Cramp bark has culinary applications, being used to make jelly, Alcoholic Beverages and in certain food dishes.
Some sources state that the berries of cramp bark are toxic and should not be eaten.
There are no indications of any interactions between cramp bark and any other drug or herbal medicine.
Viburnum opulus is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family.
The bark of cramp bark is peeled off the tree during the spring and summer months. The bark should be peeled off in strips carefully in order not to kill the tree. The bark is chopped up and dried.
Pregnant and lactating women should consult with a medical practitioner before using cramp bark. Considered safe for both short- and long-term use, no known side effects.
Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus)(High Bush Cranberry, Cramp Bark)Perennial deciduous bush native to cool bogs of North America, Europe and Asia. Used extensively in landscaping, cramp bark sports multiple upright branches bearing cream colored, platelike flowers and attractively shaped leaves that turn gloriously red in the fall. The bush prospers in full sun or part shade and prefers moist, nutrient rich soils. Allow plenty of space (at least 6 feet between individuals) as cramp bark can easily be as wide as it is tall. The tea or tincture is made of the spring-harvested root bark, which is removed in the spring when it slips easily. This is a superior antispasmodic for smooth muscles with a special affinity for the uterus, widely used to allay uterine cramps.from horizonherbs.com
Antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, hypertensive, astringent, emmenagogic, sedative and antiscorbutic.
Native to Europe and the eastern United States, grows in low grounds, woodlands, thickets, and hedges.
canoes and baskets
The dried plant combines well with cramp bark as a treatment for painful periods. For skin conditions it is combined with Echinacea .
Bromothymol blue has no household uses.
There are thousands of recipes that use chocolate almond bark (or produce it). Some of their names are the following: Bark Candy and Dark Chocolate Almond Bark.