Common Name: Barberry
Constituents: berberine is a bitter tasting, bactericidal, antimalarial, and CNS depressant;
berbamine is a depressant on the myocardium and, like its close relative oxyacanthine, is a stimulant to the respiratory centre and to skeletal muscle;
palmatine shares with berberine an antiseptic effect;
the whole plant, extracted in acetone, increases the contractility of the uterine muscles in many animals.
Comment: the whole plant relaxes the lower bowel musculature, and has an effect on gall-stone production.
Purposes: (See also Disease: Signs & Symptoms)
| biliousness |
| eczema | Seborrhoeic. Improve lymph, renal, and colonic functions. |
| jaundice |
| lichen planus |
| rosacea |
| vaginitis | Internally. |
Used In: (See Formulas)
Chlorosis Tonic #1DC166
Chorea Pills
Colic Capsules #1DC139
Dropsy Decoction #1DC160
Fibre Drink
Gall Tonic #1DC156
Jaundice Tonic #1DC156
Lower Bowel Tonic
Quinsy Tonic #1DC147
Rheumatism Decoction #1DC178
Syphilis Tincture #2DC84
Properties:
Antiseptic
Cathartic
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Stomachic
Tonic
Contraindication(s): Pregnancy.
Constituents:
| Alkaloid, isoquinoline | s. Including berberine (against bacteria, protozoa; berberine is neutralized by glycyrrhazin), oxyacanthine, palmatine, columbamine, berbamine, bervulcine, vulvacine, yatroricine. |
| Chelidonic acid |
| Essential oil |
| Tannin | s. |
Materia Medica: (See Materia Medica.)
| Alteratives | DIGESTIVE SYSTEM |
| Alteratives | MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM |
| Antimicrobials | IMMUNE SYSTEM |
| Bitters | DIGESTIVE SYSTEM |