Useful properties of barberry, use in folk medicine, contraindications. Description of the plant barberry, use in folk medicine Barberry ordinary characteristic

Not only berries have healing qualities. Diverse chemical composition of plant leaves, bark and roots.

The fruits can be safely called a storehouse of vitamins A, C, E, K. They are rich:

  • pectins;
  • beta carotene;
  • natural sugars;
  • carotenoids (lutein, capsanthin, auroxanthin);
  • organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric).

The bark and rhizome contain alkaloids (berberine, palmitine, jatroricin) and tannins. This diversity has made barberry a medicinal raw material for medicines.

What does barberry look like

This beautiful, decorative representative of the barberry family grows on almost all continents, but more often in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere. It is successfully grown in almost all regions of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia.

Barberry looks like a large shrub with an average height of about 1.5 - 2 meters, or as a small branchy tree. But there are plants that even reach 3 meters.

Some types of barberry shed their foliage partially or completely, others are evergreen.

Reference: The harvesting of barberry fruits takes place in the fall, after full ripening. It is best to dry the berries at room temperature or in the oven (the temperature should not exceed 45 degrees). Store useful workpiece for no more than 2 years .

Types and varieties of barberry

This plant has more than half a thousand species, differing in height, color, shape, taste of fruits. The species depends on what care and planting the plant needs. Let's highlight the 3 most popular varieties.

Thunberg

Low deciduous shrub - up to 1 meter, with green foliage, painted in red in autumn. Decorative appearance, with bitter berries, not suitable for eating. Differs in unpretentiousness and ease of maintenance. Great for hedges.

Thunberg

Ordinary

The height of the shrub is on average 2.5 meters, the leaves are bright green. It blooms with yellow fragrant inflorescences, the berries are sour, but quite edible. The species is frost-resistant, resistant to the harmful effects of the urban environment, and has many varietal varieties.

Ordinary

Ottawa

A decorative hybrid resembling the Thunberg barberry, only larger - from 1.5 to 2 meters in height. Differs in beautiful pink-purple flowers, which acquire a crimson hue in autumn. Fast growing and unpretentious species.

Ottawa

Application area

Do you know many plants that are equally beautiful and useful? Barberry can be used as a medicine, as a dessert or seasoning, as a cosmetic product, to decorate squares and gardens with it.

ethnoscience

In folk medicine Do you want to improve your health with the help of folk recipes? Barberry potions have been tested for centuries. Even the ancient Greeks knew a lot about this. The Hellenes used the plant as an antibacterial agent to help heal the wounds of warriors, and also as a medicine to purify the blood.

Barberry is capable of:

  • stop bleeding and block inflammation;
  • treat colds and reduce fever;
  • remove toxins accumulated in the body;
  • slow down aging;
  • help in the treatment of diseases of the biliary tract, liver, kidneys and stomach;
  • treat diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, gout, tuberculosis;
  • adjust pressure and heart rate.

Attention! The plant contains substances with a strong effect, so an overdose is fraught with dangerous consequences. Barberry should be used with caution while taking antibiotics and antihistamines.

beauty

Cosmetic companies have long used barberry as a main ingredient in a variety of products:

  • shampoos to strengthen hair;
  • anti-wrinkle creams;
  • lotions for skin health;
  • scrubs;
  • masks;
  • gels;
  • soap.

Natural cosmetics can also be prepared at home.

Hair rinse decoction recipe:

  • an incomplete glass of berries, pour 1.5 liters of boiling water and let it brew for about 40 minutes;
  • after each shampooing, rinsing hair with this infusion is an excellent remedy for dandruff and for adding volume to the hair.

Part of the prepared broth can be frozen in ice cube trays and rubbed over your face. This product smoothes wrinkles, rejuvenates the skin, making it more elastic and fresh.

Cooking

Cooking has found the widest application for barberry - in marinades, salads and seasonings, meat and vegetable dishes and, of course, various desserts:

  • for soups, salads, legumes and marinades, the barberry leaf is good;
  • berries are suitable as seasonings for dishes made from rice, meat, for all kinds of sweets - marshmallows, jellies, jams, fruit drinks, syrups, sweets;
  • fruits are excellent raw materials for making wines and liqueurs.

In landscape design

Barberry variety is ideal for decorating garden and summer cottages, city parks and squares:

  • plants decorate rockeries - plant-stone flower beds;
  • dwarf varieties beautifully border curbs, lawn edges and flower beds;
  • various types are suitable for decorating alpine slides and Japanese gardens;
  • barberry are great for hedges - they protect the site and look great.

If you have an aesthetic taste, be sure to appreciate the color variety - yellow, orange, pink, scarlet, purple, violet shades look just amazing.

Photo taken from pinterest.com

Barberries are beautiful at the time of flowering and during the ripening of fruits. They blend well in landscaping with other shrubs. They can be used as a main color spot and as a background.

Useful properties of barberry

All parts of the shrub, and not just its berries, have found application in folk medicine.

What are the health benefits and harms of this plant? Its healing powers are obvious:

  1. Appetite stimulation.
  2. Strengthening the immune system.
  3. Spasmolytic action.
  4. Antineoplastic effect.

Berries

Barberry berries are a popular raw material for the manufacture of medicines: they are used to treat hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tonsillitis, and liver diseases.

With the help of fruits, they treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, scurvy, malaria, anorexia.

Fresh berries are good for healing rheumatism, kidney disease, inflammation of the bladder, alcohol addiction. Juice from fresh fruits stimulates appetite and has a laxative effect.

Bark

Barberry bark is poured with boiling water and insisted in a thermos. Such a remedy is taken to treat pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, kidney and bladder problems.

A high concentration decoction of the bark helps to treat fever, malaria, scurvy.

Root

In medicine, the root of barberry is used, the medicinal properties of which are as follows:

  • it is used in the production of berberine - a substance that calms the heartbeat, contracts the uterus;
  • used as a component of the herbal collection for the treatment of tumors, including malignant;
  • decoction of roots helps to treat tuberculosis, pleurisy, eczema, cholecystitis, relieve inflammation of the gallbladder;
  • rubbing and compresses are prescribed for rheumatism, arthritis, osteochondrosis, radiculitis.

Leaves

A decoction of the leaves is indicated for digestive disorders, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, hepatitis, problems with the gallbladder, cardiac pathologies.

Alcoholic infusion helps to stop bleeding, increases blood clotting.

Contraindications acid

Barberry can bring not only benefits, but also harm to health. Therefore, it is impossible to use preparations from the plant thoughtlessly.

What are the contraindications to the use of barberry-based drugs:

  1. Age up to 12 years.
  2. Liver diseases - hepatitis, cirrhosis.
  3. Cholelithiasis.
  4. The state of pregnancy and menopause.
  5. With bleeding - after childbirth and menopause.

Attention! Use ripe fruits to make medicinal preparations from barberry. The use of unripe berries is dangerous - they contain toxic substances.

Barberry recipes

In cooking, jellies and syrups, preserves and compotes, sauces for meat dishes and spices are prepared from barberry berries.

Barberry is added as a seasoning to such dishes:

  • pilaf;
  • soups;
  • marinade for kebabs;
  • fish;
  • salads.

Without this spice, which gives the dishes a special piquancy, it is impossible to cook the correct lula kebab or real oriental pilaf.

Barberry tea

Before making tea with barberry, once again familiarize yourself not only with its positive properties, but also with its negative ones, and it is better to consult your therapist. This applies not only to tea but also to decoctions, infusions, fruit drinks.

And for those who can drink tea with barberry, the recipe is as follows:

  • pour boiling water over a teapot;
  • pour 1 teaspoon of dried barberry fruits there;
  • pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave for 10 - 15 minutes;
  • you can sweeten barberry tea with honey.

If you add 3-4 dried barberry berries to black or green tea brewed in a traditional way, this will saturate the drink with a pleasant sourness - what is not an alternative to lemon?

Juices and fruit drinks

Barberry juice is useful for antipyretic properties, antibacterial effect, the ability to slow down the aging of the body, stop bleeding, and remove toxins.

Jellies and mousses are made from the juice. Freshly squeezed juice is stored in an airtight container to stock up on a healing drink for the cold season.

Prepare it like this:

  • the fruits are washed and passed through a juicer;
  • squeezed juice is boiled and poured into cans or bottles;
  • hermetically closed after sterilization (15 minutes).

To prepare barberry juice:

  1. 100 grams of dried berries are boiled in a liter of water;
  2. bring to a boil and boil for ten minutes;
  3. filter;
  4. add sugar or vanillin if desired;
  5. we insist for an hour and a half.

It is an effective cold medicine and general tonic.

Tincture recipes

Tincture for bronchitis or as a natural immunomodulator:

  • dry crushed berries insist on vodka for 3 to 4 weeks. Raw materials will need one and a half cups of 20 ml, and vodka - 0.5 liters;
  • if you wish, you can add sugar and spices - cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger.

Medicinal alcohol tincture for inflammation:

  • one tablespoon of barberry bark and the same volume of roots are poured with 100 ml of alcohol and placed in a dark place for at least 3 weeks;
  • Store the alcohol tincture, avoiding light, and take it three times a day, before meals, in an amount of up to 30 drops.

Moonshine tincture for joint diseases:

  • The ingredients and cooking method are the same as in the previous recipe, only we replace alcohol with moonshine.
  • Moonshine tincture is used for rubbing.

Berberis vulgaris L.

Family barberry

Botanical characteristic

Deciduous spiny, highly branched shrub, up to
2.5 m, with abundant root shoots. On the branches
tripartite spines up to 2 cm long.

The underground organs consist of a thick stem base,
thin horizontal rhizomes, powerful main root and
lateral roots, the bulk of which is located on
depth of 10-30 cm.

Branches and roots
this plant has a bright
lemon yellow color. This color is given to them by the contained in
The alkaloid berberine is one of the few colored alkaloids.

Leaves
alternate, 3-6 cm long and 1-2 cm wide,
elliptical, evenly serrated at the edges, on short
petioles.

Inflorescences
simple. The flowers are light yellow, with characteristic
shell-shaped petals are collected in drooping racemes up to
5 cm.

Fruit
- oblong berries, very sour, purple to
dark red in color, usually with a weak waxy coating.

Seeds
2-3 pieces are oblong, dark brown.

Blooms in April-May; fruits ripen from late July to
October depending on habitat conditions.
Propagated by seeds and vegetatively (using rhizomes -
stolons).

Dissemination

Found in Ukraine, in the North Caucasus, in the middle and
southern zone of the European part of Russia. Grows on forest
forest edges and clearings, in thickets of bushes, on stony
slopes in the mountains. Cultivated as an ornamental shrub in
gardens.

Medicinal raw materials

Almost the entire bush is suitable for use: young
shoots, bark, leaves, flowers, berries and, of course, roots with
rhizomes.

Leaves, inflorescences, green shoots are harvested in phase
budding and flowering of barberry.

The fruits are harvested when ripe, dried or harvested with
sugar.

Roots are uprooted in spring or autumn - after ripening
its fruit when the content of berberine in the raw material
maximum. First, all aboveground shoots are chopped off
bases, and then with a shovel dig in the soil around the bush in
a radius of about 0.5 m and a depth of about 0.5-0.6 m; dig
start from the trunk to the periphery of the root. Chop off and
uproot the roots by hand, while picking up small roots
and bark, since the loss of these parts reduces the content
berberine in raw materials. Do not dig out the root system
completely. It also needs to be left intact though
would be one barberry bush for every 10 sq. m thickets. On the
the place of the destroyed instance should be planted with a root
stalk 10-15 cm long - this will ensure recovery
thickets after harvesting. In order to preserve natural
thickets, re-harvesting in one place is possible
produce not more often than in 10-15 years.

The dug roots are thoroughly shaken off the soil, removing when
this is blackened, rotten parts and other impurities. Wash
roots in water cannot be, since berberine is good in it
dissolves and is therefore lost during washing. When cleaning
roots, the bark peels off easily, therefore it is necessary
underlay a tarp or matting so that it does not get lost.

The raw material is dried by spreading it out in a thin layer and periodically
mix, chop the roots into small pieces and place
in dryers at a temperature of 40-50 ^ C.

The finished raw material consists of whole or split lengthwise
woody roots from 2 to 20 cm long and up to 6
cm, the color at the break is lemon yellow; weak smell,
peculiar, bitter taste.

Barberry leaves are harvested in the budding phase and
flowering plants, picking them with your hands; not allowed
harvesting leaves covered with rust or damaged
pests.

The shelf life of raw materials is 3 years.

Chemical composition

All organs of the common barberry contain alkaloids.

The alkaloid berberine was isolated from the bark of roots and leaves. More
total berberine in the roots and root bark
common barberry - up to 1.5%. Berberine isolated in
pure and in the form of sulfuric acid salt - bisulfate
berberine. Berberine is one of the alkaloids widely
widespread in the plant world: in addition to barberries, its
contain many plants from other families, in particular it
is found in the bast of Amur velvet (rue family),
growing in the Far East.

In the bark of the roots of common and multi-legged barberry,
in addition to berberine, the alkaloid oxyacanthine was also found, and
also palmatine, jatrorizin, columbamine. It was also established
the presence of essential oil and tannins. Underground
part of the common barberry contains 11 alkaloids.

The fruits of barberry contain: glucose and fructose,
malic, citric and tartaric acids, pectin, tannic
and dyes, vitamin C, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus,
magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium, silicon, aluminum,
manganese, zinc, copper, barium, nickel, titanium, vanadium,
zirconium, chrome.

Pharmacological properties

The fruits, roots and bark of common barberry have
choleretic, stimulating appetite, vasodilator and
antispasmodic action; have antipyretic,
sedative and antimicrobial action, relieve spasms
gallbladder; reduce inflammation,
have an analgesic effect for cholelithiasis and
biliary dyskinesia, being at the same time choleretic
a remedy known as a good hemostatic,
diaphoretic, enveloping and astringent, as well as
increasing the function of the sex glands in men.

The experiment found that the tincture of barberry leaves
Amur has hemostatic properties,
causes contraction of the muscles of the uterus, accelerates the rhythm and
increases the amplitude of heart contractions, lowers
blood pressure level.

Application

Fruit
used to prevent scurvy and other
avitaminosis. Fruit juice is used for arousal
appetite, thirst quenching and temperature reduction with
febrile conditions, lowering blood pressure with
hypertension as a mild laxative.

Leaves,
infused with alcohol, used for uterine
bleeding, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, inflammatory
diseases of the gallbladder, with malarial lesions
spleen.

Bark and roots
in the form of a decoction is used for diseases
liver and biliary tract, tuberculosis, gout, and
also with uterine bleeding and hemorrhoids.

Dosage forms

Tincture of Amur barberry leaves is produced
pharmacists in well-sealed 50 ml bottles.
Store in a cool, dark place.

Berberine sulfate is produced in tablets of 0.005 g.

Root bark tincture was part of the complex
a cholelitin drug used to treat
gallstone disease and cholecystitis.

The roots of the plant are part of the special collection of Zdrenko -
effective agent in the treatment of certain malignant
tumors.

Traditional medicine uses bark, fruits, flowers and leaves.
all types of barberry.

In homeopathy, a tincture of dried parts is used
barberry.

Other types

Common barberry is a polymorphic species represented by
in numerous varieties and forms. On South
Transcaucasia is replaced by a close species - oriental barberry
- B. orientalis Schneid., Which is more leathery,
whole-edged leaves and erect inflorescences.

From a closely related species of Georgian barberry (B. iberika Stev. Et
Fisch.), Also growing in the Caucasus, common barberry
differs in the edge of the leaf blade; the latter has everything
leaves whole-edged and only on sterile shoots sometimes
serrated.

Along with common barberry in medicine are used
Amur barberry leaves - Berberis amurensis Maxim. is he
grows in Primorye and Amur Region and differs from barberry
ordinary larger (6-12 cm long), thin
leaves with few protruding veins and longer
inflorescences, 7-10 cm long.

Siberian barberry Berberis sibirica L. grows in
Siberia. It differs in appearance from barberry
ordinary. Shorter, up to 1 m high, strongly
branched thorny shrub (thorns 3-, 5-, 7-
separate). Leaves are smaller, up to 2 cm long, flowers
solitary, located on peduncles that are shorter
leaves and are equal in length to the flower itself. The berries are red
broadly oval up to 9 mm long. The medicinal properties of barberry
Siberian are more effective than common barberry.

Contraindications

Pregnancy, as well as retention of membranes and parts in the uterus
placenta after childbirth. Cannot be used with
bleeding associated with ovarian dysfunction.

Since the alkaloids contained in the roots of barberry, in
large quantities are very toxic, use drugs
common barberry should be used with caution.

Common barberry leaves are a herbal remedy that is part of the tincture, and is also produced in the form of crushed raw materials, from which a decoction and infusion for medicinal purposes can be prepared.

Why are barberry leaves useful? Medicinal properties of the drug

The main actions of herbal preparations, which include barberry leaves, will be as follows: hemostatic, that is, hemostatic, in addition, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, analgesic, and also choleretic, while the funds are effective for cholecystitis, as well as the presence of cholelithiasis in the patient.

In addition, the herbal remedy somewhat increases blood coagulability, so it should be used with caution by persons prone to thrombosis. Berberine, which is isolated from barberry leaves, has found application in the treatment of malignant tumors.

The listed actions on the body are explained by the fact that the leaves of this representative of the flora contain many medicinal components, in particular isoquinoline alkaloids, the main of which is berberine, in addition, there are vitamin E, ascorbic acid, carotenoids.

In addition, the leaves include some organic acids, for example, citric acid, tartaric acid, and malic acid. In addition, there are mineral salts, the composition of which is quite extensive.

What are the leaves of barberry from? Indications for use

I will list under what conditions drugs are prescribed that include the active substance barberry leaves:

The indication is the presence of hepatitis;
Apply drugs for cholecystitis, as well as for biliary dyskinesia;
Decoctions, infusions and tinctures are effective if the patient has so-called cholelithiasis, which is not complicated by jaundice;
The presence of splenomegaly with an infectious disease such as malaria.

Metrorrhagia is also considered an indication for the use of funds prepared on the basis of the leaves of this representative of the flora, including in the postpartum period.

Who is not suitable for barberry leaves? Contraindications for use

Among the contraindications to the use of funds that include barberry leaves, the instructions for use call the following conditions:

Hypersensitivity to chemical compounds of barberry;
Do not use during pregnancy.

In addition to the above, a contraindication is uterine bleeding during menopause.

Why are barberry leaves dangerous? Side effects

When using drugs that contain barberry leaves, allergic reactions may develop, this is extremely rare in patients with an increased allergenic background. If the severity of the symptoms is long-term, then it is recommended to see a doctor.

Overdose with barberry leaves

How to use barberry leaves? Application and dosage

The tincture is recommended to be taken orally, while it is prescribed 20 or 30 drops up to three times throughout the day. It can be dissolved in a small amount of liquid, it is better to use chilled, pre-boiled water, and a tablespoon is enough.

The course of treatment with a tincture based on this representative of the flora must be agreed with a qualified doctor, on average, its duration is two weeks or twenty days.

The infusion is prepared in this way. It will take 30 grams of raw materials of dried leaves, after which they are poured into a container and water is poured into it, while its temperature should be quite hot, the amount is 200 milliliters. Next, the dishes are covered with a lid and left to infuse.

After forty minutes, the infusion can be filtered, for this they take a fine strainer and pour the finished drug through it, the settled cake can be squeezed out, after which it must be disposed of. Further, the agent can be used for therapeutic purposes.

Take an infusion of 15 milliliters up to four times throughout the day as an anti-inflammatory agent for liver pathology, rheumatism, and so on, without forgetting to consult with a specialist. Storage must be carried out in a cool place, while the infusion should be sold no later than three days from the date of its manufacture.

The broth is prepared in a water bath, 15 grams of dry leaves are enough for this, they are boiled with boiling water and placed on the stove for ten minutes, after which the drug is filtered through cheesecloth or a sieve, and then the liquid is brought with boiled water to a volume of 200 milliliters.

Then you can use the broth according to the indications. It is stored in the refrigerator for no more than five days from the date of preparation, after which it is not recommended to use it, as it will lose its healing qualities.

special instructions

Extracted from the leaves of the plant, berberine has, to some extent, an antitumor effect on the body. Therefore, drugs based on it are used in oncological practice.

Preparations containing barberry leaves (analogs)

The active substance of the common barberry leaves is contained in the tincture of the same name, and crushed vegetable raw materials are also produced in a cardboard box, where the date of manufacture of the drug and the sale period are indicated, storage should be carried out in a dry place.

Conclusion

The leaves of common barberry are a good phyto preparation, but before starting treatment, they need to consult a doctor.

Common barberry is a bright representative of berry bushes, which does not exceed three meters in height. The plant is known for its dark red berries, which are famous for their excellent medicinal properties. Today there are more than 500 species, but the most common are Thunberg, Ottawa and ordinary.

Barberry is widely used by gardeners as an ornamental plant in the form of hedges. It looks spectacular especially in autumn, when the foliage acquires a crimson color against the background of sharp thorns and bright red berries. In the vastness of our country, barberry can be found on the outskirts of the forest, in the steppe and forest-steppe, on the slopes and near rivers.

Harvesting a plant

Common barberry is harvested during the year. The leaves are harvested after flowering in May-June, and the berries are harvested after full maturation in the autumn.

Remember, picking green fruits is prohibited, as they are very poisonous. Ripe berries are dried under a canopy in a draft or in special dryers at a temperature of no more than + 50C. Dried berries and leaves can be stored for 3 years in a dry place.

Vitamin Composition

The plant contains organic acids, vitamins C and E, carotene, tannins and various alkaloids and the substance berberine, which has a choleretic effect for the body.

The berries of the plant contain useful pectins, mineral salts, citric, malic and tartaric acids.

Healing properties

In medicine, the leaves, fruits, bark and roots of common barberry are used. Preparations based on constituent plants have a number of properties:
- astringent;
diuretic;
anti-inflammatory;
-antimicrobial;
- blood-stopping;
- antineoplastic;
- bactericidal;
painkiller;
-spasmolytic;
antipyretic.

The beneficial substances that are contained in the bark and leaves of the plant contribute to lowering blood pressure in the body, as well as improving the performance of the heart. Many herbalists know that ripe barberry fruits taste sour, so they are best consumed with honey. Such a mixture is an indispensable product for enhancing immunity in the fight against radioactive radiation and its effect on the human body.

Due to the presence of pectins, barberry is successfully used in the removal of toxins, heavy metals, salts and other harmful substances, cleansing them from the intestines.

Barberry berries and juice from them have recently been used in the treatment of spleen and drug addiction. The fruits of the plant can be eaten both raw and boiled or pickled. Pure freshly squeezed juice excellently increases appetite and has a mild laxative effect, so the berries are used for hemorrhoids, as well as duodenal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Summing up the above, preparations that contain the components of the barberry plant are used for:
- liver diseases;
- ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
- tuberculosis;
- bleeding;
- morphinism;
- inflamed processes of the upper respiratory tract.

In medicine, a decoction and tinctures from all the components of the plant — berries, leaves, bark and roots — are widely used.

The use of a decoction and tincture

The healing properties of barberry ordinary as tinctures and decoctions have long been known. Thus, an infusion of bark and leaves is widely used for various diseases of the genitourinary system, including the bladder and kidneys. With a decoction, they take baths and do douching during gynecological diseases in women, and also rinse their mouth with inflammation of the gums and oral mucosa.

A decoction from the plant is used not only outside, but also inside for diphtheria, liver disease, gall bladder and some forms of hepatitis. Infusions are most often recommended for jaundice, digestive system disorders, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, dysentery, inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, spasms and gastrointestinal bleeding. No less useful is a decoction from the cortex, which successfully removes inflammation of the pancreas.

As lotions and compresses, a decoction of common barberry is useful for:
- arthritis;
-rheumatism;
-radiculitis;
osteochondrosis;
- various spasms of the leg muscles.

A decoction of dry berries is recommended for pregnant women with severe toxicosis, in particular with vomiting. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and is also used as an antipyretic agent for pleurisy, pneumonia, tuberculosis and cough.

Application in traditional medicine

The plant contains alkaloids that help lower blood pressure and also reduce the rate of contraction of the heart muscle. Therefore, barberry-based preparations are used for heavy internal bleeding, in the postpartum period and for diabetes.

More recently, another property of the plant has been identified: it contributes to an increase in the spleen in people with malaria. Due to the presence of berberine in the plant, it is widely used in the treatment of cholecystitis, chronic hepatitis and gallstone disease.

More recently, barberry has been used in homeopathy, in the treatment of kidneys, urinary tract and liver diseases.

Contraindications to use

It is not recommended to use the common barberry tincture during pregnancy, since an alcohol base is used in its manufacture. Do not take plant-based drugs in cases of bleeding, when the placenta is not completely separated from the uterine walls, with complex forms of hepatitis and liver cirrhosis.
Individual intolerance to the constituents of the medicinal plant may also occur. It is better to include barberry in the diet of children after they reach the age of 12 years.

Remember that the use of green fruits of barberry is contraindicated, since they are very toxic, it is possible to get severe poisoning.

For any form of use of drugs, infusions or decoction of common barberry, you should consult your doctor.

Barberry Roots - Radices Berberidis

Barberry root bark - Cortex radices Berberidis

Common barberry - Berberis vulgaris L.

Amur Barberry - Berberis amurensis Rupr.

Barberry family - Berberidaceae

Other names:
- berberis
- sour
- sour turn

Botanical characteristics.Barberry ordinary - prickly shrubs up to 2.5 m high with a well-developed root system. The stems are planted with many three-five-divided spines, adult trunks are covered with grayish bark. Leaves are elliptic, up to 4 cm long, with a finely serrated margin of the lamina, short petioles, dense. The flowers are small, bright yellow, collected 15-25 in spectacular beautiful racemose inflorescences up to 6 cm long. Each flower has a double six-membered perianth, and the sepals differ from the petals in appearance, 6 stamens and one pistil with an upper ovary. Fruits are oblong, bright red berries up to 12 mm long. It blooms in May and June. The fruits ripen in August-September and remain on the bushes until winter.

Amur barberry - a branched shrub whose branches are planted with tripartite thorns. The leaves of Amur barberry are up to 10 cm, obovate, with prickly spiky denticles, inflorescences are drooping brushes, yellow flowers, their petals are notched. The berries are oval, red, sour, with 2 seeds. It blooms in May and June. The fruits ripen in August-September.

Spread.Amur barberry is common in Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, common barberry - in the south of the European part of the country, in the Crimea, Ciscaucasia.

Habitat.Amur barberry grows in mixed and deciduous forests, common barberry is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Harvesting.Leaves are harvested in May-June, roots in late autumn. Leaves, bark and roots were once often used in medicine. Currently only root bark (Cortex Radices Berberidis) is used.

Chemical composition.All organs of the common barberry contain alkaloids. The alkaloid berberine was isolated from the bark of roots and leaves. In the bark of the roots of the common and multi-legged barberry (Verberis heteropoda Schrenk), in addition to berberine, the alkaloids oxyacanthine, palmatine, columbamine, leontin, jatroricin, and berberubine were also found. The presence of essential oils and tannins was also established. Siberian barberry (Berberis sibirica Pall.) Contains up to 0.3% alkaloids.

Of the barberry alkaloids, only berberine is currently used in medicine. It refers to isoquinoline derivatives. It is a crystalline powder of bright yellow color, slightly soluble in water and alcohol. Berberine is a chemically active alkaloid capable of producing various modifications. On the basis of berberine, drugs are developed that have specific antitumor and anti-leukemia activity. Synthesis of berberine is not possible.

Storage.The shelf life of raw materials is 3 years.

Pharmacological properties.In the experiment, tincture and tincture of barberry enhance bile secretion. Berberine, with full patency of the common bile duct in dogs, causes liquefaction of bile without changing its amount, and when the patency of the common bile duct is impaired, it increases the amount of bile and leads to its dilution. The mechanism of action of barberry preparations is associated both with an antispastic effect on the gallbladder and with a choleretic effect. Relaxation of the gallbladder is accompanied by the cessation of pain.

Barberry preparations stimulate blood clotting, increase uterine contractions.

MedicinesInfusion, tincture 1: 5 in 40% alcohol, "Berberine bisulfate" in tablets.

Application.Barberry preparations are used as choleretic drugs for hepatitis, hepatocholecystitis, gallbladder dyskinesias, exacerbations of chronic cholecystitis, not accompanied by fever, with cholelithiasis, not complicated by jaundice.

In obstetric and gynecological practice, tincture of barberry is used as an adjuvant for atonic bleeding in the postpartum period, for subinvolution of the uterus, for bleeding associated with inflammatory processes, and in menopause.

Barberry preparations are contraindicated in bleeding associated with incomplete separation of the placenta from the walls of the uterus.

Tincture (Tinctura foliorum Berberis arnurensis) is produced from the leaves of the barberry. The tincture (1: 5 in 40% alcohol) is a transparent, aromatic cherry-colored liquid with a slightly sour taste. The tincture is prescribed internally, 25-30 drops 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. Store in a cool place protected from light. Used as a hemostatic, choleretic agent.

Berberine bisulfate (Berberini bisulfas) is produced in tablets of 0.005 g. It is used as a choleretic agent for cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, and calculous cholecystitis in the period between exacerbations. It is taken orally 5-10 mg 2-3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 2-4 weeks. Repeated courses of treatment are carried out after a 5-10-day break.

An infusion is prepared from the leaves of barberry ordinary: 1 tablespoon of chopped leaves (10 g) is poured into 200 ml of hot water, heated in a water bath for 15 minutes, insisted 45 minutes, filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day as a choleretic agent.

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