Also known as Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium or Berberis aquifolium), barberry grows wild in Europe and the Americas.¹ It has been used in Japanese Kampo and other traditional natural medicine to treat skin conditions characterized by pus-filled lesions.² Common homeopathic uses for barberry include both orally and topically for infection and psoriasis.³ Native Americans made extracts and herbal teas from barberry root to treat fever, diarrhea, acne, eczema, and cold sores.¹

Berberine: An Alkaloid with Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, and Hormonal Effects

Barberry’s main bioactive constituent is the alkaloid berberine.³ Berberine exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and androgen-inhibiting properties.³ Preliminary studies show that it can inhibit the skin cell processes that form comedones in acne, and in animal model research, berberine suppressed sebum production by over 60%.^2,3 Laboratory studies show that two other barberry alkaloids, berine and jatrorrhizine, exert antibacterial effects against a number of different bacteria, including Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).²

Safety

When used as recommended, berberine alkaloids from barberry are considered nontoxic. However, if consumed in large quantities they can cause severe, even fatal, poisoning.¹

Pregnant or nursing women and newborn infants should not consume any herb that contains berberine because it can cause a severe, potentially fatal form of jaundice.³ Other herbs that contain berberine are goldenseal and yellowroot.⁴ Topical use of barberry can cause skin irritation, but creams containing berberine have been used for 20 days without adverse side effects.³

How to Use

Five grams of dried barberry herb per cup of water (either boiled or steeped) can be given in ½-1 cup doses three to six times a day for treatment purposes in adults.¹

Topically look for a cream containing 10% of barberry bark extract. One pharmaceutical product, Reliéva®, is used 2-3 times daily for psoriasis.^1,3

For chronic skin conditions in small animals, infuse five grams of the dried barberry herb per cup of water and prepare in ¼-½ cup doses per 20 lbs. of body weight. Divide the total dosage and administer three times a day.¹