Cherry Bark Extract Health Benefits

Wild cherry (Prunus serotina) is a plant native to North America, and a member of the rose family. Often called black cherry or chokecherry, this plant can grow up to 80 feet tall, has dark green leaves, with delicate white flowers in the spring and red fruit in late summer and early fall. The ground bark has been used for many years as a sedative, an expectorant, anti-inflammatory and astringent.

Relief from Respiratory Issues

• Cherry bark extract is commonly added to cough syrups and lozenges.

  Extracts and tea from the cherry bark primarily are used to treat coughs and throat soreness, due to its natural expectorant and sedative properties. The tea has been used for many years as an herbal remedy, and cherry bark extract is still a common ingredient in commercial cough syrups and lozenges. Cherry bark extracts also are used to help treat bronchitis, pertussis (whooping cough) and symptoms of asthma. Although the cherry bark extract will not treat the underlying cause of the cough or ailment, it is said to help with relief of the symptoms.

Other Benefits

• Folk healers have been known to prescribe cherry bark extract to treat numerous digestion issues, and Native Americans drank cherry bark tea to help with diarrhea. Cherry bark extract has numerous other claimed health benefits, including antibacterial and antiviral properties, boosting the immune system, relieving sinus pain and muscle spasms, lowering blood pressure and reducing blood sugar.

Warnings

• Cherry bark extract contains prussic acid, and while the concentration is relatively low in medicinal doses, it is not recommended for long-term use. The prussic acid also makes the extract unsuitable for those with kidney or liver ailments. A side effect of cherry bark extract is sedation, so it should not be used by those with high blood pressure or hypertension. Be sure to consult a physician for concerns about cherry bark extract interaction with medications or negative side effects.