Berberis, BarberryLycium (classical name)
Barberry root: –Xiao Bo (TCM) –Daruharidra (Ayurveda) –Skyer pa སྐྱེར་པ (Tibetan) Bark: –Skyer shun སྐྱེར་ཤུན (Tibetan) Concentrated Extract of Bark/Stem: –Rasanjana (Ayurveda) –Rasaut (Unani) –Skyer ba'i khan ta སྐྱེར་པའི་ཁཎྜ (Tibetan) Fruit: –Zarishk (fruit, Unani) Seed: –Skyer ba'i 'bru སྐྱེར་པའི་འབྲུ (Tibetan) |
New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
B. vulgaris
Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886
Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886
Botanical name:
Berberis spp.
Parts used:
1. Root, Root-Bark
2. Concentrated extract formed by boiling down the root and stems, or whole plant is used. (India, Unani and Tibet)
3. Fruit;
Temperature & Taste:
Fruit: Cool, moist when fresh; Cool, dry when dry; Sour
Bark/Extract: Cold, dry. Bitter of thin parts, gently binding
Classification:
2B ATTENUATER. 2F. PURIFYING. 2N. REPELLENTS
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC. 3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4b. OPTHALMIC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4g. HEPATIC
TCM:
B. Clears Heat and Damp
Berberis spp.
- B. vulgaris (standard species of West and Unani)
- B. asiatica, B. lycium, B. asiatica (Indian Barberry, Ayurveda, Tibet)
- B. amurensis, B. soulieana (Chinese Barberry, TCM)
- B. concinna, B. dictophylla (Tibet)
- B. nepalensis (Nepal)
Parts used:
1. Root, Root-Bark
2. Concentrated extract formed by boiling down the root and stems, or whole plant is used. (India, Unani and Tibet)
3. Fruit;
Temperature & Taste:
Fruit: Cool, moist when fresh; Cool, dry when dry; Sour
Bark/Extract: Cold, dry. Bitter of thin parts, gently binding
Classification:
2B ATTENUATER. 2F. PURIFYING. 2N. REPELLENTS
3B. FEBRIFUGE & ANTIPYRETIC. 3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4b. OPTHALMIC. 4e. STOMACHIC. 4g. HEPATIC
TCM:
B. Clears Heat and Damp
ADVERTISEMENT:
Uses:
BARBERRY BARK / STEM / EXTRACT
1. Clears Heat and Damp: (West, Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-benefit the Stomach and Liver, promotes Appetite
-good when cooling and binding is needed: Enteritis, Diarrhea, Dysentery etc.
-cholecystitis, Gall stones, Jaundice, Hepatitis
2. Clears Heat and Phlegm, Stops Cough: (West, Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-acute respiratory tract infection; Cough, Bronchitis
3. Clears Heat, Quenches Thirst: (West, Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-Fevers, Malaria, Cholera
-Thirst, Consumption
4. Cools the Blood, Stops Bleeding: (West, Unani, Ayurveda, Tibet)
-Itch, Eczema, Erysipelas
-excess Bleeding from Heat
-"useful in all types of Bleeding". (Avicenna)
5. Clears Heat, Resists Poison: (West, Unani, Tibet)
-Poisoning
-Rabies
-Toxic Swellings
-red or painful eyes; mouth sores
6. Kills Worms:
-adjunct for Worms
7. Externally:
i. fruit is used topically to strengthens the gums and fastens the teeth;
ii. a weak infusion makes a good compress for heat and inflammation of the Eyes; used for Conjunctivitis, starting Cataracts and Trachoma. The extract is used in India for Opthalmia and Conjunctivitis
iii. a wash of the bark or root is used externally for Eczema and Neuro-dermatitis.
iv. strong decoction is used topically to promote hair growth
v. Herpes and other skin infections.
vi. "useful in Malignant Ulcers". (Avicenna)
vii. "useful in cases of Anal Fissures". (Avicenna)
viii. Ear infections with Pus, and for Ulcers of the Ear
ix. Sores, Inflammations and Ulcers of the Mouth, Palate and Gums (bark, extract)
BARBERRY FRUIT
1. Nourish and Strengthen the Liver
-Liver deficiency
2. Clears Heat, Nourishes Yin
-Fever
2. Astringes to Stop Leakage
-diarrhea
Comment:
... available in PRO version.
Dose
Decoction of root-bark / stem: 6–12 grams
Powder of the root-bark / stem, or fruit: 1–3 grams
Corrective:
... available in PRO version.
Substitute:
... available in PRO version.
... available in PRO version.
Dose
Decoction of root-bark / stem: 6–12 grams
Powder of the root-bark / stem, or fruit: 1–3 grams
Corrective:
... available in PRO version.
Substitute:
... available in PRO version.
Main Combinations:
Barberry & Tumeric
1. Fever; Heat of the Liver, Bladder, Breast, Stomach, combine Barberry ... available in PRO version.
2. Recurring or Daily Fever:
i. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
3. Bronchitis:
i. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
4. Biliousness, Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
5. Jaundice:
i. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
iii. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
iv. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
6. Cholecystitis: Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
7. Liver Heat and Gall Bladder disease:
i. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
iii. Barberry root with ... available in PRO version.
8. Eczema:
i. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
iii. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
9. Skin conditions associated with Liver heat, Barberry, Madder, ... available in PRO version.
10. Poor Appetite related to Liver, Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
11. Indigestion:
i. with food sensitivity, Barberry fruit, ... available in PRO version.
ii. with Depression, Barberry fruit, ... available in PRO version.
12. Gastric Ulcer, ... available in PRO version.
13. Dysentery
i. Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
iii. Barberry, ... available in PRO version.
14. Hemorrhoids, Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
15. Gout, excess Uric acid, Barberry bark ... available in PRO version.
16. Excess Menstruation, Uterine Bleeding from Heat:
i. Barberry root ... available in PRO version.
ii. Barberry seed with ... available in PRO version.
17. Acute sore throat, combine Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
18. Influenza, Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
19. Consumption, Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
20. Oil for Skin diseases, Barberry with ... available in PRO version.
Major Formulas
Decoction of Dandelion
Decoction for Excessive Menstruation
Troches of Barberries (Trochisci de Berberis) (Mesue)
Troches of Gum Lacca (Trochisci de Lacca) (Mesue)
Troches of Spodium (Trochisci Spodii) (Avicenna)
Troches of Sandalwoods (Trochisci Santalon) (Mesue)
Troches for Hardness of the Liver (Nicholas)
Electuary for Quotidian, Tertian and Quartan Fever (Galen)
Barberry 8 Powder (Skyer sun brgyad pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Emblic 6 (Kyu ru duk pa) (Tibetan Medicine)
Turmeric Decoction 4 (Yung ba 4) (Tibetan Medicine)
Chebula 18 for Urinary Incontinence (Gcin snyi a ru 18) (Tibetan Medicine)
Possessor of Ruby Color (Pad rag mdog ldan) (Tibetan Medicine)
ADVERTISEMENT:
Cautions:
1. Not used in Cold and weak digestion
2. Generally not used in Pregnancy
Toxicity:
Toxic in Overdose. Symptoms may include Gastro-Intestinal upset, Ulceration, Immunotoxicity, Phototoxicity, Neuro-toxicity, Cardiotoxicity and Jaundice.
Main Preparations used:
Dried or prepared Fruit, clarified Juice of the Berries, Rob, and Troches were used
1. Not used in Cold and weak digestion
2. Generally not used in Pregnancy
Toxicity:
Toxic in Overdose. Symptoms may include Gastro-Intestinal upset, Ulceration, Immunotoxicity, Phototoxicity, Neuro-toxicity, Cardiotoxicity and Jaundice.
Main Preparations used:
Dried or prepared Fruit, clarified Juice of the Berries, Rob, and Troches were used
Click the Tabs above for more information on this Medicine
'The medical practitioners of ancient Greece and Italy made use of a substance called Lycium of which the best kind was brought from India. It was regarded as a remedy of great value in restraining inflammatory and other discharges; but of all the uses to which it was applied the most important was the treatment of various forms of ophthalmic inflammation.
Lycium is mentioned by Dioscorides, Pliny, Celsus, Galen, and Scribonius Largus; by such later Greek writers as Paulus Aegineta, Aetius, and Oribasius, as well as by the Arabian physicians. The author of the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea who probably lived in the 1st century, enumerates [Lycium] as one of the exports of Barbarike at the mouth of the Indus, and also names it along with Bdellium and Costus among the commodities brought to Barygaza :— and further, lycium is mentioned among the Indian drugs on which duty was levied at the Roman custom house of Alexandria about A.D. 176—180.' An interesting proof of the esteem in which it was held is afforded by some singular little vases or jars of which a few specimens are preserved in collections of Greek antiquities. These vases were made to contain lycium, and in them it was probably sold; for an inscription on the vessel not only gives the name of the drug but also.that of a person who, we may presume, was either the seller or the inventor of the composition. Thus we have the Lycium of Jason, of |
Musccus, and of Heracleus). The vases bearing the name of Jason were found at Tarentum, and there is reason to believe that that marked Heradeus was from the same locality. Whether it was so or not, we know that a certain Heraclides of Tarentum is mentioned by Celsus on account of his method of treating certain diseases of the eye; and that Galen gives formula; for ophthalmic medicines on the authority of the same person.
Innumerable conjectures were put forth during at least three centuries as to the origin and nature of lycium, and especially of that highly esteemed kind that was brought from India. In the year 1833, Royle communicated to the Linnean Society of London a paper proving that the Indian Lycium of the ancients was identical with an extract prepared from the wood or root of several species of Berberis growing in Northern India, and that this extract, well known in the bazaars as Rusot or Rasot, was in common use among the natives in various forms of eye disease. This substance attracted considerable notice in India, and though its efficacy per se1 seemed questionable, it was administered with benefit as a tonic and febrifuge. But the rasot of the natives being often badly prepared or adulterated, the bark of the root has of late been used in its place, and in consequence of its acknowledged efficacy has been admitted to the Pharmacopoeia of India. (Pharmacographia, Fluckiger & Hanbury, 1879) |
NOTE: The following research is for varioius different species of Berberis, the majority being the above-named medicinal species. Most refer to the use of the stem/ bark, but some are for the fruit. Note also that some indications including Diabetes and Cancer, are well represented by a number of species.