Oregon Grape Herbarium
Latin Name: Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.
Common Names: Mountain grape, holly mahonia, formerly Berberis aquifolium (Pursh) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds barberry, berberis, blue barberry, holly mohonia, scraperoot and water-holy (p. 182).
Family: Berberidaceae
Descriptive Characteristics: Chevallier (2016) describes this as an evergreen shrub that can grow to 6 ½ feet tall. The leaves are shiny, the flowers are yellow-green and the autumn brings purple berries (p. 177).
Part of the plant used: Rhizome and root, bark and fruit.
Texture:
Color:
Aroma:
Flavor:
Constituents: Alkaloids of isoquinoline (berberine, berbermine, hydrastine, oxycanthine) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds the alkaloid jatrorrhizine – it and berberine are antibacterial and antifungal. Jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine are antioxidants (p. 184-5). Mills & Bone (2010) state flavonoids (magnoflorine, berberine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, pxyacanthine, oxyberberine, berbamine, aromoline, baluchistine, and aquifoline); palmatine may be included in this list. It doesn’t have as much berberine as barberry or goldenseal (p. 520). Chevallier (2016) says isoquinoline alkaloids (berberine, berbamine, and hydrastine); and aporphine-type alkaloids (p. 177).
Therapeutic Actions: Alterative, cholagogue, laxative, antiemetic, anticatarrhal, tonic (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds febrifuge, sedative, hypotensive, bitter, and antimalarial (p. 183). Mills & Bone say antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, depurative, mild cholagogue, and antimicrobial (p. 520). Griffin (1997) only mention this herb under the heading cholagogues (p. 8). Chevallier (2016) says antibacterial and recuse psoriasis (p. 177).
Indications: Chronic/scaly skin conditions – psoriasis, eczema – cleanses the liver and gallbladder which eliminates the toxins that cause the skin condition. Also helps with nausea and vomiting. Chronic constipation Ellingwood says: pimples, roughness, eczema capitis, eczema genitalis, pruritis, scaly eczema, psoriasis, chronic dermatosis, glandular indurations, ulcerations and syphilis (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds it stimulates the appetite (p. 185). Mills & Bone (2010) say skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and gastritis and cholecystitis (p. 520). Chevallier (2016) says historically it has been used for loss of appetite and debility as a decoction or tincture. It was used by Native Americans and during the Physiomedicalist movement as a detoxifier and tonic. Currently it’s used to treat gastritis and digestive weakness, in addition to gut congestion, eczema, psoriasis, acne, boils, herpes, and skin issues caused by problems with the gall bladder (p. 177).
Formulary:
Griffin (1997, p. 47)
She has a recipe here on how to create green dye.
Dosage:
Hoffman (2003, p. 564)
1:5 40% Tincture: 1-4ml 3/day
Decoction: 1-2 teaspoons in 1 cup water, bring to boil, simmer 10-15 minutes 3/day
BHP:
Dried herb: 1-2g
1:1 25% Liquid extract: 3/day
Petersen (2018, p. 184)
Infusion: 1-2t to 1 cup boiling water10-15 minutes.
Tea: 2g of root bark in 250ml boiling water, 5-10 minutes
1:10 Tincture: 20-3- drops/day
Psoriasis cream: 10% bark extract cream applied to the area 2-3 times daily may help
Mills & Bone (2010, p. 520)
Dried root/Decoction: 3-6 g/day
1:1 Liquid Extract: 3-6 ml/Day
1:2 Liquid extract/tablet/capsule: 3.5-7 ml/day
Safety: No side effects or interactions noted (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds berberine may cause kernicterus – do not use while pregnant/breastfeeding. The extract cream may cause itching, burning, skin irritation, and allergic reactions. May inhibit metabolization of drugs. Use with caution with drugs for seizure, hypertension, blood clotting, and blood sugar (p. 186). Mills & Bone (2010) state the berbine has a serious potential risk to babies in the womb giving it a category C for use in pregnancy. There is some implication this may cause jaundice (p. 520). On the same page, they also state not to use it with drugs that displace bilirubin such as phenylbutazone.
Lab, Notes And Media:
Research:
Shouye & Xuhua (2008) reviewed literature on “erupted fetal diseases” which are illnesses that start in the womb. They were able to determine those infants with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) defection were about 20% likely to get jaundice at birth. This article doesn’t specify a specific Chinese drug, just makes a general statement. Another study they reviewed, the group which was given Chinese Goldthread Rhizome, which contains berberine (as does Oregon grape), had lower bilirubin in the blood stream than the test group did which is consistent with Chinese medicine using this herb to treat jaundice. This test included subject that had the G6PD deficiency. The rest of the paper specifically talks about Chinese Goldthread Rhizome. This herb has been used in TCM for over two thousand years. It has a rich history and the literature supports using it during pregnancy, though it does give specifics on when it should NOT be used. They do state not to take Western medicine containing the herb during pregnancy, speaking specifically of prescription drugs.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 177.
Peterson, D. (2018). Herb 504: Advanced Herbal Materica Medica III. American College of Healthcare Sciences. P. 182-186.
Griffin, J. (1997). Mother Nature’s Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge, & Synergy of Everything that Grows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. P. 8, 47.
Hoffman, David. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. p. 564
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 55, 520-2.
Pizzorno, J. E. and Murray, M. T. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. P. 466, 813-4, 525, 1826.
Shouye, Y and Xuhua, W. (2008). A Research on the Erupted Fetal Diseases Caused by Traditional Chinese Drugs―Discussion from the Issue that Chinese Goldthread Rhizome is Prohibited in Singapore. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008; 28(3): 235-240.
Common Names: Mountain grape, holly mahonia, formerly Berberis aquifolium (Pursh) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds barberry, berberis, blue barberry, holly mohonia, scraperoot and water-holy (p. 182).
Family: Berberidaceae
Descriptive Characteristics: Chevallier (2016) describes this as an evergreen shrub that can grow to 6 ½ feet tall. The leaves are shiny, the flowers are yellow-green and the autumn brings purple berries (p. 177).
Part of the plant used: Rhizome and root, bark and fruit.
Texture:
Color:
Aroma:
Flavor:
Constituents: Alkaloids of isoquinoline (berberine, berbermine, hydrastine, oxycanthine) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds the alkaloid jatrorrhizine – it and berberine are antibacterial and antifungal. Jatrorrhizine and magnoflorine are antioxidants (p. 184-5). Mills & Bone (2010) state flavonoids (magnoflorine, berberine, jatrorrhizine, columbamine, pxyacanthine, oxyberberine, berbamine, aromoline, baluchistine, and aquifoline); palmatine may be included in this list. It doesn’t have as much berberine as barberry or goldenseal (p. 520). Chevallier (2016) says isoquinoline alkaloids (berberine, berbamine, and hydrastine); and aporphine-type alkaloids (p. 177).
Therapeutic Actions: Alterative, cholagogue, laxative, antiemetic, anticatarrhal, tonic (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds febrifuge, sedative, hypotensive, bitter, and antimalarial (p. 183). Mills & Bone say antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, depurative, mild cholagogue, and antimicrobial (p. 520). Griffin (1997) only mention this herb under the heading cholagogues (p. 8). Chevallier (2016) says antibacterial and recuse psoriasis (p. 177).
Indications: Chronic/scaly skin conditions – psoriasis, eczema – cleanses the liver and gallbladder which eliminates the toxins that cause the skin condition. Also helps with nausea and vomiting. Chronic constipation Ellingwood says: pimples, roughness, eczema capitis, eczema genitalis, pruritis, scaly eczema, psoriasis, chronic dermatosis, glandular indurations, ulcerations and syphilis (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds it stimulates the appetite (p. 185). Mills & Bone (2010) say skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and gastritis and cholecystitis (p. 520). Chevallier (2016) says historically it has been used for loss of appetite and debility as a decoction or tincture. It was used by Native Americans and during the Physiomedicalist movement as a detoxifier and tonic. Currently it’s used to treat gastritis and digestive weakness, in addition to gut congestion, eczema, psoriasis, acne, boils, herpes, and skin issues caused by problems with the gall bladder (p. 177).
Formulary:
Griffin (1997, p. 47)
She has a recipe here on how to create green dye.
Dosage:
Hoffman (2003, p. 564)
1:5 40% Tincture: 1-4ml 3/day
Decoction: 1-2 teaspoons in 1 cup water, bring to boil, simmer 10-15 minutes 3/day
BHP:
Dried herb: 1-2g
1:1 25% Liquid extract: 3/day
Petersen (2018, p. 184)
Infusion: 1-2t to 1 cup boiling water10-15 minutes.
Tea: 2g of root bark in 250ml boiling water, 5-10 minutes
1:10 Tincture: 20-3- drops/day
Psoriasis cream: 10% bark extract cream applied to the area 2-3 times daily may help
Mills & Bone (2010, p. 520)
Dried root/Decoction: 3-6 g/day
1:1 Liquid Extract: 3-6 ml/Day
1:2 Liquid extract/tablet/capsule: 3.5-7 ml/day
Safety: No side effects or interactions noted (Hoffman, 2003, p. 564). Petersen (2018) adds berberine may cause kernicterus – do not use while pregnant/breastfeeding. The extract cream may cause itching, burning, skin irritation, and allergic reactions. May inhibit metabolization of drugs. Use with caution with drugs for seizure, hypertension, blood clotting, and blood sugar (p. 186). Mills & Bone (2010) state the berbine has a serious potential risk to babies in the womb giving it a category C for use in pregnancy. There is some implication this may cause jaundice (p. 520). On the same page, they also state not to use it with drugs that displace bilirubin such as phenylbutazone.
Lab, Notes And Media:
Research:
Shouye & Xuhua (2008) reviewed literature on “erupted fetal diseases” which are illnesses that start in the womb. They were able to determine those infants with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) defection were about 20% likely to get jaundice at birth. This article doesn’t specify a specific Chinese drug, just makes a general statement. Another study they reviewed, the group which was given Chinese Goldthread Rhizome, which contains berberine (as does Oregon grape), had lower bilirubin in the blood stream than the test group did which is consistent with Chinese medicine using this herb to treat jaundice. This test included subject that had the G6PD deficiency. The rest of the paper specifically talks about Chinese Goldthread Rhizome. This herb has been used in TCM for over two thousand years. It has a rich history and the literature supports using it during pregnancy, though it does give specifics on when it should NOT be used. They do state not to take Western medicine containing the herb during pregnancy, speaking specifically of prescription drugs.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 177.
Peterson, D. (2018). Herb 504: Advanced Herbal Materica Medica III. American College of Healthcare Sciences. P. 182-186.
Griffin, J. (1997). Mother Nature’s Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge, & Synergy of Everything that Grows. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications. P. 8, 47.
Hoffman, David. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. p. 564
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. P. 55, 520-2.
Pizzorno, J. E. and Murray, M. T. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. P. 466, 813-4, 525, 1826.
Shouye, Y and Xuhua, W. (2008). A Research on the Erupted Fetal Diseases Caused by Traditional Chinese Drugs―Discussion from the Issue that Chinese Goldthread Rhizome is Prohibited in Singapore. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2008; 28(3): 235-240.
The image at the top of this page is from the lesson from American College of Healthcare Sciences. The rest of the images are the personal property of the site owner. All rights reserved.