HERBAL WELLNESS
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healing botanicals for your body and mind
Berberine Benefits
Found in goldenseal and other plants, berberine has a long history of use as a natural antibiotic and anti-fungal treatment—and newer research shows that it may also help with healthy aging, blood sugar balance, and more
Blood Sugar Benefits Diabetes, blood fats, hypertension, and obesity are a deadly combo that plagues our society. And berberine helps all of them. In fact, many studies show that berberine dramatically reduces blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes, with an effectiveness comparable to the popular diabetes drug metformin.
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Research shows that berberine Unlike prescription drugs, berberine also lowers total and LDL cholesterol, seems to act through multiple mechanisms. raises HDL cholesterol, and reduces It cuts insulin resistance, increases triglycerides. Plus, this glycolysis, drops sugar plant chemical can production in the liver, promote weight loss. slows carbohydrate did you know ... A dose of 1,500 mg breakdown in the gut, Despite the success of per day over 12 weeks and bumps up beneficial isolated berberine, one produced an average bacteria in the gut. of the benefits of herbal 5-pound reduction. In one study, 1 gram remedies is synergy—the of berberine per day combined action of multiple Inhibiting Infections decreased fasting blood chemical components in Berberine-containing sugar by 20 percent— the plant—so consider herbs are generally from diabetic to using whole herbs that anti-fungal and can normal levels—and contain berberine. be used to treat yeast lowered hemoglobin infections. An Italian A1c by 12 percent. study established that berberine inhibited the ability, at least in a test tube, of infectious yeast to produce an enzyme it needed to colonize the skin and mucosal surfaces. To treat a persistent yeast infection, try 8 grams of medicinal-quality goldenseal for at least one month to wipe out the tenacious infection. Berberine may also hold the key to antibiotic resistance. Combined with antibiotics, berberine inactivates certain types of Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria responsible for staph infections that are frequently spread in hospitals. Chemists from the Department of Chemistry at Colorado State University in Fort Collins are excited about a “two-pronged attack” that barberry brings to fighting bacterial infection. Plants that contain berberine have a long history of use as antibacterials. But
• MAY 2020
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3/27/20 6:07 PM
Photo: adobestock.com
Berberine is a plant alkaloid with a long history of medicinal use in Western, Ayurvedic, and Chinese herbal traditions. It can be found in the roots, rhizomes, and stem bark of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), goldthread or coptis (Coptis chinensis), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense), and tree turmeric (Berberis aristata). While it has long been used to treat bacterial diarrhea, intestinal parasite infections, and eye infections, berberine has become a hot research topic over the past few years, with more than 5,600 scientific studies published in the scientific literature highlighting its ability to lower blood sugar, promote weight loss, and improve heart health. One of the foremost actions of berberine is to activate an enzyme inside cells called activated protein kinase (AMP or AMPK), which is sometimes referred to as a “metabolic master switch.” AMP is found in the cells of the heart, brain, muscle, kidney, and liver, and it plays a key role in regulating metabolism. It may also affect how genes function.
Photo: adobestock.com
BY KARTA PURKH SINGH KHALSA, DN-C, RH
