Barberry is an evergreen, deciduous shrub that has a scrubby texture. It has a grooved grey-yellow stem and yellow roots that have toothed leaves and spines. It also bears yellow flowers along with oval shaped red fruits. The medicinal uses of barberry have been known for more than 2000 years and therefore it has been used in a number of traditional medicines to treat an array of diseases and illnesses. Barberry is a detoxifying herb that contains excellent stimulating and sedative properties that help fight a number of disease causing organisms. This herb can be consumed orally as well as be used externally to treat a number of health problems.
Nutritional Information and Properties
The barberry shrub produces edible berries that are a rich source of vitamin C. Barberry contains a chemical known as berberine that gives it its medicinal value. This chemical acts as an antibiotic to kill fungi, bacteria, and protozoa. The fruit, root bark, and stem of barberry contain chemical like protoberberin alkaloids and isoquinoline that are effective in treating a number of ailments. Barberry is also a rich source of B vitamins like thiamine and minerals like zinc.
Health Benefits and Therapeutic Uses
- The medicinal and therapeutic value of barberry comes from the chemical berberine. This chemical not only inhibits the growth of bacteria and other disease causing organisms, it helps in boosting the body’s immune system as well. Some of the main health benefits of barberry are as under:
- Barberry is effective in easing infection and inflammation of the urinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tracts. Common health problems like sinusitis, nasal congestion, sore throat, bronchitis, and candida infections are easily treatable with barberry. Skin conditions like psoriasis can also be treated with the help of barberry extracts.
- Experts consider barberry an effective treatment for diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by food poisoning. Some studies have shown that the symptoms of diarrhea improve faster with barberry as compared to traditional antibiotics. Barberry contains powerful astringent properties that help in killing intestinal bacteria faster.
- Barberry is also good for maintaining eye health because of its high concentration of berberine. It is also used to treat conjunctivitis.
- The chemical berberine stimulates the white blood cells in the body that kill disease-causing organisms’ thereby boosting overall immunity.
- The use of barberry as a liver tonic is also well known. It helps in detoxifying as well as stimulating the liver, which in turn increases the functioning of the liver and treats problems like gallstones.
- Barberry is an effective natural treatment for problems like stomach upsets, heartburn, gastritis, ulcers, and ulcerative bowel problems. It also acts as an appetite stimulant. In problems like renal colic, barberry helps in easing the soreness and burning caused by this condition.
- Barberry is useful in correcting irregularities in menstrual periods, anemia, as well as treating vaginitis. It can even help correct problems related to gout.
- People suffering from ventricular heart defects can also benefit from barberry. This herb has the capacity to increase the blood supply in the body, which is very helpful to these patients.
- It helps in lowering blood pressure by enlarging the blood vessels in hypertension patients.
- Chemotherapy and radiation treatments in many cases result in white blood cell depression in the body, which is correctable with barberry.
Barberry usage tips:
- Usually barberry uses to decorate rice! For this usage, read this instruction:
- Barberries tend to burn very easily. Remove from the heat after a couple of minutes and add the sugar and 2 tablespoons of liquid saffron. Stir to dissolve the sugar and set aside.
- Heat a small frying pan/skillet on a medium to low heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and stir in the pistachios and almonds. Remove from the heat immediately. Add 1 tablespoon of the barberry mixture and 1 tablespoon of liquid saffron, stir and set aside.
- Bring the water to the boil in a medium-sized, heavy-based saucepan. Drain the rice and add to the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoon of oil, 50 gr. /2 oz. of butter and 1 tablespoon of liquid saffron. Bring back to the boil and simmer, uncovered, until all the water has been absorbed and holes appear on the surface of the rice.
- Remove from the heat and tip the rice into a shallow dish. Gently fold in the barberry mixture, taking care not to break the grains of rice.
- Rinse and return the saucepan to the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and when it sizzles, line the bottom of the pan with a layer of sliced potatoes, if using. Spoon the barberry and rice mixture into the middle of the pan in a pyramid shape.
