Omnia SanaViburnum opulus
Common names in 28 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 6 traditional / indicated uses, with 16 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Deciduous shrub with maple-like, three-lobed, toothed leaves that turn red in autumn. Flat-topped clusters of white flowers are borne in late spring, the outer ring of larger, showy sterile flowers surrounding smaller fertile ones, followed by translucent red berries in autumn.[11]
Height: 2-4 m
Habit: Deciduous shrub
Leaves: Maple-like, three-lobed, toothed, turning red in autumn
Flowers: Flat-topped clusters of white flowers, with showy sterile outer flowers ringing smaller fertile ones
Stem: Multiple woody stems; the medicinal bark is stripped from branches
Root: Woody root system
Fruit: Translucent red berry, toxic raw in quantity, not used medicinally
Flowering Period: May-June
Habitat & Distribution
Grows in hedgerows, woodland margins, damp scrub and riverbanks on moist, often calcareous soils; native to Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.[11]
Harvesting
The bark is stripped from branches (not the main trunk) in spring or autumn, avoiding girdling any single branch, then dried.
Parts: Bark (stem bark)
Season: Spring or autumn
Key Constituents
A principal antispasmodic constituent of the bark. A phytochemistry/biological-effects review documents the species' antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity and its traditional use for cramps and colds.
Coumarins
Contribute to the smooth-muscle-relaxant and astringent activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Back pain[11]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from analgesic action
Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1139
Evidence: 1
Label: Back pain
Cancer (anticancer research)[10]Preliminary · 2/10
inferred from anticancer action
Evidence: 2
Label: Cancer (anticancer research)
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
Headache[11]Preliminary · 1/10
inferred from analgesic action
Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1139
Evidence: 1
Label: Headache
Antispasmodic for menstrual cramps (relaxes uterine smooth muscle)
Evidence: 2
Label: Menstrual cramps
Muscle spasm[11]Preliminary · 1/10
Antispasmodic for general muscle spasm and cramping (smooth-muscle relaxant)
Evidence: 1
Label: Muscle spasm
Pain (general)[11]Preliminary · 1/10
Mild analgesic for cramping pain
Evidence: 1
Label: Pain (general)
Traditional Use & History
Cramp bark has a long European and North American folk reputation, reflected in its common name, as an antispasmodic remedy for muscle cramps, menstrual cramps and general smooth-muscle spasm, acting as a relaxant on both skeletal and uterine muscle.[11]
Preparations
Decoction[11]
Dried bark simmered in water as the traditional antispasmodic preparation.
Dosage
Standardised extract[7]
A prospective clinical study in patients with distal ureteral stones used Viburnum opulus (gilaburu) extract at 1000 mg orally, compared against tamsulosin. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Only the bark is used medicinally; the raw berries are toxic and cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten in quantity.
Safety note[11]Caution
Human safety data are limited; medicinal use in pregnancy or breastfeeding should only be under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Dangerous Lookalikes
Confused Part: Bright red autumn berries gathered for food; woody nightshade bears similar shiny red berries in the same hedgerows.
Confusion Context: Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) berries are gathered (and cooked) for jellies and sauces. As Totally Wild UK warns, when picking them you must make sure the berries come from the guelder rose shrub itself and not from any scrambling vine with red berries, such as woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), which is highly toxic and often grows through the same hedges. Woody nightshade berries contain solanine-type glycoalkaloids and have poisoned children. Because both bear shiny red berries in autumn, checking the plant they hang on is essential.
Distinguishing Features: Plant form (decisive): guelder rose is an upright shrub with maple-like three-lobed leaves; its berries hang in flat, rounded clusters. Woody nightshade is a floppy scrambling vine with arrow-shaped/lobed leaves and drooping loose clusters of berries., Flowers/earlier signs: guelder rose has flat white flower heads (with showy outer flowers); woody nightshade has purple star-shaped flowers with a yellow central cone., Berry shape: guelder rose berries are round and translucent-red; woody nightshade berries are more egg-shaped and hang from a scrambling stem, not a woody shrub.
Key Test: Check the plant the berries hang on. Round translucent-red berries in flat clusters on an upright shrub with maple-like lobed leaves = guelder rose. Berries on a floppy scrambling vine with arrow-shaped leaves (and purple star flowers earlier in the year) = woody nightshade - toxic, do not pick them.
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07
Harvest Readiness
[14]
Part: bark
Signals: Strip the stem bark in autumn (before the leaves change colour) or in spring (before the leaf buds open).
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: The bark is harvested in the autumn before the leaves change colour, or in the spring before the leaf buds open.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3365); the stem bark is stripped in autumn (before leaf-fall) or spring (before the buds open). Single lineage -> provisional. SAFETY: the raw berries are toxic and the plant can be confused with the poisonous woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara); see Dangerous Lookalikes.
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Wojcik-Bojek, U., Rywaniak, J., Bernat, P., Podsedek, A. and others (2021) 'An In Vitro Study of the Effect of Viburnum opulus Extracts on Key Processes in the Development of Staphylococcal Infections', Molecules, 26(6), pp. 1758. doi:10.3390/molecules26061758 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061758 - Zaklos-Szyda, M., Pietrzyk, N., Szustak, M. and Podsedek, A (2020) 'Viburnum opulus L. Juice Phenolics Inhibit Mouse 3T3-L1 Cells Adipogenesis and Pancreatic Lipase Activity', Nutrients, 12(7), pp. 2003. doi:10.3390/nu12072003 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12072003 - Zaklos-Szyda, M., Nowak, A., Pietrzyk, N. and Podsedek, A (2020) 'Viburnum opulus L. Juice Phenolic Compounds Influence Osteogenic Differentiation in Human Osteosarcoma Saos-2 Cells', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(14), pp. 4909. doi:10.3390/ijms21144909 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21144909 - Tuglu, D., Yilmaz, E., Yuvanc, E., Erguder, I. and others (2014) 'Viburnum opulus: could it be a new alternative, such as lemon juice, to pharmacological therapy in hypocitraturic stone patients?', Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia, 86(4), pp. 297-299. doi:10.4081/aiua.2014.4.297 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2014.4.297 - Zaklos-Szyda, M., Pawlik, N., Polka, D., Nowak, A. and others (2019) 'Viburnum opulus Fruit Phenolic Compounds as Cytoprotective Agents Able to Decrease Free Fatty Acids and Glucose Uptake by Caco-2 Cells', Antioxidants, 8(8), pp. 262. doi:10.3390/antiox8080262 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8080262 - Zaklos-Szyda, M., Kowalska-Baron, A., Pietrzyk, N., Drzazga, A. and others (2020) 'Evaluation of Viburnum opulus L. Fruit Phenolics Cytoprotective Potential on Insulinoma MIN6 Cells Relevant for Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity', Antioxidants, 9(5), pp. 433. doi:10.3390/antiox9050433 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9050433 - Gok, B., Tarik Atik, Y., Uysal, B., Koc, E. and others (2021) 'Gilaburu extract (Viburnum opulus Linnaeus) is as effective as Tamsulosin in medical expulsive therapy of distal ureteral calculi', International Journal of Clinical Practice, 75(12), pp. e14950. doi:10.1111/ijcp.14950 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14950 - Saltan, G., Suntar, I., Ozbilgin, S., Ilhan, M. and others (2016) 'Viburnum opulus L.: A remedy for the treatment of endometriosis demonstrated by rat model of surgically-induced endometriosis', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 193, pp. 450-455. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.09.029 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2016.09.029 - Altun, M.L., Citoglu, G.S., Yilmaz, B.S. and Coban, T (2008) 'Antioxidant properties of Viburnum opulus and Viburnum lantana growing in Turkey', International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 59(3), pp. 175-180. doi:10.1080/09637480701381648 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/09637480701381648 - Karakurt, S., Abusoglu, G. and Arituluk, Z.C (2020) 'Comparison of anticarcinogenic properties of Viburnum opulus and its active compound p-coumaric acid on human colorectal carcinoma', Turkish Journal of Biology, 44(5), pp. 252-263. doi:10.3906/biy-2002-30 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-2002-30 - Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/cramp-bark/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/cramp-bark/ - Kajszczak, D., Zaklos-Szyda, M. and Podsedek, A (2020) 'Viburnum opulus L. - A Review of Phytochemistry and Biological Effects', Nutrients, 12(11). doi:10.3390/nu12113398 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113398 - ScienceDirect Topics (n.d.) 'Viburnum opulus - an overview'. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/viburnum-opulus Traditional / reference
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/viburnum-opulus - Plants For A Future 'Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose, Cramp Bark)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Viburnum+opulus Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Viburnum+opulus - Totally Wild UK 'Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) Identification Guide'. Available at: https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2022/02/10/guelder-rose-identification-guide/ Traditional / reference
https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2022/02/10/guelder-rose-identification-guide/ - Ceha, L.J. and Presperin, C. and Young, E. and Allswede, M. and Erickson, T (1997) 'Anticholinergic toxicity from nightshade berry poisoning responsive to physostigmine', The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 15(1), pp. 65-9. doi:10.1016/s0736-4679(96)00244-2 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0736-4679(96)00244-2
Selected studies & references
ClinicalGilaburu extract (Viburnum opulus Linnaeus) is as effective as Tamsulosin in medical expulsive therapy of distal ureteral calculi source↗ (2021)
PreclinicalAn In Vitro Study of the Effect of Viburnum opulus Extracts on Key Processes in the Development of Staphylococcal Infections source↗ (2021)
PreclinicalComparison of anticarcinogenic properties of Viburnum opulus and its active compound p-coumaric acid on human colorectal carcinoma source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalEvaluation of Viburnum opulus L. Fruit Phenolics Cytoprotective Potential on Insulinoma MIN6 Cells Relevant for Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalViburnum opulus L. Juice Phenolic Compounds Influence Osteogenic Differentiation in Human Osteosarcoma Saos-2 Cells source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalViburnum opulus L. Juice Phenolics Inhibit Mouse 3T3-L1 Cells Adipogenesis and Pancreatic Lipase Activity source↗ (2020)
PreclinicalViburnum opulus Fruit Phenolic Compounds as Cytoprotective Agents Able to Decrease Free Fatty Acids and Glucose Uptake by Caco-2 Cells source↗ (2019)
PreclinicalViburnum opulus L.: A remedy for the treatment of endometriosis demonstrated by rat model of surgically-induced endometriosis source↗ (2016)
All 13 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.