Common barberry is a representative of the barberry genus. It is used for various therapeutic purposes.
Occurrence and cultivation of common barberry.
Barberry belongs to the thorny shrubs and can reach a growth height of up to three meters. Common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is also known as sour thorn. Other names of the plant are true barberry , three-thorn or vinegar berry. It belongs to the barberry family (Berberidaceae). The name barberry is probably due to the Romans. They established a connection between the plant and the North African Berbers, who used the sour fruits for culinary purposes. Barberry belongs to the thorny shrubs and can reach a growth height of up to three meters. While the small yellow flowers form hanging clusters, the leaves are arranged in rosettes. The flowering period of the sourthorn occurs in the months of May and June. In August and September, barberry produces edible berries that are red and fleshy. They can be distinguished from other berries by their roller shape. Barberry is believed to have originated in North Africa. In modern times, the plant thrives from Western Europe to the Caucasus. Its preferred growing areas include shrublands, sparse forests and floodplains, and mountainous regions.
Effect and application
Barberry has several health-promoting properties. Among other things, it has antibacterial, astringent, circulatory and diuretic effects. It also stimulates the appetite. For therapeutic use of barberry, both the fruit (Berberidis fructus) and the root (Berberidis radis) and bark (Beberidis cortex) of the plant are used. Since these exert different effects on the human body, they are used to treat various ailments. While the fruits contain ingredients such as vitamin C, tannic acid, capsanthin and hyperoside, the root bark contains jatrorrhizin and the alkaloid berberine. However, berberine is toxic, which is why the bark and root must be taken in low doses and not for too long. Since the alkaloid has a stimulating effect on bile and digestion, the root bark of barberry is used for liver-gall problems and digestive disorders. In addition, it dilates blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure. In addition, the root bark stimulates the function of the kidneys. However, in case of inflammation of the kidneys, sour thorn should not be taken, as this leads to negative irritation of the kidneys. The root bark can be taken in the form of a tea. To make it, the user boils half a teaspoon or a whole teaspoon of root bark briefly. Afterwards, the tea must steep for about five minutes. After straining, the root bark tea can be taken in small sips. The daily dose is one to two cups. Another form of administration is the root bark tincture. It is used for the same treatment purposes as the root bark tea. It is also possible to take the tincture in case of lumbago or fever. In order to strengthen the gums or treat bleeding gums, fresh juice from the barberry fruit can be taken. For this purpose, the patient simply brushes the juice on his gums. The fruits of the sourthorn do not contain any alkaloids. Thus, they are considered healthy vitamin donors. The fruits can either be processed into mush or jam or used in the form of syrup. It is also possible to dry the fruits, which also makes them available in the winter months. In addition, barberry fruits are a popular ingredient for cooking.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Common barberry was used for medicinal treatment purposes in earlier times. For example, the ancient Egyptians used it together with fennel seeds to reduce fever. The Romans, on the other hand, used it to treat diarrhea. Later, the root bark was boiled in apple cider and used to treat abdominal inflammation. The English physician and pharmacist Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) recommended the bark of sourthorn for internal cleansing of the body and for the prevention of jaundice, itching, boils and lichen.Thus, the alkaloids of barberry such as berberine and berbamine have a bactericidal effect. The root bark should also be helpful against toothache. In modern times, berberine is used in various chemical medicines to treat eye diseases. In addition, the heart, circulation and vitality of humans are positively promoted by the alkaloid. Thus, the plant is considered helpful in cases of high blood pressure. Moreover, barberry stimulates digestion, relieves stomach upsets and improves appetite. Furthermore, the medicinal plant is said to have an anti-diarrheal effect. Against sore throat can be gargled with root bark tea from the plant. It is also used for colds and relieves nasal congestion. It can even be used to treat conjunctivitis of the eyes. Other possible indications for the use of barberry are edema (water retention), calming the heart rate, liver congestion, skin itching, menstrual cramps, gallstones and gallbladder inflammation. Barberry is also used in homeopathy. There it is used to treat rheumatic pains after physical exercise. Recent health studies have shown that berberine effectively combats viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. On the other hand, the alkaloid berbamine provides stimulation of white blood cells, which act as defense cells in the body. According to another study, berberine is also helpful against coliform bacteria as well as the stubborn hospital germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
