Crampbark

Crampbark (Viburnum opulus)

Cluster of bright red berries hanging from a tree branch with green leaves.

Plant family:  

  • Viburnaceae

Parts used:

  • Cortex (Bark)

Other significant  names:  

  • Guelder rose

Typical forms of prescription

  • Decoctions

  • Tea

  • Tinctures

White hydrangea flowers with green leaves and a blurred background of foliage.

Viburnum opulus (Cramp Bark) - Clinical Snapshot

Primary Actions

  • Antispasmodic

  • Analgesic

  • Nervine

  • Slightly astringent

  • Weakly sedative

  • Hypotensive

  • Peripheral vasodilator

Primary Indications

  • Muscular cramps

  • Dysmenorrhoea

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Gastric pain

  • Palpitations

  • Raynaud’s syndrome

  • Hypertension

  • Migraine

  • Painful cystitis

  • Asthma

⚠️ Cautions / Safety⚠️

  • Caution during pregnancy - use only under professional supervision

Viburnum opulus

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Valerotriates

  • Action: Antispasmodic, sedative, muscle relaxant.

  • Use: These compounds relax smooth and skeletal muscle, making Cramp Bark highly effective for menstrual cramps, muscle tension, and spasmodic conditions like IBS. They’re especially supportive in easing uterine or intestinal spasms.

Salicylates

  • Action: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic.

  • Use: Natural salicylates (similar to those in Willow bark) provide pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. They enhance Cramp Bark’s usefulness for musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and period pain.

Viburnin (Bitter Principle)

  • Action: Tonic, astringent, slightly sedative.

  • Use: Viburnin contributes to Cramp Bark’s bitter taste and tonic action. It supports digestion and may have a mild relaxing effect on the nervous system.

Tannins

  • Action: Astringent, anti-inflammatory, toning.

  • Use: Tannins help tone tissues and reduce excess secretions. In Cramp Bark, they support its use in diarrhoea, uterine bleeding, and general tissue support.

Clusters of red berries hanging from a branch with green leaves in sunlight.

Traditional use

Modern use was learned through North American Indigenous use and popularised in Britain in the 19th Century through the Eclectics. Before this, berries were used as a cough syrup.

Clinical Description

Coumarin scopoletin is one of the main constituents of the herb's antispasmodic action. It also contains salicin, an analgesic anti-inflammatory found in white willow bark and related to aspirin.

V. opulus works on the smooth muscles of the body and hollow organs, such as the uterus, intestines, and blood vessels.

It is predominantly used to reduce migraines and ease digestive and menstrual cramps. Its relaxing properties also mean it acts as a mild sedative and is used for nervous tension.

Cultivation/Harvesting

Harvest the bark in late winter, before spring buds appear, and strips easily from the wood.

Decoct before tincturing. Fruits are edible but have an unpleasant cough-syrup taste.

White flower clusters with green leaves on a shrub

Key Botanical Features of Crampbark (Viburnum opulus)

Growth

  • Type: Deciduous shrub.

  • Size: Typically 1.5–4 meters (5–13 feet) tall and wide.

  • Stem: Multi-stemmed, with arching branches. The bark is smooth, greyish-brown, with some branching at the base.

Leaves

  • Type: Opposite, simple.

  • Shape: Oval to rounded, with serrated edges.

  • Size: 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) long.

  • Texture: Rough, dark green on top with lighter, hairy undersides.

  • Colour: Green in summer, turning red, purple, or orange in the fall.

Flowers

  • Type: Small, white, clustered in flat-topped cymes (a flower cluster with a broad, flat surface).

  • Size: Individual flowers are about 1 cm (0.4 inches) across.

  • Flower Arrangement: The outer flowers are sterile and more prominent, while the inner flowers are smaller and fertile.

  • Blooming Period: Late spring to early summer (typically May–June).

  • Pollination: Insect-pollinated (bees, butterflies).

Fruits

  • Type: Red, berry-like drupes (stone fruits), appearing in late summer or early autumn.

  • Size: About 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 inches) in diameter.

  • Colour: Bright red, maturing in clusters.

  • Edibility: Raw berries are somewhat sour and toxic if consumed in large quantities, but they can be made into jams, jellies, or wines after proper preparation.

Roots

  • Type: Fibrous root system, shallow but extensive.

  • Function: Stabilises the shrub in the soil and aids in nutrient uptake.

Habitat & Growth Conditions

  • Climate: Prefers temperate regions.

  • Soil: Thrives in moist, well-drained soils, but adaptable to various soil types.

  • Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.

  • Distribution: Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Cultivated in gardens and naturalised in parts of North America. Often found in wooded areas, riverbanks, and hedgerows.

Sustainability/Conservation

White lacecap hydrangea flowers blooming among green leaves and branches.
Bunches of red currants hanging from a branch with green leaves against a blue sky.
White flowering shrub with dark green leaves set against a background of tall trees and clear blue sky.
White lacecap hydrangea flowers with green leaves in a garden setting.
White hydrangea flowers against a blue sky.

Sources

Bartram, T. (1998). Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Constable.

Fisher, C. (2009). Materia Medica of Western Herbs, (2018 edition). Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Hedley, C & Shaw, N. (2020). A herbal book of making and taking. Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press.

McIntyre, A. (2019). The complete herbal tutor, revised and expanded edition. Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/

Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified medical herbalist before using herbs, especially during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, while breastfeeding, for medical conditions, or with children.
Read the full disclaimer → Medical Disclaimer.