The Sacred Bark: Nature’s Gentle Digestive Support
April 1, 2026
At a Glance: Cascara sagrada—known as “the sacred bark”—has supported digestive health and natural bowel regularity for centuries. Learn how the responsible wildcrafting of this herbal laxative makes it a trusted choice for gentle constipation support today.
Some ingredients earn their reputation not just for what they do, but for how they’re gathered.
Cascara sagrada—Spanish for “sacred bark”—is one of nature’s most time-honored botanicals for digestive support. Traditionally used around the world as an effective but gentle laxative, cascara helps support intestinal contraction and healthy bowel regularity.
But its story begins long before it reaches a capsule. It begins in the forest.
WHERE THE SACRED BARK GROWS
Cascara trees flourish along the coastal forests stretching from British Columbia to northern California. They often appear naturally in areas where timber has been harvested, helping restore biodiversity as forests regenerate. While conifers are replanted intentionally, cascara often grows alongside them—an early partner in rebuilding healthy ecosystems.
In this way, cascara doesn’t just grow in the forest. It helps sustain forest regrowth.
HARVESTED THE RIGHT WAY
Nature’s Sunshine partners with reputable, multigenerational wildcrafters who understand these reforestation cycles deeply. Their knowledge guides when to harvest, how much bark to collect, and how to protect the overall ecosystems so they can continue to thrive.
Cascara is typically harvested by hand from mature trees between 10 and 20 years old, during the proper seasonal window (mid-May through August). After harvest, the bark is cut into sections, kiln-dried, and aged before final processing—a careful approach that supports quality, effectiveness, and sustainable regrowth.
