Barberry is a deciduous thorny shrub up to three meters high. For medical purposes, berries, leaves, plant roots and bark are used. Most commonly used are barberry ordinary and Amur. They have almost the same properties, as they are species similar in origin.
The healing properties of barberry vulgaris were known even in Ancient Mesopotamia. To date, the flowers, leaves, bark, roots and berries of this plant are widely used in medicine, in addition, they are used as raw materials for the production of homeopathic and pharmaceutical preparations. In medicine, such barberry preparations are used as:
- cholelitin;
- berberine biosulfate;
- tincture of barberry.
Composition
Barberry, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which we will consider in detail in this article, contains the alkaloid berberine, which determines the choleretic properties of the plant. It consists of:
- carotene;
- alkaloids;
- tannins;
- vitamin C;
- organic acids;
- tocopherol.
Beneficial features
Barberry, the medicinal properties and contraindications to the use of which have been known for a long time, are used for pathologies such as:
- kidney disease (including kidney stone disease);
- liver disease
- gallbladder disease (including cholelithiasis);
- hepatocholecystitis;
- gallbladder inflammation;
- dysentery;
- spleen disease;
- stomach cramps, stomach pathology;
- eye pathology;
- heat;
- diseases of the oral cavity;
- malaria;
- tuberculosis;
- scurvy;
- pleurisy;
- rheumatism;
- gout;
- lumbago;
- diseases of the throat, stomach and liver;
- bleeding that has been associated with childbirth;
- postpartum uterine bleeding;
- reverse delayed development of the uterus after abortion or childbirth;
- bleeding with uterine inflammation;
- toxicosis of pregnant women;
- hemorrhoids;
- heartaches
- hypertension;
- diabetes.
In addition, barberry preparations are used as:
- antiseptics;
- means to increase appetite;
- laxative;
- diaphoretic and antipyretic drugs;
- tonic.
The medicinal properties of the barberry shrub are very diverse, but one of them is unique - it relieves bouts of vomiting and nausea. Due to this, the plant is actively used by pregnant girls with toxicosis, since pharmaceutical preparations that have the same effect, mainly have various side effects. In addition, it can relieve bouts of cough, wet especially when the bronchi are clogged with sputum.
Barberry finds its application even in the treatment of various oncological diseases. So, scientists were able to prove that berberine, which is part of it, has an anti-leukemic and anti-tumor effect. At the same time, berberine is not amenable to chemical synthesis today. Since this discovery was made recently, at the moment it is used only by rare connoisseurs of alternative medicine who have studied the antitumor properties of this plant.
The healing properties of barberry. Berries
Green berries of barberry are poisonous, they can lead to very strong intoxication. In alternative medicine, only ripe fruits are used. Berries help strengthen immunity. In different regions of our country, it is customary to freeze them in order to defrost them in winter and use them in food.
Flowers
The barberry plant has a wide variety of medicinal properties and contraindications. With hypertension and heart pain, a decoction of flowers is used. To do this, pour a spoonful of a dry plant ½ cup water, boil for 10 minutes over low heat, then insist for 2 hours, strain. Consume 2 tablespoons twice a day. The above decoction also eliminates inflammation of the eye mucosa, for this washing them up to six times a day.
Leaves
In order to prepare a tincture of vodka leaves of barberry, you need to take these ingredients in a ratio of 5: 1, respectively. The finished mixture is insisted 15 days. Take 25 drops three times a day for 20 days. Then a break of 10 days is needed, then the course is repeated. This tincture is used in the postpartum period with atonic bleeding, with bleeding caused by inflammation, uterine subinvolution, in addition, in gynecological and obstetric practice.
The leaves of barberry, the medicinal properties of which help in the treatment of various diseases, are also used to make another infusion. To do this, 2 tablespoons of dried leaves must be insisted for an hour in a glass of boiling water. Then the infusion is filtered and consumed in a tablespoon several times a day for one month. It is used in pathologies of the gallbladder and liver as a choleretic and anti-inflammatory agent.
Bark, branches and roots
Barberry root, whose medicinal properties have been known in folk medicine for many years, is the raw material for the manufacture of berberine. It is used in traditional medicine :
- to reduce pressure;
- as a choleretic substance;
- for uterine contractions;
- to calm the heartbeat.
The roots of barberry are an important component of the famous Zdrenko potion.
Decoction of fruits
In alternative medicine, the healing properties of barberry have been used for several centuries. Berries are used to prepare a decoction. To do this, take 2 tablespoons of fruit, pour ½ tablespoon of water, put on fire and boil for 20 minutes. Then bring the broth with water to its original volume. You need to take 50 ml three times a day. A decoction of the fruit is used as a diuretic, choleretic, diaphoretic, for coughing, bronchitis, colds, pneumonia.
Ripe fruits mixed with honey is an excellent vitamin remedy that enhances immunity, the defenses of the human body, and is useful for vitamin deficiency as well.
Decoction of leaves
You need to take 15 g of leaves, pour them with a glass of water, put on fire, boil for 10 minutes, then insist. Next, bring the broth with water to its original volume. It should be taken in a spoon 4 times a day. Such a decoction helps to eliminate nausea, it is used for cramping in the intestines and stomach, diarrhea.
Root broth
Barberry root has a wide variety of medicinal properties. You need to take a spoonful of crushed root of the plant, pour 400 ml of water, put on fire for a couple of minutes. Then the broth is infused for 30 minutes and is taken every hour in a tablespoon with diarrhea and spasms in the intestine. A decoction is also used for inflammation of the gums for rinsing the oral cavity, as an antispasmodic and analgesic. They make lotions with radiculitis and arthritis, spasms of the leg muscles.
Cooking use
Barberry, the medicinal properties of which were described in this article, is widely used in cooking. Its fruits are added to pilaf. In addition, syrup, compote, jam, juice, marmalade and jelly are cooked from barberry.
Contraindications
- Fruits are contraindicated for people suffering from thrombophlebitis, with high acidity of the stomach, as well as people in a pre-infarction state.
- With prolonged use of barberry, constipation (constipation) may develop.
- In gynecology and obstetrics, barberry is prohibited for bleeding due to non-removal of fragments of the placenta from the uterus after childbirth and ovarian dysfunction.
- It is also contraindicated in menopause with bleeding.
- Since preparations from the roots and cortex constrict blood vessels and increase blood coagulation, they cannot be used for pathologies of the heart, cerebral spasms, and high thrombosis.
- Infusion of leaves can not be used by pregnant women.
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- A decoction of the roots reduces blood pressure, therefore it is contraindicated in hypotension.
- Children under 12 years old.
In addition, you must remember that unripe barberry is poisonous. The medicinal properties and contraindications to taking the plant are now known to you! All the best!