Viburnum Bark

            Cramp bark comes from an ornamental plant (Viburnum opulus) long used in herbal medicine, primarily by native americans. The berries of the viburnum plant were sometimes consumed as food and other parts of the plant were smoked as an alternative to tobacco. The bark of viburnum was used medicinally to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions such as swollen glands, fluid retention, mumps, and eye disorders.

            Today, an extract made from the bark and roots of the plant is used by some to treat different types of cramps and a variety of other conditions ranging from cancer to kidney stone prevention. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to know if cramp bark provides any medical or health benefit.