Herb. No. 156 · Viburnaceae
European cranberrybush of moist woods and hedges; planted as an ornamental worldwide.
Native · Europe
Native Also grown
LegalCautionplant
Cramp bark
Viburnum opulus
A hedge viburnum whose bark is the old antispasmodic of European midwives — a cramp folklore, not a candy.
Viburnum opulus is a temperate shrub with maple-like leaves and red berries. Traditional use of the bark is for smooth-muscle cramp, including menstrual folklore. The berries are a different, sour, sometimes mildly disagreeable fruit. This plate is dried bark from a shrub you own or a labeled product — not a children’s berry raid.
Flavor
Bark tea is bitter, astringent, a little viburnum musk.
Parts used
Dried bark
Helpful
- A common hedge plant
- A long midwifery record
Cautions
- Berries are not this medicine
- Pregnancy use belongs with a clinician