Barberry Helps Treat an Upset Stomach

Barberry is a shrub that dates back to ancient Egypt and was used in Indian folk medicine. In the past it has been used as a treatment for diarrhea, fever and upset stomach and today it is also used for the gallbladder and heartburn, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.  

Barberry, along with goldenseal, contains berberine, a chemical that has shown signs of stifling bacteria growth. Because of this, barberry has been used to treat infections of the urinary tract as well as the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Barberry is also known to help with skin conditions.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the barberry shrub has gray thorny branches and can grow to be nine feet tall. Barberry grows yellow flowers and red berries, which along with the root and bark, are used for medicine. The root, bark and berries are the parts that contain berberine, an alkaloid. Berberine has “antimicrobial(killing bacteria and parasites), anti-inflammatory, hypotensive (causing a lowering of blood pressure), sedative and anticonvulsant effects,” the University of Maryland states.

Barberry is used in natural health products for its ability to work on the intestines’ wall muscles, which help reduce gastrointestinal pain and improve digestion. Some of these products are natural colon cleansing products in the form of an oral capsule.