Medicinal Properties Of Common Barberry

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The medicinal properties of barberry have been known since ancient times. The first mention of them was found on clay tablets from the library of King Ashurbanipal of the Assyrian state. Scientists date the find to 650 years BC. Healers of India, Babylon have successfully used all parts of the plant for the treatment of many diseases. Where are barberry thickets found today?

Habitat

Wild forms grow in the south of Russia, mainly in the Caucasus. Prefer the slopes of ravines, forest edges, river valleys, rocky embankments. Bushes form continuous thickets. To preserve the habitat, it is recommended to leave two or three intact plants on an area of 10 sq. m. Over time, the population is recovering.

Biological composition

The basic elements of any part of the barberry are alkaloids.

Leaves, roots are rich:

• berberrubine, berberine, palmitine, berbamine, jatrocin;

• tannins;

• coloring pigments;

• resinous elements.

Found in the leaves: ascorbic, malic acids, vitamins E, C, essential oils, carotene, tocopherols, phyloquinone.

The fruits contain:

• carotene;

• sugar;

• acids (malic, citric, tartaric);

• vitamins C, K;

• pectin, tannins;

• mineral salts;

• coloring pigments.

The rich set of elements determines the medicinal properties of the plant.

Application in traditional medicine

The use of roots and leaves of barberry covers a wide range of areas:

1. Gynecology. Stops bleeding during menopause, postpartum period. It is prescribed for subinvolution of the uterus, endometritis.

2. Therapy. Choleretic agent for cholelithiasis, chronic hepatitis, dyskinesia, cholecystitis of the gallbladder. Has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, astringent, antimicrobial, antiseptic effect. Helps to stop dysentery, diarrhea, asthma, tuberculosis, duodenal ulcer, stomach. With tachycardia, it slows down the pulse, lowers the pressure in the arteries, and strengthens the blood capillaries.

3. Dermatology. Treats allergic manifestations on the skin, neurodermatitis, eczema, leishmaniasis, phytodermatitis.

Barberry berries are part of the vitamin fees, support the human body in the autumn-winter period.

Procurement of raw materials

The greatest concentration of nutrients accumulates in the leaves during the flowering period (May-June). You can maximally protect your hands from thorny thorns by using scissors when collecting raw materials. Dry delicate plates in the shade under a canopy, spreading them in a thin layer on paper. The mass is stirred daily, changing the leaves in places. The finished product has a characteristic peculiar smell, sour taste, green tint, and a brittle twisted structure. Store in linen bags for no more than 1, 5 years.

The roots are dug out in 2 terms: in spring (April), in autumn (October-November). Thoroughly free from the ground in a dry way. The washed roots lose some of the useful elements that are readily soluble in water.

Thin components are dried in the air in the shade, thick ones are cut into two centimeter pieces. A week is kept under a canopy, then brought to condition in the oven at a temperature of no more than 50 degrees. Finished roots are yellow on the inside, wrinkled-brownish on the outside, bitter taste, with a faint odor.

The bark is harvested in the spring during sap flow (April-May) on young shoots. Make cuts around the circumference of the branch at a distance of 10 cm from each other. With the help of a longitudinal dissection, the shell is removed. Dried similarly to the roots. The color of the finished material is grayish-brown on the outside and gray-yellowish on the inside. Bitter taste, weak specific odor.

Fruits are harvested in the fall after light freezing. Dry in the oven at 50 degrees. Store bark, roots, fruits in bags for no more than 3 years.

The valuable material prepared for future use helps to overcome many diseases at any time of the year, to stock up on vitamins. The availability of medicinal raw materials, ease of use, the absence of toxic constituents, allow the widespread use of all parts of the plant in folk medicine.