Description:  Barberry is a popular shrub for use in hedges in some parts of England, probably native to  Europe, Northern Africa, & Asia. As an ornamental shrub, it is fairly common in gardens.

The stems are woody & 8-10 feet high, upright and branched, smooth, slightly grooved, brittle, with a white pith and covered with an ash-coloured bark.

The leaves are spiny & three-forked spines or simple, oval, & short-spined.

The flowers are small & pale yellow. Their scent is not too bad at a distance but less pleasant close-up. Insects of various kinds such as bees are quite fond of the Barberry flower.

The berries are about 1/2 inch long, oblong and slightly curved; red and pleasantly acid when ripe.

The leaves are also acid.  Like the berries, they can be used for seasoning meat & in salad.

Barberry has been used in herbal healing for over 2500 years, in ancient Egypt to prevent plagues & in India for dysentery. 

During the early middle ages, European herbalists used it to treat liver and gallbladder ailments. Russian healers used it for inflammations, high blood pressure, and for abnormal uterine bleeding. American Indians recognize barberry as similar to Oregon grape.

Main constituents:  Isoquinoline Alkaloids, mainly berberine, berbamine and derivatives, berberrubine, bervulcine, columbamine, isotetrandrine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, oxycanthine and vulvracine 

Chelidonic acid, Resin, Tannin

Properties: Cholagogue, Hepatic, Anti-Emetic, Bitter, Laxative.

Uses:  Barberry is one of the best remedies for correcting liver function and promoting the flow of bile. Use to treat  an enlarged spleen, inflammation of the gall bladder, gall stones, or jaundice due to a congested liver.  As a bitter tonic with mild laxative effects, it is used with weak or debilitated people to strengthen and cleanse the system.   It also acts against malaria.

Barberry reduces excess mucus & controls excess secretion. Improves appetite, digestion and assimilation. Use for chronic gout.

Barberry tends to dilate the blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. A teaspoon of the root will purge the bowels, or use an infusion of the berries with wine for the same purpose. A decoction of either berries or root bark makes a good mouthwash or gargle for mouth and throat irritations. The fresh juice of the fruit is also said to strengthen the gums & relieve pyorrhea when brushed on or applied directly to the gums.

Safety Considerations: Avoid during pregnancy; barberry may stimulate the uterus.

In high doses, barberry can cause nausea, vomiting, convulsions, hazardous drops in blood pressure, and depression of the heart rate and breathing.  If you are suffering from heart disease or chronic respiratory system, do not take large doses of this herb & use only with the approval of your doctor.

Use only in medicinal amounts. If the herb causes dizziness or faintness, stop using the herb immediately.

Do not give to children under 2 years old. For older children and those older than 65, start with a lower strength than recommended above.

Magical:

Folk Names:  Pipperidge Bush

Gender:  unknown

Planet:  unknown

Powers:  Courage, Protection, Bars enemies from following you

Uses:  Can be used for hexing, but watch your Karma!  Use with Vetivert & Bay Leaves to protect against bitterness - but that's risky.  Said to work for good grudgingly and delights in hexing, hence its usefulness for protection.

Sprinkle in the paths of your enemies to bar their way and stop them following you.

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