For thousand of years Western and Oriental herbalists have prized certain plants for fighting infections and fevers. It turns out that many of these herbs contain a yellow alkaloid known as berberine. Among these plants are popular Western botanical remedies like goldenseal, Oregon grape and barberry as well as Oriental herbs like Chinese golden thread (also known as coptis) and amur cork tree bark (known also as phellodendron).

Over 2,800 studies have been conducted on berberine and more than half of them have been published on PubMed in the past five years. This research confirms the traditional value of berberine-containing plants for infections, showing that berberine has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing properties.

The research suggests that berberine (and therefore the herbs that contain it) are effective against a wide range of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Herbs containing berberine have long been used topically on cuts and other wounds. They have also been used in various cultures for gastrointestinal issues, including traveller’s diarrhea and food poisoning.

But, the research doesn’t stop at berberine’s anti-infective abilities. It turns out that berberine has numerous other benefits and may have efficacy in the treatment of insulin resistance, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. There is evidence it may also be helpful in preventing heart disease by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Berberine may even be helpful for hypertension (high blood pressure), brain health, immune dysfunction, low bone density and weight control.

How Berberine Works

In order to understand berberine’s potential and how it works, we need to look at adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPk). AMPk is an enzyme inside the body’s cells that functions like a metabolic “master switch” by regulating biological activities that normalize lipid, glucose and energy imbalances. Berberine helps to activate this enzyme.

Low AMPk activity can lead to accelerated aging, chronic inflammation, high blood cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, poor blood sugar regulation, increased visceral belly fat, obesity, neurodegeneration and mitochondrial insufficiency and dysfunction. Boosting AMPk activity helps shift energy toward cellular repair and maintenance, leading to homeostasis and improved health.

In other words, berberine turns “idle” cells on, thereby helping them to use glucose more efficiently. In fact, researchers have suggested that berberine can produce health benefits similar to the benefits of engaging in regular exercise and restricting calorie intake—two foundational pillars of health and longevity.

Berberine also supports healthy gut function to help combat endotoxins. High-carbohydrate diets have been shown to alter the microflora of the gut, increasing endotoxin-producing bacteria. These endotoxins are released into the bloodstream and interfere with normal glucose metabolism. Berberine supports gut health by inhibiting the ability of endotoxins to bind to muscle cells, thus helping to support proper glucose metabolism.

In this month’s Sunshine Sharing, we’ll explore the benefits of berberine and herbs that contain berberine. We’ll also tell you about formulas containing these herbs. You’ll discover the many ways this amazing phytochemical can benefit your health.

¹Clinical Applications for Berberine, Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO, Natural Medicine Journal, December, 2012.

²Natural Medicine Journal, December 2012 Vol. 4 Issue 12

³Yin J, Xing H, Ye J, Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism, 2008;57(5):712-717

⁴Dong H, Wang N, Zhao L, Lu F. Berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012; 2012:591654.

⁵Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Berberine in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus, Zheng Li et al, 2014.

⁶Arzneimittelforschung. 2007;57(1):26-30.

⁷Cardiovasc Drug Rev. 2001 Fall;19(3):234-44.

⁸Berberine Enhances the Anti‑tumor Activity of Tamoxifen in Drug‑sensitive MCF‑7 and Drug‑resistant MCF‑7/TAM cells, Zhang-X et al, 2016, PMID: 27432642

⁹Lipi