Barberry Bark

What is Barberry Bark?

Barberry, also known as European Barberry, Jaundice Berry or Mountain Grape, is a shrub growing naturally in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

The Barberry plant has been widely used for the treatment of many diseases due to its medicinal properties. There is documented historical evidence that the herb was used for health benefits 3,000 years ago. Barberry was used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medical systems as well as Western herbalism. Traditionally in Chinese medicine, it was used to help with gastrointestinal disorders. The Ancient Egyptians used the Barberry plant to treat respiratory infections and fevers.

What Are the Health Benefits of Barberry Bark?

Due to its compounds called isoquinoline alkaloids, there are many medicinal benefits of the plant.

Most alkaloids are found in the root and stem bark, particularly berberine. That is why Barberry Bark is the main component of herbal remedies.¹ These alkaloids include berberine, morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine.

Along with these, Barberry Bark contains thiamine, Vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, chromium, cobalt, and zinc.

How can these components provide health benefits? We share some of the ways here:

Liver and Kidney Disease Treatment

Barberry Bark is a laxative and it is used to open the hepatic duct, helping cure hepatic disorders and problems. The plant bark is useful in treating jaundice, gall stone, bladder stone, and kidney stone diseases as well.²

How do you take it? It’s recommended to boil dried bark of barberry root in water and then serve it with honey.²

Antibiotic

Barberry Bark contains berberine, which has significant antibacterial effects. Due to the bacterial nature of plaque; barberry root extract is actually used in gel toothpaste to reduce forming plaque on teeth, along with preventing gingivitis.²

Recent research shows that it kills infectious microorganisms such as Staphylococci and Streptococci, Salmonella and Shigella (microbes causing diarrhea), Endamoebahystoltica (causing dysentery), vibrio cholera (a microbe causing cholera) and Escherichia coli (a bacterium causing urethral infection) as an effective antibiotic. Some studies show that Barberry Bark products are useful in controlling respiratory infections and fever.²

Heart Health

Berberine hasantiarrhythmic, antihypertensive, anticholinergic, and cardioprotective effects too, making it effective for heart health. Thus, some studies found that berberine is an effective compound for the immediate reduction of blood pressure and heart rate.³

Other research shows that Barberry extract is effective against pulmonary hypertension,⁴whilst some studies show that berberine can also prevent cardiac hypertrophy. Also, research found positive inotropic effects of Barberry Bark extract on constricting the heart muscle and regulating heartbeat.³ Along with this, berberine is one of the most important alkaloids that can be effective in preventing coronary artery disease and reducing the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.⁵

Immune Health

Did you know that berberine alkaloid has a significant effect on stimulating and strengthening the immune system through attacking infectious agents and microbes? This is why Barberry Bark products are used to boost the immune system and prevent seasonal colds.²

Anti-Inflammatory

Barberry contains citric acid and malic acid, and due to these, the plant possesses astringent, and anti-scorbutic properties. This makes it useful for inflammation and fevers, and especially good against typhus.⁶

It’s also helpful against sore throat related irritation. A decoction made of the bark or berries has been found efficient in inflammation-associated illnesses in the mouth like aphthous stomatitis. Some studies also found Barberry Bark effective against inflammatory diseases of eyes like chronic ophthalmia or conjunctivitis. Another study shows that the plant has anti-inflammatory properties, useful for treating varicose, arthritis, rheumatism, and gout.⁶

Barberry Bark powders can be added to lotions and is suitable for application to cutaneous eruptions and is a reliable treatment for acne.⁶

Anticancer

Incredibly, barberry can also act as an anticancer agent. Yes, some studies indicate that the plant containing abundant berberine, inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. Other studies showed the herb may even shrink some tumours and prove effective against colon cancer, skin cancer and prostate cancer.⁶ Moreover, berberine exerted anti-cancer effects in various cancer cell lines and maybe a treatment against breast cancer due to its ability to re-program the metabolism of cancer cells.⁷

Anti-Diabetic Effect

Some studies found that aqueous extract of Barberry Bark decreases the level of glucose on the first day and may remain constant for up to three weeks.

Oral administration of supplements containing Barberry Bark powder in diabetic rats caused a significant reduction in blood glucose levels from day 3 to 7 of treatment. These findings show that the Barberry plant may be a potential future remedy against diabetes.⁵

Is Barberry Bark Safe?

Barberry Bark is relatively safe. However, is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Patients taking this herbal remedy should limit use to seven consecutive days at a time, and children should not take it for more than three consecutive days at a time. It’s recommended to wait for a week before using it again - This strategy helps give the natural bacteria of the intestine time to recover.

It’s also important to note that some studies found that Vitamin B6 supplements can resist the positive effects of Barberry Bark products.

As you can see, there’s a lot this incredible herb can do. Talk to your health practitioner to see if this ingredient is right for you.

Properties

Anti-Bacterial²
Anti-Fungal²
Anti-Haemorrhagic¹
Anti-Inflammatory⁶
Anti-Parasitic¹^,²
Antibiotic¹^,²
Antimicrobial¹^,²
Antioxidant¹^,²
Antiseptic¹^,²
Arthritis⁶
Astringent¹^,²
Blood Pressure – Reduction¹^,⁷
Blood Tonic¹^,²
Cancer Prevention⁶^,⁷
Cholesterol³^,⁴^,⁵
Diabetes / Blood Sugar⁵
Diarrhea²^,⁶
Digestive Function²^,⁶
Eye Health²
Fever Reduction²
Gall Bladder Support²^,⁶
Gall Stones²^,⁶
Gout²^,⁶
Heart Support / Health³^,⁴^,⁵
High/Good Levels of Vitamin C¹
High/Good Levels of Zinc¹
Hypertension³^,⁴^,⁵
Immune Booster⁶
Kidney Support²
Liver Health²
Oral Health²
Prostate Support²
Respiratory Support²
Sedative²
Skin Issues²
Spleen Support²
Vomiting Prevention²

References: