Barberry: useful properties and contraindications, therapeutic use in traditional medicine

Barberry is a small shrub whose branches are covered with sharp thorns and red berries. Barberry fruits are very useful, as they contain vitamins and minerals that help fight certain diseases. Due to the medicinal properties of barberry, many use it in medicine. However, before that, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features of this plant in more detail.

Composition of barberry

Thanks to the components of the composition, the plant has a number of medicinal properties. At the same time, useful components are found not only in ripened fruits, but also in roots, leaves and bark.Barberry berries are rich in vitamins A, PP, C, B1 and B2. In addition, they contain the following trace elements:

essential oils;
organic type acids;
fructose;
carotene;
glucose;
pectin;
alkaloids.

Many consider barberry leaves to be an excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. They contain resinous components, malic acids, as well as vitamins K and E. Young roots contain a dozen and a half alkaloids, which allows them to be used in traditional medicine.

What is used in traditional medicine

Before using barberry in traditional medicine, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of the use of each of the parts of the plant.

Berries

The fruits of the plant are considered an effective remedy used to improve the functioning of the immune system and increase appetite. Also, decoctions made from berries are used to eliminate hypertension and kidney diseases.

Experts advise using only ripe barberries, as unripe berries are very dangerous. They contain many alkaloids, due to which signs of intoxication appear. Therefore, before preparing decoctions, you need to make sure that the fruits are fully ripe.

Leaves

Barberry leaves have a number of useful properties, due to which they can be used in the treatment of various diseases. Most often, medicinal alcoholic decoctions are prepared from them, which help get rid of the symptoms of jaundice. The leaves are also used in the elimination of bleeding. Some doctors prepare decoctions from the leaves that eliminate signs of hypertension and gynecological pathologies.

Root

Barberry rhizomes contain a lot of berberine, which in its medicinal properties is very similar to sulfurous s alt.Tinctures and decoctions containing barberry root are used to cleanse the kidneys. Also, such therapeutic agents stimulate the functioning of the uterine muscles, eliminate signs of arrhythmia and help normalize high blood pressure. In addition, root decoctions are used in the fight against oncological pathologies.

Twigs

Solutions are prepared from the bark and twigs of barberry, from which lotions for rinsing are created. The prepared products have an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps to eliminate inflammation of the throat and gums. They are also used to make tinctures to help fight the symptoms of a cold.

Flowers

The flowers are used to create decoctions that help to cope with heart diseases.

Most often these drugs are used to normalize blood pressure and get rid of hypertension.

How it affects the body

Before you use barberry for medicinal purposes, you need to understand the peculiarities of its effects on the body.

Useful properties

There are several useful properties that you should familiarize yourself with before using barberry decoctions.

Acts like a natural antibiotic

Barberry is considered a natural antibiotic that can be used to make medicines that help cure liver and kidney diseases, as well as eliminate signs of high blood pressure.

Strengthens immunity

Tinctures from ripe berries not only fight against pathogenic microorganisms, but also increase the body's defense against many diseases. The plant contains substances that strengthen tissues and protect cells from the penetration of bacteria. Experts advise regularly taking barberry extract, which protects against flu and fever.

Improves eyesight

Drugs prepared on the basis of barberry are actively used for the treatment and prevention of eye diseases. The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the fact that the plant contains berberine. This component is added to many drugs for the treatment of conjunctivitis.

Diarrhea treatment

Food poisoning accompanied by diarrhea affects many people. Some healers and doctors believe that barberry decoctions help eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of diarrhea. Ripe berries have astringent properties that help cleanse the intestines of dangerous bacteria.

Improve heart function

All experienced doctors talk about the benefits of drugs from barberry in the treatment of diseases associated with the heart muscle. Such remedies are useful for people who suffer from angina and ischemia. Regular use of medication also reduces the likelihood of strokes.

To increase the effectiveness of treatment, barberry products are used in conjunction with procedures such as acupuncture and yoga.

Reduces metabolic syndrome

People with metabolic syndrome should take decoctions prepared from the leaves or flowers of the plant. It is enough to drink 300-400 milliliters of decoction every day to activate the elimination of fats and speed up metabolic processes in the body.

Reduces the likelihood of diabetes

Barberry is considered an effective tool for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. The composition of the berries contains berberine, which, after entering the bloodstream, reduces the amount of glucose and normalizes lipid metabolism. With the regular use of medicines prepared from barberry, insulin sensitivity increases significantly.

Promotes gastrointestinal function

Decoctions of berries improve the functioning of the digestive system, and also help get rid of sores on the internal organs. Medicinal decoctions are prepared from the leaves and roots, which cleanse the intestines of bacteria and helminths. They also help to get rid of signs of poisoning.

Harm and contraindications

Before using any barberry products, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications. They should not be used for the following ailments:

kidney failure;
thrombophlebitis;
varicose veins;
bleeding in the uterus.

Healing recipes with barberry

In order to properly create medicinal products, you need to familiarize yourself with the recipes for their preparation.

Liver infusion

Barberry tinctures help normalize and improve liver function. To prepare a medicinal decoction, you need to pour 100 grams of dried barberry leaves with boiling water and leave for 45-55 minutes. Then the tincture is filtered and poured into a jar. The prepared decoction is drunk daily five times for about 25 days.

Morse for immunity

It's no secret that fruits increase and improve the functioning of the immune system, and therefore medicines are prepared from them to increase immunity. When creating a fruit drink, 50 grams of berries are poured with water, boiled and insisted for several days. The prepared remedy is drunk daily before meals for 20-30 days.

Tea for the stomach

To normalize the work of the digestive system, a special medicinal tea is prepared. When preparing it, 150 grams of fruit are added to half a liter of water. Then the container with the broth is placed on a gas stove and boiled for half an hour, after which the liquid is filtered through a strainer.Cooked tea is drunk daily at 50-60 milliliters.

Decoction for the heart

When creating a decoction for the heart, 60-70 grams of berries are placed in a container with 500-600 milliliters of water and boiled on a gas stove. Then the container with the liquid is infused for three hours and filtered. The decoction is drunk three times a day for 20-30 milliliters.

Conclusion

Barberry is a medicinal plant that is often used in modern medicine. Before preparing medicines from it, you need to familiarize yourself with the composition of the barberry, as well as with the basic recipes for preparing medicines from the berries, roots, leaves or bark of the plant.