Berberis vulgaris. Illustration by Michelle Enemark.
BARBERRY
BARBERRY ROOT TINCTURE
INGREDIENTS:
freshly dug roots of the barberry plant
100 proof alcohol
TOOLS:
a very strong shovel
jar with tight fitting lid
THE HARVEST
Spend some time with a barberry bush before you harvest. It may have a message for you. Find one that seems to have good, strong medicine. Scratch the skin of the root - you're looking for deep yellow. The smaller bushes will have smaller roots that are easier to dig. The larger roots are nearly impossible to get out of the ground. If you leave any root behind, it will sprout a new plant. If you are helping a neighbor eradicate unwanted barberry, they will wish you had used a stronger shovel and had taken the whole root!
THE TINCTURE
The skin of the root contains valuable essential oils, so simply dust off any dirt if possible. My roots are usually caked in clay soil, so I have no choice but to clean them in water.
Cut the root into small pieces and put into a jar. Barberry root can be very tough to cut, so do your best. Cover the root pieces with alcohol ensuring that everything is submerged a half inch or inch below the surface. If any piece sticks out, it could get mold on it. Allow your tincture to brew for at least six weeks. I let my roots continuously brew (for years sometimes) and only pour off what I need. If you find yourself in an acute situation, you may use your tincture sooner but it won't be as strong. Do use caution as large doses of the tincture can cause abdominal cramping, nervous tremors, and/or excessive drying of the mucuous membranes.
BARBERRY OVERVIEW
I hesitate to write on barberry because it is relatively new to me as plant medicine. But it is a pervasive, invasive species which contains powerful medicine and I highly recommend getting to know it if it grows near you.
Barberry is a natural antibiotic and is effective against many types of bacteria. It contains berberine, an alkaloid also found in Oregon grape, coptis, and goldenseal. Goldenseal is an endangered species, so barberry offers us an alternative.
Barberry root tincture is useful to have in your home apothecary for potential GI tract problems. (You may also use other berberine-containing plant medicine.) GI tract infection is one of the many potential issues people are experiencing with Covid-19.
Barberry has been used as medicine for over 3,000 years and is still being researched for its many potential benefits. Studies show barberry helpful for lowering cholesterol and treating a number of conditions, including diabetes, liver disease, gallbladder pain, digestive and urinary tract diseases, and gallstones.
Barberry bushes are a popular spot for ticks to hang out. And its medicine can be quite useful in treating different conditions caused by tickborne bacterial infections. Find the writings of Stephen Harrod Buhner for more on this use of barberry and berberine-containing plants.
I've seen barberry growing in the wild for years and was always quite drawn to it, though just assumed that its lovely red berries were poisonous. They are not. Some folks use barberry berries to make jelly and that's one more thing on my golden years list.
I am currently treating some mysterious inflammation of the eyes with barberry tincture taken internally and also used externally mixed with water. I will update this post later to let you know how that goes and as I learn more.
And lastly, on that note... I remember when I first started learning the plants, I was very cautious and hesitant. Even with sweet little plants like lemon balm. But there's only one way to get to know the plants and their medicine. You have to seek them out. It is helpful to have some knowledge of the plants before you and yours are in a crisis state....
What I mean to say is, dive in! Always approach the plants with reverence and gratitude... but then dig, baby, dig. There is incredible medicine all around us.
Blessins, friends.
*Disclaimer*
This material is intended for educational purposes only. This recipe does not provide specific dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner.