Barberry

Species Name: The genus Berberis includes 450-500 different species.

Also known as: Berberis Vulgaris, Barberry or European Barberry.

Though barberry is most often thought of as a shrub, barberry root has some healing properties and is one of the most effective herbs for treating infection.

What is Barberry? The genus, Berbaris, consists of a 450-500 species of both deciduous and evergreen shrubs that range from 1-5 m tall with thorny shoots. It is a native of the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America.

The shrub, closely related to the genus Mahonia, which is sometimes included with the Berberis genus by some botanists. Many refer to the shrubs as simply barberry, its vernacular name.

Home Remedies using Barberry:

Benefits of Barberry:

Although the berries of the shrub are edible and rich in Vitamin C, they have a very sharp flavor to them. Because of their thorns, harvesting is very difficult, so the berries are not widely consumed.

They are important food items for many small birds that then disperse the seeds in their droppings. They are also important as food plants by the larvae of some of the insects in the Lepidoptera species.

The berries are mostly used for human consumption in the form of jams and jellies; however, European barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is often the host for Puccinia graminis, which is a serious fungal disease of wheat. Because of this potential risk, cultivation of the species is prohibited in many areas.

Barberry root, however, is believed to have beneficial use in the treatment of liver ailments and has been used in the past in the treatment of jaundice. In addition, it is known to be one of the most effective herbs for treating digestive disorders and fighting bacterial infection.

Uses of Barberry:

• Jams and jellies
• Food for small birds
• Rich source of Vitamin C
• Reduction of blood pressure
• Treatment of jaundice
• Treatment for intermittent fevers
• As a topical antiseptic
• Treatment of hangovers
• Constipation
• Reduction of bronchial constriction
• Treatment of chronic vaginal infections
• Berries of the plant are edible
• In jams or jellies
• In capsule form from stores that sell herbal products

Side Effects of Barberry:

There are no known side effects however; berberis vulgaris is the alternate host of a serious fungal disease of wheat so precaution must be exercised in consuming the fruits of this species.