Berberine is a yellow alkaloid extracted from plant roots, including barberry and goldenseal, and is used in traditional and alternative medicine. It has potential health benefits, including treating fungal, viral, and bacterial infections, and is included in over-the-counter products and supplements. It is also used in poultices for skin conditions and to alleviate cold symptoms. Berberine is used in both Eastern and Western medicine and has low incidence of side effects.
Berberine is a crystalline alkaloid that is extracted from the roots of several different plants. Considered useful both as a dietary supplement and a medicine in various cultures, the alkaloid is yellow in color and has a bitter taste. The substance does not dissolve well in water, but can be effectively dissolved in alcohol and in ether.
Several different plant roots, including barberry and goldenseal roots, are excellent sources of berberine. The dried alkaloid can be consumed internally, but can also sometimes be used in a poultice. Different schools of alternative healing make use of this substance in different forms, sometimes as a tincture or in combination with other herbal products.
There are several health benefits associated with the use of berberine. One of the most important has to do with the treatment of various types of fungal infections. The alkaloid is believed to be an effective means of treating different types of yeast, as well as treating parasites that penetrate the skin. There is also some evidence that berberine is useful in resolving viral and bacterial infections. The substance has long been considered an effective tool to combat cholera.
While there are some anecdotal claims that berberine works well as an antibiotic, the evidence supporting this claim is somewhat thin and not accepted by many in the medical community. Still, the substance can sometimes work as a potential, helping other compounds to work more effectively. This fact has led to the inclusion of the alkaloid in some traditional and homeopathic medicines formulated for the treatment of health problems that are not directly affected by berberine.
Ongoing research into the uses of berberine has led to the alkaloid’s inclusion in a number of over-the-counter products, as well as herbal medicines and supplements. Some brands of eye drops include the substance in the formula. Research on the efficacy of this alkaloid in the treatment of MRSA is ongoing and has shown some encouraging results. The product is also believed to be helpful with a number of skin conditions when used in a poultice, as well as a tool to alleviate symptoms of the common cold.
Berberine has the distinction of being among the herbs used in many different types of medical traditions. Both Eastern and Western medicine have identified some uses for this alkaloid, which has led pharmaceutical companies around the world to include the product in a number of different medicines. While there is some potential for berberine side effects such as headaches or insomnia, the incidence of any side effects appears to be extremely low, making the substance a popular choice among physicians of all stripes.
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