Viburnum Opulus

The bark of the guelder rose, traditionally used in homoeopathy for cramping pains, especially period cramps that spread to the thighs.

Cramp bark is the bark of the guelder rose, a deciduous shrub of hedges and damp woodland across Europe, North Africa and central Asia. It has maple-like, three-lobed leaves, flat clusters of white flowers in early summer and glossy, bright red berries in autumn. The snowball tree of gardens is a cultivated form.

As its name suggests, its homoeopathic picture centres on cramp. Homoeopaths traditionally turn to it for cramping, colicky pains in the lower abdomen, especially painful periods with pain spreading to the back and down the thighs, and for scanty or late periods. It is also associated with backache, bearing-down pains and frequent urination.

• Period cramps
• Colicky pains
• Pain down the thighs
• Late or scanty periods
• Lower backache