Contents
The barberry shrub is considered a medicinal plant. Useful properties have not only the fruits, but also the leaves, as well as the roots of the plant. The medicinal properties and contraindications of barberry root have been used in folk medicine for more than one era. It is useful for modern people to know such information in order to use the plant as a support for health.
Medicinal properties of barberry root
Barberry root is successfully used both in medicine and in cosmetology. The main medicinal properties of the root:
- expectorant in various diseases accompanied by cough;
- improves metabolic processes, promotes weight loss;
- optimizes blood composition;
- contributes to the normalization of the liver;
- stops bleeding, including uterine;
- normalizes blood pressure in hypertension;
- relieves symptoms of a cold;
- antimicrobial;
- astringent, helps to stop diarrhea;
- anti-inflammatory;
- anesthetizing;
- diuretic.
The root of the plant is used in the treatment of liver pathologies, diabetes mellitus, gynecological diseases, for weight loss, and pancreatitis.
The composition of decoctions and tinctures based on barberry root contains tannins, which contribute to the normalization of stool in case of indigestion.
Often used for coughing with tuberculosis, significantly reduces the number of unpleasant symptoms.
Chemical composition
The main active ingredients found in barberry roots are isoquinoline alkaloids. There are about 10 of them in the composition of the roots. And also in the chemical composition there are:
- vitamins C and E;
- tannins;
- organic acids;
- essential oil;
- carotene.
Thanks to these substances, barberry is good for health in many pathologies. But the roots also have their own contraindications, which must be considered before using folk recipes.
Rules of raw material procurement
For maximum effect, it is important to properly prepare healing raw materials. The advantage of the barberry root is that it can be harvested at any time of the year, both in spring and autumn. It is optimal to collect roots at a time when the shrub itself is at rest.
If you plan to leave the plant for subsequent harvesting, then you need to cut out not the whole root and leave at least 15 cm long. And also experienced gardeners who have a lot of barberry growing on the site have an unspoken rule – to leave at least one plant at 10 meters absolutely untouched.
After the root has been dug up, it must be inspected and the rotten parts or those infected with the disease should be separated. Do not wash the root before drying. For harvesting, it is enough to carefully pick the ground and cut into pieces 10–15 cm long.
There are two ways to dry raw materials: in a dryer at a temperature of 50 ° C or in fresh air, spreading out in a thin layer on a flat surface. When using fresh air, it is important to cover the root pieces with gauze and stir occasionally. Medicinal properties during drying are preserved as much as possible.
Application of barberry root
Useful properties of barberry root are used in a number of industries. This is both medicine and cosmetology. Each industry has its own application recipes. Traditional medicine widely uses rhizomes in the form of tinctures with water and alcohol, decoctions, and for external use – ointments and lotions. For medical use, it is recommended to first consult a specialist, especially in the presence of chronic pathologies. There are certain contraindications to the use of barberry roots. Medicinal properties for some patients may result in side effects, and therefore it is not worth experimenting until contraindications are studied.
In medicine
Most often, the healing properties of this product are used to maintain normal pressure, as a choleretic agent, and also against diarrhea. But in any case, it is used in parallel with conservative methods of treatment and on the advice of the attending physician.
In folk medicine, barberry rhizomes are used:
- to strengthen blood vessels;
- with pathologies of the joints;
- as a choleretic and diuretic;
- as an anti-inflammatory agent;
- against the toxicity of the body, cleanses and removes toxins;
- to increase blood clotting;
- to reduce pressure;
- as a useful tool for the functioning of the liver and kidneys.
For each disease there are varieties of recipes. For some pathologies, a decoction is used, but alcohol tincture is perfect to reduce pressure. But such a tincture should be used only after consulting a doctor and in a strictly defined dosage.
In cosmetology
Decoctions from the considered roots are a popular remedy in cosmetology. They are used as a bleaching agent. Great for those who have freckles. When using barberry root regularly, freckles become much paler, and skin color evens out.
There are other ways to use it:
- hand baths, after which the skin becomes softer;
- barberry root products perfectly smooth the skin and fight wrinkles;
- for softness of hair and elimination of dandruff.
In cosmetology, decoctions, tinctures are used, and essential oils are also sold in pharmacies. Based on them, many effective cosmetics have also been created.
How to use
Barberry root is used in folk medicine in a variety of recipes. Both internally and externally, the root has found its use. There are several varieties of decoctions and infusions and a variety of additional ingredients. Most often, the use of a particular prescription depends on the pathology. For some diseases, it is more effective to take a decoction, and for others, an alcohol tincture. Medicinal properties for external use are revealed in lotions and compresses.
decoction
There are several recipes with decoctions of barberry root. For bruises, rheumatism and pain, this version of the decoction should be used:
- Pour half a teaspoon of the root with a glass of milk.
- Boil for half an hour.
- Filter out.
You need to take such a decoction 5 ml three times a day if there is a dislocation, sprain or bruise.
If there are roots in the gallbladder, then the recipe looks like this:
- Put in a saucepan a large spoonful of bark and barberry roots.
- Add 300 ml of water.
- Boil for half an hour.
- Cool and filter.
- Add boiled water to the original volume.
Take as a choleretic agent 50 ml 3 times a day.
There is a decoction for external use:
- Two and a half teaspoons of barberry root pour 300 ml of boiling water.
- Boil 5 minutes.
Women can douche with this remedy, rinse the gums with increased bleeding, and use it as a lotion for wounds.
Alcohol tincture
Alcohol tincture is also used in a variety of situations. When bleeding, the following tincture is used:
- 50 g of dried raw materials.
- Add 100 ml of alcohol.
- Insist for 18 days in a dark and cool place.
- Filter and take 30 drops 3 times a day.
There is also an easier recipe for making tincture:
- Four spoons of raw materials.
- Half a glass of alcohol.
- Leave for two days.
Take 5 drops 3 times a day. Helps to reduce pressure. But in any case, you need to consult a specialist. Alcohol tincture is not recommended for those with a tendency to alcohol addiction.
Tincture on water
With bleeding, tincture on water effectively helps:
- Pour one and a half cups of boiling water over 2-3 teaspoons of dried root.
- Boil for a couple of minutes.
- Insist and strain.
Take a big spoonful every hour. The tool has a healing property and stops the blood, regardless of the cause.
You can mix the roots, branches and bark of barberry. In this case, you get an infusion for external use. Excellent result in sprains and dislocations.
Boil a tablespoon in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Leave for an hour and apply in the form of compresses.
With hepatitis, an infusion prepared in a thermos helps:
- Pour the roots of barberry in the amount of two tablespoons into a thermos.
- Pour 400 ml of boiling water.
- Insist.
Take 100 ml three times a day. The course of treatment is a month. The drug perfectly normalizes the liver and fights a viral infection.
Противопоказания
The root has enough contraindications, as well as side effects. This must be taken into account and carefully monitor the reaction of the body. Usually, barberry root is not recommended for chronic hypotensive patients, since the product is able to reduce pressure. As a result, the patient may faint, feel dizzy. And also do not take the dried root for pregnant women and those who have kidney disease. Menopause and liver pathology are also a contraindication.
There may be individual intolerance to this remedy. When using alcohol tincture, it is recommended to accurately calculate the dosage so that other diseases and problems do not arise.
Side effects:
- vascular spasms;
- blood clots;
- muscle cramps;
- constipation.
You should not offer infusions and decoctions based on the root to children, people with cirrhosis of the liver and thrombophlebitis. It is important to understand that the rhizome has an astringent property, and therefore causes severe constipation in large quantities. People who are prone to such problems are better off not using these recipes.
Chronic pathologies can be treated with the help of traditional medicine recipes only in parallel with traditional medicine and after consultation with a doctor.
Terms and conditions of storage
Infusions and decoctions should be prepared literally for one day. Such funds should not be stored for a long time. Alcohol tinctures should be stored in a cool place, preferably in the refrigerator, while the bottle should be tightly corked.
As for raw materials, after drying, the root must be folded into a linen bag or into a plastic container. Store the product in a dry place out of direct sunlight.
Conclusion
The medicinal properties and contraindications of barberry root are based on the rich chemical composition of this product. The dried root is used in crushed form both in medicine and in cosmetology. In barberry, all parts of the shrub have useful properties, but each of them is useful in its own way. It is important to properly prepare and apply a folk recipe so that the effect is really noticeable. Before taking decoctions or tinctures, it is better to consult a specialist. Pregnant women, children and hypotensive patients, despite all the medicinal properties, it is better not to use the root.