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Barberry
Berberis vulgaris
Berberidaceae
Citations
Names : Barbery, Berberidis, Pipperidge Bush.
Habitat : A common garden bush, native to Europe and the British Isles,
naturalized in North America, flowering in April and May.
Collection : The roots should be unearthed in spring (March) or autumn
(November) and the stem bark should be collected at the same time. Pare
off the bark from root and stem and dry in the shade.
Part Used : Bark of root or stem
Constituents : o Alkaloids of the isoquinoline type, mainly berberine,
berbamine and
derivatives, berberrubine, bervulcine, columbamine, isotetrandrine,
jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, oxycanthine and vulvracine
o Miscellaneous, including chelidonic acid, resin, tannin etc.
Actions : Cholagogue, hepatic, anti-emetic, bitter, laxative
Indications : Barberry is one of the best remedies for correcting liver
function and promoting the flow of bile. It is indicated when there is
an inflammation of the gall-bladder or in the presence of gall stones.
When jaundice occurs due to a congested state of the liver, Barberry is
also indicated. As a bitter tonic with mild laxative effects, it is used
with weak or debilitated people to strengthen and cleanse the system An
interesting action is its ability to reduce an enlarged spleen. It acts
against malaria and is also effective in the treatment of protozoal
infection due to Leishmania spp.
Priest & Priest tell us that it is a stimulating tonic hepatic:
influences the mucosa generally, removing mucoid accumulations and
controlling excess secretion. Improves appetite, digestion and
assimilation. Indicated for gouty constitutions They give the following
specific indications : Biliary catarrh with constipation and jaundice.
Gastritis, biliousness, debility during convalescence, ulcerative
stomatitis, eczema of the hands.
Felter considered it much like Hydrastis and could be employed for many
of the uses of that scarce and high-priced drug. Used for chronic
catarrhal ophthalmias as a decoction, also in aphtous ulcers. It is
tonic, and if pushed purgative. It is of value in non-obstructive
jaundice and in gastric and intestinal dyspepsias. In renal catarrh,
occasioned by the presence of calculi, small doses may be given when
there is burning and soreness and excess mucous in the urinary tract.
Combinations : In gall-bladder diseases it combines well with Fringe
Tree Bark and Black Root. CAUTION: Avoid during pregnancy.
Preparations & Dosage : Decoction: put l teaspoonful of the bark
into a cup of cold water and bring to the boil. Leave for l0-l5 minutes.
This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 1-2ml of the tincture three times a day.
The herbalist by David Hoffman, (c)1993 David Hoffman, Hopkins
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