BARBERRY
Berberis vulgaris
COMMON NAMES: Barberry, pipperidge bush, berry.
FEATURES: One hundred and seventy-five species of shrubs make up this large family of Berberidaceae,
many of which are used in ornamental planting and for hedges. The plant is native to the temperate
climates and grows wild in the New England states and on the mountains of Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The flowers grow in small yellow clusters in April and May, are succeeded by red, dark blue, or black
fruit that in some species is used for making jellies of beautiful color and distinct taste; also used like
raisins when dry.
Barberry is an erect deciduous shrub, 3–8 feet high. The leaves are obovate, oval form, terminated by
soft bristle, about 2 inches long and one-third as wide. The yellow root was an important dye for baskets,
buckskins, and fabric among the Native Americans. The Spanish-Americans used the yellow root to make
neck crosses (crucifixes). The active principle is berberine.
MEDICINAL PARTS: Root, bark, berries.
SOLVENT: Water.
BODILY INFLUENCE: Antiseptic, laxative, stimulant, tonic.
USES: Native Americans knew by experience the use of barberry for ulcers, sores, consumption,
heartburn, and rheumatism. Root tea was prepared as a blood tonic and cough medicine and for kidney
ailments.
Barberry is indicated in the chronic ills of the stomach and the early stages of tuberculosis, general
debility, liver and spleen derangements. The agent is excellent to cleanse the body of choleric humors and
free it from such diseases as cholera and its associated malicious oddities such as scabs, itch, tetters,
ringworm, yellow jaundice, bile, etc. It is also frequently prescribed in catarrhal conditions of the
bronchial tubes. Barberry has a history of being an “old woman’s medicine” because of its general use in
infusion as a stomach and liver agent. As a tonic it will help convalescent patients recuperate.
Barberry bark is the most active and is an intensely bitter stimulant. The berries can be eaten, and the
juice is an agreeably acrid refrigerant, useful in fevers and will generally stop the bloody flux and
diarrhea that often accompany typhus fevers.
Barberry can be effectively combined with goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), burdock (Actium lappa
and Actium minus), yellow dock (Rumex crispus), fringe tree (Chionanthus virginica) and wild cherry
(Prunus serotina).