pain treatment for menstrual cramps, but its real name is guelder rose. Guelder rose is a large shrub that grows between 5 and 10 feet tall. In the spring and summer months, large, 3 to 5-inch, flat-topped clusters of snow-white flowers appear. In August, drooping clusters of ovals, shiny, translucent berries appear–these are edible but have a bitter taste. Then there’s the faintly cracked, grayish-brown cramp bark, which can be identified by its scattered, brown-colored warts, strong odor, and bitter, astringent taste.

You might need Cramp Bark if . . .

• You experience menstrual cramps
• You experience muscle cramps
• You experience gastrointestinal cramps

Benefits of Cramp Bark

• Relieves menstrual cramps
• Alleviates gastrointestinal cramps
• Reduces muscle spasms
• Supports uterine health

Common ways to use Cramp Bark

The most common ways to use the herb cramp bark are to make an herbal tea infusion, a tincture, capsules or extracts.

Growing and Foraging Information

Cramp bark can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 7, preferring well-drained soils and partial to full sun; it is often cultivated in home gardens or as a landscaping shrub for its medicinal properties. When foraging for wild cramp bark, it’s important to correctly identify the plant as it can be mixed up with other viburnum species. When harvesting the bark please do so ethically by taking only a small amount from mature, healthy trees to ensure sustainability. For best results, harvest the bark in late spring or summer when the plant is in full leaf and the bark is easier to peel, and always be sure to follow local regulations and guidelines to protect the environment.

Safety Concerns

Drug Interaction: If you have any health concerns or are taking any prescription medication, please consult with your health care provider before adding new herbs to your diet. Cramp bark has been said to potentially interact with medications. It can possibly enhance the effectiveness of sedatives or muscle relaxers.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy. Mainstream sources claim there isn’t enough reliable information to know if cramp bark is safe to use orally or what the side effects might be. Because of this claim, they also recommend against its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Other Concerns: Trusted herbalist Richard Whelan states cramp bark is an extremely safe herb that can be used with great confidence that it will not harm. He also mentions how he trusts cramp bark’s relaxing action without worrying about it being sedating or having any side effects. Richard Whelan does caution that cramp bark should not be taken in a larger dose than needed as it will reduce the herb’s effectiveness.

Additionally, Richard Whelan states cramp bark is an extremely safe herb that can and should be taken in pregnancy if there is a concern for the uterus being overly tense and any threat of miscarriage; likewise, it may safely be used during breastfeeding and by the young and old.

Select Studies/ Articles About Cramp Bark

Cramp Bark Benefits for Menstrual Relief & Beyond

Like wintergreen, cramp bark is another herbal remedy that naturally contains a compound called methyl salicylate, which is known to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.

Cramp Bark: Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects, Drug Interactions, and Other Important Information

The traditional use of cramp bark in herbal medicine is quite senescent. The shrub has bright red berries and white blossoms. Iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and tannins are some of the physiologically active substances in the cramp bark plant. These elements control the plant’s physiological impacts and medicinal properties.

Botanicals and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals for Women’s Health

Botanical dietary supplements for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are less commonly used, and rigorous clinical trials have not been done. Some examples include Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry), Angelica sinensis (dong quai), Viburnum opulus/prunifolium (cramp bark and black haw), and Zingiber officinale (ginger).