Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG)

2015

Viburnum opulus
V. trilobum
V. opulus var. trilobum
Caprifoliaceae

Crampbark
High bush cranberry

Part used: inner stem bark

Native range: Europe (V. opulus),

North America (V. opulus var. trilobum)

Harvestable status / sustainability: widespread in areas

Flavor: bitter, slightly acrid

Energetics: cool, dry

Actions: antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, mild hypotensive, mild nervine /

sedative

Crampbark is generally and primarily used as a spasmolytic remedy specific to the genito-
urinary tract although also antispasmodic to other smooth and skeletal muscle in the body.

Crampbark is often interchanged with black haw (V. prunifolium) but is not completely
interchangeable; crampbark for instance is not as specifically indicated or helpful to prevent
premature contractions leading to a threatened miscarriage.

Indications:
• Gynecological indications:
• Uterine spasms: menstrual cramps / dysmenorrhea; menorrhagia; especially when
exacerbated by fatigue or nerves (King’s); to relieve spasmodic pain of the uterus and
ovaries, and secondarily the bladder.
Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG)
2015

For spasmodic painful menstrual cramping it is often combined with

Dioscorea, Piscidia, Caulophyllum;
When pain is accompanied by heavy menstrual flow and fullness, it can
be combined with Actaea and Cyperus.
o Uterine tonic: to tonify tissue after trauma, such as fibroid removal (Trickey)
o Used during pregnancy (much less so than V. prunifolium) to relieve morning
sickness, and in the third trimester as a partus preparator in small doses –
facilitates labor, reduces post-partum bleeding
• Other muscular cramping and spasms:
o Cramping in the legs (King’s) and other muscles
Specifically lower back pain extending to pelvis and down thighs
o Arthritic and rheumatic pain (Tierra)
o Lower abdominal pain and cramping, spastic colon
o Bladder spasming
o Bronchial spasms, asthma, spasmodic coughing
o Stubborn hiccups, hiatal hernia
o Spasms, tics, palsies, seizures: mild, combined by Eclectics with black cohosh,
skullcap, and passionflower

• Other uses:
o Mild to moderate hypertension and atherosclerosis (Hoffmann)
o Mild diarrhea

Contraindications, Interactions and/or toxicity:

• AHPA Safety Class 1, Interaction Class A
• No known drug interactions or side effects

Preparation:
Decoction
Tincture
Capsule

Dosage:
1-2 tsp to 8 oz water three times daily as decoction
2-4 ml three times per day as tincture, up to 8 ml TID for more acute conditions
Up to 2-4 (2000-4000 mg) g per day dried herb as capsule

Major plant constituents: coumarins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenes, tannins

Additional notes:
• Often interchanged with V. prunifolium but not 100% identical; V.opulus is generally
considered less effective in preventing miscarriage. Some authors consider V.
prunifolium to be superior (Tierra) and others (Weiss, PDR) only cite its use, not V.
Richard Mandelbaum RH(AHG)
2015

opulus. Skenderi also recommends using V. prunifolium over this species. However,
Ellingwood cites this species as being more profoundly anti-spasmodic, and Trickey
treats them as basically interchangeable.
• V. opulus is native to Europe. V. trilobum (highbush cranberry) is native to eastern North
America but is generally considered to be a subspecies of V. opulus. The Eclectics used
the native shrub, calling it cramp bark / V. opulus.
• Sometimes adulterated with Acer spicatum, mountain maple (Trickey)

Sources:
AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook, 1st and 2nd Editions
Bone and Mills, Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy
Brinker, Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions
Cook, Physio-Medical Dispensatory
Ellingwood, American Materia Medica
Felter-Lloyd, King’s American Dispensatory
Hoffmann, Medical Herbalism
Mabberley, D.J., The Plant Book, Second Edition
PDR for Herbal Medicines, Third Edition
Skenderi, Herbal Vade Mecum
Tierra, Planetary Herbology
Trickey, Women, Hormones, and the Menstrual Cycle
Weiss, Herbal Medicine