Barberry is a valued medicinal plant. The healing properties of barberry have been used for millennia. In folk medicine, barberry has been used as a medicine e.g. for liver diseases and other digestive ailments. In addition, barberry has a calming effect. Check what other properties barberry has, where it grows and when it can be harvested.

Barberry - varieties

Barberry is a type of shrub from the barberry family - this species includes, among others: Thunberg's barberry (with varieties such as red barberry, column barberry, Admiration barberry, Erecta barberry, Orange ice barberry), common barberry or evergreen barberry.

The best known arehealing properties of barberry( Berberis vulgaris ), also known as barberry or sour soup. They have been appreciated for millennia. In the Middle Ages, barberry was used in patients with jaundice and malaria, and in the 17th century in England for people struggling with liver diseases.

On the other hand, in Poland, folk medicine doctors used the fruit of barberry to prevent the development of scurvy, and decoctions from its bark and roots were used in the treatment of hepatic colic. Today, in tropical countries, barberry is served for cholera and malaria. In natural medicine, the fruit, bark, leaves and roots of barberry are used for healing purposes.

Common barberry can be recognized by its characteristic fruits:

Barberry - where does it grow? When to collect?

Barberrycommon barberry is a thorny shrub that grows in thickets on the edges of forests all over Europe. It can also be found in parks as an ornamental shrub. Its yellow flowers, which are gathered in dangling clusters up to 5 cm long, bloom in May and June.

In autumn, hard, oblong and gathered in clusters red berries appear on the branches. They are edible but have a tart and sour taste despite containing a lot of sugar.

The bark of barberry is harvested from young, 2-3 years old branches in spring, while the leaves in May orjune. However, due to its decreasing population, the bark (and also the roots) is no longer obtained for medicinal purposes.

The fruits of the barberry are harvested before they are fully ripe - when they turn bright red in August or September.

barberry for fever and cold

Barberry fruits contain alkaloids, organic acids, sugars, pectins, tannins, minerals and vitamins, including the most vitamin C (80 mg in 100 g). For this reason, it is called the "Polish lemon" or "the lemon of the North".

In folk medicine, decoctions from barberry fruits are used in colds and feverish diseases. To increase the body's immunity, dried barberry fruits are added to the tea. In turn, extracts from the bark and roots of this plant are used in bacterial infections, because due to the content of berberine (isoquinoline alkaloid which has antibacterial properties), they have antibiotic properties.

IMPORTANT!Barberry cannot be consumed for a long time because the berberine it contains is stored in the heart, liver and pancreas.

barberry supports the digestive system

Modern phytotherapy recommends the use of infusion of barberry leaves in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, e.g. digestive disorders. It will soothe stomach aches, nausea and the characteristic feeling of overflow and crushing in the stomach. The infusion is also helpful in ailments such as: anorexia, hepatitis (restores the normal function of this organ), gallstones, inhibition of bile production (barberry has a choleretic effect).

Barberry to calm down

People who live under stress, are emotionally agitated, neurotic or have trouble falling asleep can also reach for barberry. Barberry calms down, has a positive effect on the mood and concentration.

Barberry against bleeding

Barberry is rich in vitamins C, E, and P (rutin) and carotenoids, therefore it has an anti-swelling effect, reduces blood vessel permeability and prevents bleeding, e.g. gums.

Barberry for weight loss

A decoction of barberry fruits improves metabolism, stimulates the secretion of digestive juices and has a diuretic and slightly laxative effect. Therefore, you can sometimes reach for them during a slimming treatment.

Use of barberry in cosmetics

Barberry, thanks to its bactericidal properties, is recommended for people suffering from acne. In turn, due to the high content of vitamin C, flavones and flavonoids in fruit, it is a valuable component of preparations that eliminate skin discoloration. In addition, usedis for the production of sunbathing preparations (as a natural blocker of UVA and UVB rays).

Barberry not for pregnant women

Barberry should not be used by pregnant women. It is also not recommended for young children, as it may lead to temporary nausea and / or diarrhea.

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Using barberry in the kitchen

You can prepare many preserves from barberry fruits - juices, jams, preserves, marmalade and more. Barberry is also suitable for making wines, spirits and liqueurs. On the other hand, dried ground fruit can be used to season meat (in the Caucasus, barberry, water, pepper and s alt are used as a spice for meat dishes), fish and sauces.

Barberry infusion - recipe

Pour a tablespoon of crushed barberry fruit into a glass and pour boiling water over it. Then cover and let it brew for 15 minutes. Finally, strain.

Barberry fruit decoction - recipe

Put the shredded barberry fruit in a pot, pour a glass of boiling water over it and put it on the gauze. Then bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 3 minutes. After cooking, set aside to cool. It is recommended to drink the decoction prepared in this way 2-3 times a day for a quarter of a glass.

Barberry tincture - recipe

Prepare 1 kg of frozen barberry fruit, 0.5 kg of sugar, a vanilla pod, a piece of dried ginger rhizome, 1 liter of vodka (50%) made from spirit.

Pour the washed and cleaned barberry fruit into the gander. Then add the vanilla and a piece of dried ginger rhizome. Cover everything with sugar, pour vodka and close the gander tightly. Keep it in a sunny place for two weeks. Then add 100 grams of sugar to it and wait for it to dissolve. Then filter the tincture through tissue paper, pour it into bottles and close them tightly. Set them aside in a cool and dark place. The tincture is ready for consumption after 6 months.

Barberry puree - recipe

Wash the barberry fruit, drain it and put it in a saucepan. Then pour a small amount of boiling water and overcook the fruit with the lid on. Then, slightly cool the fruit through a sieve. Fill small twist jars with the puree and close. Then put them in a pot of water heated to the same temperature as the contents of the jars. Heat up to 90 degrees C and keep it there for 15-20 minutes. After removing the jars from the pot, tighten the lids and allow to cool.

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