Barberry is a small shrub with tart, edible berries and bright yellow roots which contain the plant constituent berberine.
Barberry root has been used for millennia by traditional systems of healing worldwide for its wellness-supporting properties. Our barberry powder is milled from Berberis vulgaris.
Barberry root powder can used in tincturing, topical applications, or encapsulating. The barberry is a tall shrub with gray, thorny branches. Bright yellow flowers bloom in the late spring become dark, drooping bunches of red berries in the fall. Puckery but less bitter than cranberries, ripe barberries can be used to make jam. Both the berries and the bark are used traditionally.
Barberry is a member of the Berberidaceae family. The root of this perennial shrub has a long history of use in traditional systems of healing that probably began in the Mediterranean region with the ancient Egyptians.
For centuries, the herb has been used to support immune function and for a variety of more specific purposes throughout Europe, most notably in eastern regions. From a nutritional standpoint, barberry root bark is a good source of vitamin C, thiamine, lutein, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, chromium and zinc. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Rose buds. Irish moss. Bulk Spice Blends: shop all:. Bulk Spice Blends: shop bestselling:. Mulling Spices. Italian Seasoning. Chili Blend. Curry Powder. Bulk Loose Leaf Tea: shop all:. Bulk Loose Leaf Teas: shop bestselling:. The results of one pilot study on 84 patients published in suggest that taking mg of berberine two to three times a day for up to three months might control blood sugar as effectively as metformin, the first-line drug for type 2 diabetes.
In addition, berberine showed a favorable influence on cholesterol, unlike metformin, which has barely any effect. As the authors of a review article from noted, "with little documentation of adverse effects, berberine is positioned as a potential candidate drug to treat type 2 diabetes. There is early evidence that berberine can help lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol. In another clinical trial, 63 patients with high cholesterol were randomly divided into three groups.
Taking 0. Research suggests that berberine can lower blood sugar, improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reduce testosterone levels, and lower waist-to-hip ratio in women with PCOS , a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age. Some research shows that berberine can lower blood sugar levels similar to metformin, but berberine seems to improve cholesterol levels better than the drug.
Berberine may also improve fertility. In a pilot study, 98 anovulatory women with PCOS were given berberine anovulatory bleeding is a type of abnormal uterine bleeding. Another study published in Clinical Endocrinology showed that women with PCOS who were randomly selected to take berberine had greater pregnancy rates than metformin or placebo and with fewer side effects when taken 12 weeks prior to IVF treatment.
One of the most well-known uses for barberry was as an herb for treating diarrhea and dysentery, and research for this purpose go back at least as far as the middle of the 20th century. In one study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases , people with diarrhea caused by E. However, according to NMCD, there's insufficient evidence to rate the effectiveness of berberine for diarrhea.
Barberry enthusiasts recommend introducing yourself to the berries by having them in sauce, jelly, juice, wine, or tea. You can also try substituting some barberries for raisins or cranberries when baking barberries taste sourer.
Barberries also called zereshk can be purchased at Mediterranean or Middle Eastern grocers, some health-food shops, or on the Internet. To maintain color and quality, be sure to refrigerate the berries. Barberry is available in tea, tincture , capsule, fluid extracts, dried herb, and tablet forms, as well as a topical ointment. There is no established daily dosage for barberry: Recommendations range from two grams to six grams of the berries or an equivalent amount in extract form.
However, it's not clear that barberry provides enough berberine to produce any purported potential benefits. In large doses, barberry may cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and dangerous drops in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
Barberry may decrease or increase the effectiveness of these and other drugs. For example, one study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology found that berberine elevated the amount of the drug cyclosporin A in kidney transplant patients. An overdose of barberry can result in kidney irritation. Seek medical attention immediately. Barberry should not be used to replace conventional treatment.
In particular, it shouldn't be used as a home remedy for UTIs. If the bacteria aren't fully eradicated, the infection may spread to the kidneys, even though symptoms, such as difficult or painful urination, may disappear. Pregnant women should not use barberry because it may stimulate uterine contractions and cause miscarriage.
Keep in mind that supplements haven't been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances, such as metals. Also, the safety of supplements in those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established.
When buying supplements, look for products that have been certified by ConsumerLabs, The U. These organizations don't guarantee a product is safe or effective, but they indicate that it's undergone testing for quality. For instance, scientists have investigated berberine's traditional use in fighting infections.
According to a review article on natural approaches to preventing and treating infections of the lower urinary tract, berberine extracts demonstrate significant antimicrobial activity against a variety of organisms, including bacteria like Chlamydia, viruses, fungi, and protozoans.
The Chinese have used berberine-containing herbal remedies for more than 3, years, and berberine is an over-the-counter drug in that country for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections, such as bacterial diarrhea. In , the hypoglycemic effect of berberine was discovered when berberine was used to treat diarrhea in diabetic patients in China.
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