Two hundred species of barberry are known in the world, and they are especially abundant in Asia and South America. The famous Argentine calafate is nothing more than a species of barberry. But in the Iberian Peninsula only two are common: Berberis vulgarispresent in the north and east, and Berberis hispanicatypical of the Andalusian mountains.

These are shrubs up to two meters high, with triple thorns, hard oval leaves, yellow flowers in pendulous clusters and bright red fleshy berries. They usually grow on mountain passes and in thick brambles at the edge of forests and roads.

In ancient Egypt, barberry was used, mixed with fennel, to treat the fearsome plagues that decimated the population. «Berberis» was how the Arabs knew the fruit, due to its shell shape.

For medicinal purposes The bark of the roots, leaves and fruits are used. Except for these, the rest of the plant contains a powerful alkaloid, berberine, along with others, such as berbamine. The fruits, on the other hand, are rich in malic and tartaric acids.

Medicinal properties of barberry

• Berberine gives barberry its bitter flavor, making it a good herbal resource for stimulating gastric juices and wake up appetite in weakened, convalescent or listless people.
• Barberry promotes the secretion of bile by the gallbladder and helps prevent gallstones. Act as an excellent agent antibacterial in digestive tract infections that can manifest with colic or diarrhea.
• It is indicated in hepatobiliary dyskinesias and as purifying after a mess or food poisoning such as salmonella or that caused by bacteria Escherichia coli.
• The decoction of the bark is also indicated in the constipationbut small doses should be taken to avoid an exaggerated laxative effect.
• Combined with hawthorn, olive leaves and passionflower, barberry leaves help maintain blood pressure under control.

Natural remedies with barberry

• For the dull ones: To relieve and promote recovery from discomfort caused by emptiness and overloading of the gallbladder, barberry is combined with fumaria, boldo leaves and mint, in equal parts. How to prepare the infusion: One tablespoon of the mixture is left to infuse per glass of water for about 8-10 minutes and taken after meals. It can also be taken beforehand to stimulate appetite.

How to use

It is taken in the form of an infusion of the leaves or fruits, a decoction of the bark, in tincture, capsules and root powders. Juices and liqueurs are prepared with the fruits.

Precautions and contraindications

• Due to the alkaloid content and the oxytocic effect of berberine – it causes contraction of the uterine muscle – it should be avoided during pregnancy, breastfeeding and children under three years of age.
• If you take liver medications, it is advisable to consult your doctor before using the plant, as interactions have been detected.
• High doses of the bark have caused nosebleeds, vomiting and diarrhea.

Jordi Cebrián. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”