Barberry is a Latin name. Leaves of common barberry - medicinal properties, instructions, use. Protection against diseases and pests

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is a member of the Barberry family. In German, the plant was named Agendorn, Dreidom, Sauerdorn, in English - barberry, berbery, in French - agrivoutier, berberis, vinettier.

Appearance

More often, barberry grows in the form of shrubs, sometimes it is a small tree. The maximum height of the shrub can reach up to 4 m in height. However, usually the average height is no more than 2 m. The leaves of the barberry are oval, ovoid in shape and reach 3 cm in length. The flowers of the barberry are yellow and small, they form red soft spindle-shaped barberry berries, the length of which varies around 1 cm.

The bark of the barberry has a brown and occasionally gray-brown color. The leaves are arranged in the next order, have short petioles. They are dull green in color.

Kinds

Barberry has almost six hundred species.

In Russia, the most widespread barberry Thunberg. It grows wild in the Far Eastern territories of the country, but has also taken root in Europe, the USA and Canada. In Russia, this species is most often cultivated.

Barberry Thunberg is small in height, it can reach a maximum of 2.5 m. Its branches deviate from the trunk in the manner of arcs. Early shoots are bright red or orange. During the ripening period, they darken. The leaves are represented by the shape of a rounded rhombus. In spring and summer they have a bright green color, and in autumn they turn red. Barberry Thunberg has small spines. The flowers of the plant are yellow, but with a red tint on the outside. The berries are bright red and glossy.

Thunberg barberry is very often grown for decorative purposes, it can be found in some garden or park. It is planted in hedges, as well as along the curbs. The unusual color is especially noticeable in autumn, when the leaves and fruits have a bright color. Among other varieties of this species, there are those in which the color of the leaves is yellow or bright purple.

Where does it grow?

It is believed that the barberry originated from the countries of Central Europe and the Mediterranean. Now it can be found throughout Europe, as well as in the southern part of Russia. However, the barberry also tolerates cold well, so it can often be found in the wild and in areas with a temperate climate. Sometimes grows in Asian countries.

spice making method

Barberry leaves or berries are used as spices. The leaves are similar in taste to sorrel and give a piquant flavor to cabbage soup. They are used both dried and fresh. The same goes for berries. Sometimes they are used as a seasoning, then they are dried in the sun and then ground into a powder.

Leaves should also be dried in the fresh air, and not indoors.

How and where to choose a spice?

Barberry berries are on sale, the leaves are usually harvested on their own. When choosing berries, you should pay attention to their ripeness. Ripe berries are elliptical in shape and red or dark burgundy in color.

Peculiarities

Unripe barberry berries should not be eaten, as they contain poison. Another name for barberry is caramel tree.

Characteristics

Barberry has the following characteristics:

• used for medicinal purposes;
• actively used in cooking;
• serves as a honey plant;
• allows you to get paint from rhizomes and bark.

Nutritional value and calories

100 grams of barberry berries contain 29.6 kcal.

The nutritional value of the product includes the following components:

• proteins - 0 g;
• fats - 0 g;
• carbohydrates - 7.9 g;
• water - 82 g.

You can learn about the beneficial properties of barberry from an excerpt from the program "1000 and one spice of Scheherazade"

Chemical composition

Barberry contains the following components:

• vitamins: A (RE) - 23333.33 mcg; C - 500 mg; β-carotene - 140 mg; K - 0.5 mg;
• other chemical components: carotenoids (lutein, xanthophyll, zeaxanthin, flavoxanthin, auroxanthin, capsanthin, etc.); pectin substances; ash (0.96%); tannins; organic acids; alkaloids (berberine, palmatin, columbamine, etc.); malic and citric acids; resinous substances (up to 5.2% in leaves and up to 1.12% in bark and branches).

Beneficial features

Barberry has the following useful properties:

• cleanses the body;
• helps blood to clot in wounds;
• improves appetite;
• is a preventive measure against many diseases.

Barberry helps blood to clot in wounds due to the high content of pectin in it.

Harm

Barberry should be used with caution, as the following negative consequences are possible:

• miscarriage in pregnant women;
• drowsiness;
• lethargy;
• lethargy;
• convulsions;
• swelling on the skin;
• dizziness;
• vomit;
• nose bleed.

Contraindications

You should not use barberry in the following situations:

• pregnant women;
• children;
• women during feeding;
• in the presence of individual intolerance;
• in combination with sedatives;
• with kidney disease;
• in the presence of stones in the gallbladder;
• with heavy bleeding in women after menopause;
• with some types of hepatitis.

Juice

Barberry juice is obtained from fully ripe berries, which are very soft to the touch. It helps improve appetite and is also used as a mild laxative for irregular stools. It normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract and brings the body into tone. Also, barberry juice is used to reduce high fever during infections, and it serves as an excellent thirst quencher.

Application

In cooking

Barberry has an extensive list of uses in cooking:

• used as a spice for meat or rice in Asia (ground or dried whole);
• added to pilaf;
• the leaves are pickled or cut into salads;
• added to sausages;
• used as a spice in broths and many oriental dishes;
• jams, jelly, sherbet, juice, compote are made from berries;
• used in the preparation of marinades and sauces;
• used in the production of marshmallows and sweets, as well as mousses and marmalade;
• used in the production of alcohol (alcohol tinctures, liqueurs, etc.).

Barberry has a pronounced fruity aroma and gives dishes a pleasant refreshing sourness. Berries are stored in pickled, salted, and candied form. Barberry makes an excellent seasoning for game dishes.

Barberry honey has a pleasant golden color and a mild sweet taste. Slightly unripe fruits are subjected to salting and pickling. If the berries have a sour taste, then they go to the production of alcohol.

Candies

At home, delicious sweets are obtained from barberry according to the following recipe:

• you need a few tablespoons of sugar, 0.25 kg of barberry berries and an apple;
• the barberry is washed, placed in a saucepan, put on fire;
• a small amount of water and sugar are added to it;
• after boiling, the berries are boiled for 8 minutes;
• they are then crushed or pureed with an immersion blender;
• the apple is peeled and rubbed on a medium grater, and then mixed with barberry puree;
• spread the resulting mixture on a baking sheet in one layer and dry at a temperature of about 90 degrees for 5 hours;
• then the mixture is cut with a knife into strips and rolled into rolls.

Compote

You can cook an excellent thirst-quenching compote or delicious jelly from barberry. Barberry pairs surprisingly well with apples. Compote of apples and barberry will perfectly refresh in the heat.

• You need 1 kg of apples, 0.2 kg of barberry, a liter of water and 350 g of sugar (an approximate amount is given).
• Apples are cut into slices and cleaned of seeds.
• Barberries and apples are placed in jars layer by layer.
• You need to prepare hot sugar syrup in advance.
• Fruits and berries are poured with this syrup and sterilized.

In medicine

Barberry is universal for medicine. Not only berries and leaves are actively used, but also bark and even rhizomes. Barberry has an unusually rich chemical composition, where alkaloids play the main role. The use of the plant for medicinal purposes is as follows:

• as a remedy for diseases of the gallbladder and liver;
• to increase blood clotting;
• to increase muscle contractions;
• to lower blood pressure;
• to provide a calming effect;
• as a remedy for colds;
• to remove harmful substances from the body;
• to prevent cancer and atherosclerosis;
• to improve the work of the heart;
• as a mild laxative;
• for the treatment of headaches;
• for the treatment of angina;
• against fever.

Tincture

At home, you can prepare barberry tincture with alcohol. To do this, the leaves are poured with alcohol 70% in a ratio of 1:5. Infuse them for 2 weeks until the mixture turns yellow. This tincture helps to treat certain types of hepatitis, with bleeding in the uterus, with diseases of the gallbladder.

It is also useful to take a tablespoon of juice per day.

You can make an infusion of barberry leaves. To do this, pour 15 g of leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. The infusion is recommended for the treatment of liver diseases and is taken after meals.

Barberry is also found in some medicines.

In cosmetology

Barberry infusions are used to rub the skin. Due to this, it becomes more elastic and smooth. Many hair masks also contain barberry, which helps strengthen hair and cure dandruff. The simplest version of a barberry rinse is a handful of berries boiled in water and infused for 40 minutes. The broth is filtered and rinsed with hair with each wash.

At home

The household use of barberry is as follows:

• used in official medicine;
• used in cooking;
• various crafts are often made from branches;
• barberry roots contain dyes for silk fabric and leather;
• from the berries produce a dye for linen and paper;
• helps with weight loss.

cultivation

reproduction

There are several ways to propagate barberry:

• Cherenkovy. Cuttings are cut and planted in greenhouses. They need to grow there under the film, it is allowed to water them with means that accelerate growth. Greenhouses need to be ventilated periodically. As soon as the first leaves appear, the greenhouse is kept open. The soil must be constantly loosened.
• Seminal. Seeds obtained from barberry berries are soaked in a dilute solution of potassium permanganate and sown in the autumn months, but before severe cold snaps. Literally a year later, the strongest seedlings are selected from the seedlings, which need to be transplanted already to a permanent place of growth.
• By division. It is necessary to cut off part of the parent bush, but the roots cannot be damaged.

Landing and care

Barberries are planted in soil with a normal level of acidity, although a slight increase is allowed. When planting bushes alone, they should be seated at least 2 m apart from each other. If the goal is to form a living fence, then the bushes are planted in a pre-dug trench in the calculation that there are 2 bushes per 1 m.

For barberry, it is unprincipled whether to grow in the shade or in the sun. However, the sun is preferable, as the decorative properties in the shade can be lost.

The plant is not capricious, so it is easy to care for it. You can water once a week, and it is recommended to fertilize the bushes in the first spring after planting. Fertilizers should be rich in nitrogen. Then the barberry is fertilized with nitrogen after a few years. The use of fertilizers rich in trace elements is allowed.

The plant needs to be loosened often, as its roots go deep. Barberries lend themselves well to shearing, and low-growing species generally sometimes do without it.

For more about barberry, see the following video.

• Mentions of the barberry were found on the tablets kept in the library fund of the ruler of Assyria even before our era.
• In some US states, barberry cannot be grown, as it is considered a "monopolistic" plant that gradually out-competes other plants.
• Over the past decade, scientists have found that barberry can be used as a substitute for Viagra.
• In ancient empires, barberry was considered a plant that brings happiness.

The beneficial properties of barberry were well known in the ancient world on different continents and in different parts of the world. The ancient Greeks and Romans prepared drugs from the fruits and leaves of barberry for diseases of the stomach and intestines. In India, it was a popular tonic, thirst quencher, and laxative. In ancient Egypt, the fruits of barberry cleansed the blood and the body of toxins. In the Far East, in Japan and China, they were treated for scurvy, escaped from beriberi, relieved fever attacks, and reduced high blood pressure. In Tibetan medicine, the barberry flower is popular; rejuvenating tinctures were made from the plant.

plant species

Is it possible to eat the fruits of barbaris vulgaris? Barberry is an extensive, large genus of shrubs and trees, which has about 580 species. This includes evergreen prickly species, and deciduous. What types of shrubs are most often used as medicinal raw materials, and which ones are cultivated for decorative purposes?

• Barberry common. This is the most unpretentious type of plant, a grass that takes root perfectly in the Central Russian zone. "Favorite" of summer residents and gardeners. It is often used as an ornamental plant that pleases the eye with its appearance for three seasons - spring, summer and autumn. The shrub looks beautiful in autumn, when bright clusters of berries ripen and the foliage turns red.
• Asian barberry. This is the common commercial name for several botanical shrub species that are found on the territory of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. These varieties are frost-resistant, their fruits are much darker, covered with a bluish bloom. These, for example, include: oblong barberry, spherical-fruited, Turkmen, entire. The average height of Asian varieties is 2 m. Some of them are used in folk medicine, the food industry, some are used only for decoration.
• Amur barberry. It grows in Primorsky Krai, it is also known in China and Japan. Outwardly, it resembles an ordinary barberry, but with longer and larger fruits, leaves and spines. The crown of the bush is beautiful, wide, sprawling, can grow up to 3 m. It belongs to heat-resistant, dry-resistant and frost-resistant species. Found in the wild, but also cultivated since 1875.
• Ottawa barberry. This is a hybrid obtained by crossing the common barberry and the Thunberg variety. One of the most famous ornamental shrub species, which is widely used for landscaping. A beautiful spreading crown, purple-violet foliage, fragrant flowers are the virtues for which it is worth growing this species. This is a real decoration of city parks and personal plots. The fruits of this species are edible, but small in size and very acidic.
• Barberry Thunberg. In the wild, this species can be found in the highlands in Japan and China. Cultivated throughout Europe for landscape design. This is a small shrub no more than 1 m high, with small, graceful leaves and abundant fruits. The berries of this variety are bitter in taste due to the large amount of alkaloids in the composition, so they are not eaten. However, birds are happy to feast on these vitamins in winter.

Features of the common barberry

What is barberry? People far from the horticultural sphere can clearly imagine the appearance of the fruits of this plant. At least according to the image on the wrapper of the famous Barberry caramels or the berries in the seasoning for pilaf. However, not everyone knows what the shrub itself looks like, what are the beneficial properties of barberry and what diseases are they treated with?

Growth area

Common barberry can also be found in Asia. But this species is most characteristic of Central and Southern Europe. Distributed throughout the European part of Russia, it can also be found in the Volga region, Crimea, and the North Caucasus. In the wild, the shrub loves open, well-lit areas - mountain slopes, hillocks, hills, forest edges, open river banks, light forests.

Botanical description

The common barberry plant is a branchy shrub reaching a height of 3 meters or more. The bark of young shoots and trunk is gray, covered with spines up to 2 cm long. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, finely serrated along the edge, bright green in summer, purple-red, brown in autumn. Racemose inflorescences (6 cm), yellow flowers, with a pleasant honey aroma. The fruits are bright red, up to 1 cm long, very sour. The plant blooms in late spring and early summer, and the fruits ripen in late summer and early autumn, depending on climatic conditions.

Procurement of raw materials

The shrub is famous for the wide use of not only fruits, but also prepared roots, leaves and even bark.

• Berries. Collected in September-October (it is better to harvest in dry weather). They are consumed fresh, but also dried in the air or in special electric dryers, in which the temperature should not exceed 40 ° C. Stored in linen bags for 3 years. Some herbalists indicate that it is better not to eat or harvest green barberries: due to the high content of alkaloids, berries can be poisonous.
• Leaves. Gathered in the spring - in May-June during the budding period. The leaves are dried in well-ventilated areas (it is possible in the open air, but not in direct sunlight). Dried raw materials are stored in linen bags for no more than 3 years, protected from dampness.
• Bark. It is better to do the workpiece in October. The bark is removed from thick stems, strung on a thin rope (thread) and dried outdoors in dry weather or in a closed but well-ventilated area. The bark, like other types of raw materials, can be stored for 3 years.
• Roots. Most often dug in the fall (October-November), but can also be dug in the spring. They are well cleaned, washed, dried. Then they are cut into small plates, laid out in a thin layer and dried in a well-ventilated area. Dry roots can be stored for 3 years, protected from moisture.

Although the medicinal properties of barberry last 3 years, if possible, herbalists still recommend restocking every 2 years with a good harvest.

Composition and pharmacological action

What are the beneficial properties of barberry berries, its leaves, roots and bark? How did this plant deserve such popular fame and recognition in traditional medicine?

• Chemical composition. The main value of barberry is alkaloids (substances containing nitrogen). There are eleven of them in the barberry. The most important of them are berberine, berbamine, leonthine, oxyxanthine. Mature berries contain a lot of sugars, mineral salts, organic acids, vitamins, and leaves contain more vitamin C, essential oils, carotene, malic and citric acids.
• Pharmachologic effect. Cholagogue, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, tonic, sedative, astringent, antiseptic, diuretic, hypotensive, antipyretic, antitumor, analgesic.

Indications

First of all, thanks to berberine, all parts of the plant are widely used as a choleretic agent. For what diseases and symptoms is this plant most often used?

• Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Tinctures and decoctions stop gastrointestinal bleeding, treat liver diseases (including hepatitis and cirrhosis), spleen, bile ducts, gallbladder, stomach ulcers, indigestion, hemorrhoids, dysentery.
• Inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. The benefits of barberry have been proven in the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, any cough caused by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. It is also used in the treatment of pleurisy and tuberculosis.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system. The medicinal plant lowers blood pressure and improves heart function.
• Diseases of the bladder and kidneys. Barberry is a good diuretic, so it can be used for urolithiasis (under the strict supervision of a doctor!).
• To improve appetite. Nutritionists recommend taking juice and jelly from barberry fruits in case of appetite disturbance before each meal. To reduce the acid, you can add a little sugar to it, dilute it with water, add the juice of other fruits.
• Treatment of the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat. Infusions of barberry are recommended to gargle, rinse the mouth with gum disease. Thanks to bactericidal, antiseptic properties, barberry relieves inflammation of the mucous well.
• For weight loss. How does barberry promote weight loss? Firstly, it normalizes metabolic processes in the body and improves digestion. Secondly, thanks to pectins and organic acids, it improves intestinal motility and cleanses it well. Berries also cleanse the blood and the entire body of toxins. During the diet, preparations based on barberry support the body with essential vitamins and minerals, which is also very important. However, when losing weight, it is not recommended to use barberry as a snack and seasoning, since the berry increases appetite. But you can cook compotes, decoctions, teas, infusions with a minimum sugar content.
• For rejuvenation. The rejuvenating properties of barberry were known in ancient Tibet and China. Masks were made from it to smooth wrinkles and improve skin color.
• Diseases of the muscles and joints. For arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, osteochondrosis, barberry is used internally and externally in the form of compresses. It is not only an anti-inflammatory, but also an analgesic.
• Diabetes. Barberry restores metabolism and improves the condition of diabetes mellitus.
• Gynecology. Decoctions and infusions treat uterine bleeding, as well as leucorrhoea, inflammation of the female genital organs with the help of baths and douching. Uterine bleeding is a serious symptom that requires immediate medical attention and determination of the cause of bleeding. Barberry quickly constricts the blood vessels of the uterus, so earlier its decoctions and infusions in folk medicine were used to stop bleeding after childbirth, with uterine bleeding during menopause with hormonal disruptions.
• Help with addictions. In some herbalists, there is information that the fruits and leaves of the shrub help get rid of drug, alcohol, and nicotine addictions.
• Outdoor application. With inflammation of the eyes and skin (wounds, eczema), lotions, baths, washing with a decoction of barberry can be done.
• Anti-radiation agent. With active radiation exposure, barberry helps to increase the body's defenses.
• Immunostimulating agent. Due to the large amount of vitamin C (especially in the leaves), barberry can be taken prophylactically to strengthen the immune system, in the spring period of beriberi.

Some countries have their own peculiarities of using this plant. For example, in Germany they treat not only the digestive tract, but also lung diseases, mucosal lesions. In France, it is an antipyretic, bactericidal and hypotensive (lowering blood pressure) agent. In Bulgaria it is a popular remedy for sciatica and rheumatic pains, in Poland it is often taken for beriberi, and in China for cancer.

Contraindications

What are the contraindications?

• Pregnancy. The alkaloid substances contained in barberry can increase muscle tone, which is dangerous for early miscarriage and premature birth in the last trimester. In most sources, there is also a ban on the use of barberry during breastfeeding.
• Individual intolerance. In case of hypersensitivity and a severe allergic reaction, barberry should not be used for medicinal purposes.
• Cholelithiasis and cirrhosis of the liver. Barberry can provoke an acute attack. Therefore, you can not use the medicine for cirrhosis and hepatitis of various types without prescribing and consulting a doctor.
• Diseases associated with increased blood clotting. Barberry, having a hemostatic effect, can aggravate the disease.
• Children under 12 years old. The use for medicinal purposes is prohibited or carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. This is due to alkaloids, which can bring not only benefits, but also harm the body.

Barberry belongs to slightly poisonous plants. Therefore, its use for medicinal purposes without consulting a doctor is not recommended. An overdose may be accompanied by such symptoms - an allergic reaction in the form of edema, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, loss of consciousness, nose and even kidney bleeding. With the simultaneous use of barberry and sedatives, the effect of the latter may increase. If there are any signs of an overdose and an allergic reaction, stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor.

Features of application in traditional medicine and pharmacological industry

How to cook and use barberry at home? And what preparations based on this medicinal raw material can be purchased at the pharmacy?

How the fruits are used

The use of barberry fruits is the most diverse:

• they are consumed fresh, dried, boiled, pickled;
• medicinal infusions and decoctions are made from berries, as well as compotes, juices, syrups, jams, liqueurs, marmalades, jams;
• a recipe for preparing barberry with honey is known (barberry berries are placed in liquid fresh honey), then it is used as a healthy treat;
• the fruits are also used as a seasoning for pilaf and other meat dishes;
• fresh berries are more often taken for diseases of the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, vitamin deficiencies, to lower blood pressure, and cough.

Making jam from barberry berries

1. Prepare 1 kg of fresh fruits and soak them in cold water for 8 hours.
2. Make syrup from 6 cups of sugar and 2 cups of water.
3. Drain the water from the berries, pour the syrup.
4. Cook over moderate heat for 30 minutes.
5. Pour jam into sterilized jars and seal with lids.

This is one of the old Russian barberry jam recipes. This is not only a delicacy, but also an effective antipyretic for colds, flu, SARS.

Preparation of a tonic drink from fresh berries

1. Squeeze ½ cup of fresh fruit juice.
2. Dilute with a glass of boiled water.
3. Take ¼ cup of drink before meals.

This tool normalizes appetite, and also strengthens the immune system. The beneficial properties of barberry berries are preserved until the first frost, so the fruits can be harvested even in October-November.

How the leaves are used

Barberry leaves are no less valuable than the berries, roots and bark of the plant. Where and how are they used?

• In cooking. Only young leaves are used, which can be harvested in spring and early summer. From the leaves in the old days they cooked cabbage soup, added it to salads as a seasoning, and made marinades. You can also use dried leaves as a seasoning to give a more sour taste to first courses.
• Decoctions, infusions, tinctures for internal use. There may be water infusions and alcohol tinctures. For their preparation, fresh and dry leaves are taken. They are used to treat the digestive tract, kidneys, uterine bleeding.
• As an antiseptic and anesthetic for external use. To strengthen the gums, it is recommended to chew fresh barberry leaves. A decoction of the leaves can be used to gargle, it is used for douching with gynecological inflammation, lotions and baths are made from it for diseases of the skin and joints.

Preparation of alcohol tincture of barberry

1. Take 2 tbsp. l. crushed dry leaves.
2. Pour ½ cup of vodka or diluted alcohol (40%).
3. Insist 14 days in a warm and dark place.

The tincture will have a dark yellow color, a pleasant aroma and a sour taste. Take 20-30 drops three times a day for 3 weeks.

How the root and bark are used

The use of barberry root and bark is advisable for inflammatory processes of the oral mucosa, gynecological inflammation, digestive disorders, as well as for external use - lotions and baths.

Preparation of a decoction of barberry roots

1. Take 1 tsp. crushed roots.
2. Pour in a glass of water.
3. Boil and hold in a water bath for 40 minutes.
4. Strain the decoction.

Take three times a day, 1 tsp. A decoction is especially useful for pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy. It also quenches thirst well.

Pharmacy preparations

• Berberine tablets. The active substance of the drug is a barberry alkaloid (berberine). This is a well-known choleretic and antispasmodic agent, which is used to treat chronic diseases of the gallbladder and liver. Under the influence of berberine, bile secretion increases, its viscosity decreases, and bile secretion increases, the muscle tone of the gallbladder decreases.
• Pharmacy fee. Dried fruits, leaves, bark and root can be purchased at the pharmacy. Also, barberry can be part of other pharmacy fees.
• Alcohol tincture from the leaves. Narrows blood vessels, accelerates blood clotting, reduces the smooth muscles of the uterus in the postpartum period. Also used as a choleretic agent. Take about 30 drops three times a day for 3 weeks according to strict indications.
• Homeopathic granules "Barberry comp". They are most often prescribed for chronic tonsillitis and adenoids. In homeopathy, a tincture of dried roots is also used, taken for a long time in a diluted form for cholecystitis, hemorrhoids, biliary colic, bleeding, rheumatism and other diseases.

Cosmetology

From the leaves, fruits and bark, decoctions and water infusions are prepared, with which they wipe the face. These homemade lotions and tonics have a rejuvenating effect, eliminate skin defects (pigment spots, freckles, blackheads), smooth fine wrinkles, and give a healthy complexion. However, when preparing face masks from fresh barberry fruits, you need to remember about safety: acid can severely irritate sensitive skin. It is recommended to make masks on a small area of ​​​​skin to check the reaction. Also, decoctions and infusions of barberry are effective in general hair care and well eliminate dandruff.

Preparation of decoction for skin rejuvenation

1. Take 1 tbsp. l. chopped barberry leaves (fresh or dry).
2. Pour in a glass of boiling water.
3. Insist 30 minutes.
4. Strain.

The decoction is used in the morning and evening as a tonic. You can also freeze the decoction in the form of portioned cubes and wipe your face with them.

Preparing a hair mask

1. Take ½ cup of barberry fruit.
2. Pour in 1 liter of boiling water.
3. Leave for 1 hour.

The healing properties of barberry are known not only in traditional medicine. Preparations based on barberry are actively used in traditional medicine and pharmacology. Its main pharmacological properties are choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, hemostatic. Due to the high content of alkaloids, the shrub belongs to weak poisonous plants, dangerous in case of overdose and prolonged, uncontrolled intake.

In the article we discuss barberry - useful properties and contraindications for use. You will learn what the plant looks like and what varieties it has. We will talk about the medicinal properties of barberry and its use in diseases of the heart, stomach, liver and immunodeficiency.

Barberry is a genus of evergreen shrubs or trees of the Barberry family (lat. Berberidaceae). The plant has thin, branched shoots covered with brown ribbed bark. The leaves of the barberry are collected in bunches, grow on short petioles. The fruits are elongated or spherical berries of red or black color, depending on the variety.

Spring view (photo) of barberry

Barberry is a frost-resistant and heat-resistant plant. It is unpretentious to growing conditions, but does not tolerate waterlogged soil.

The plant is found throughout Europe, North America, Persia, Central Asia and Kazakhstan. In our country, barberry grows in the Crimea, Siberia and the Caucasus.

Dye is obtained from the wood and roots of the plant. Leaves and berries of barberry are used in cooking and folk medicine. We will talk about the beneficial properties and contraindications of barberry berries below. Read more about the use in cooking in the article - Dishes from barberry.

Types of barberry

The genus Barberry (lat. Berberis) combines 580 plant species. The most common of them:

• common barberry (lat. Berberis vulgaris);
• Canadian barberry (lat. Berberis canadensis);
• hawthorn barberry (lat. Berberis crataegina);
• imitating barberry (lat. Berberis aemulans);
• Siberian barberry (lat. Berberis sibirica);
• barberry oblong (lat. Berberis oblonga);
• barberry Thunberg (lat. Berberis thunbergii);
• Amur barberry (lat. Berberis amurensis);
• warty barberry (lat. Berberis verruculosa).

Amur and common barberries have edible fruits. It is these two types of plants that are used in cooking and traditional medicine. We will tell you in more detail how barberry is useful and how to use it to strengthen immunity and in diseases of the heart, liver, and stomach.

Useful properties of barberry

Barberry is widely used in folk and traditional medicine.. In pharmacies, you can find plant-based medicines: Cholelitin, Berberine biosulfate and barberry tincture.

For the production of plant-based products at home, berries, leaves, bark and roots are used. Barberry is cultivated in household plots. The medicinal properties of the garden barberry do not differ from the properties of the wild-growing barberry. Therefore, any plant can be used to prepare medicines.

The benefit of red barberry lies in the chemical composition. The plant contains alkaloids, tannins, tocopherol, carotene, organic acids. Barberry berries are rich in ascorbic acid. The medicinal properties of barberry leaves are due to the high content of malic acid and vitamins C and E.

What is useful barberry for the body:

• strengthens the immune system;
• lowers blood pressure;
• normalizes the heart rhythm;
• has a choleretic effect;
• eliminates bouts of nausea;
• reduces the risk of developing cancer.

Barberry-based products are used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous and genitourinary systems. When applied externally, barberry helps with rheumatism, gout, pleurisy. The plant relieves pain in the ligaments and joints, enhancing their motor activity.

At home, you can prepare many medicines based on the plant. Consider the most common barberry recipes - useful properties and contraindications for use, and tell you how to take them correctly without harm to health.

In medicine, fresh and dry barberry berries, leaves of the plant are used.

Tea for the stomach

Barberry tea is made from leaves or berries. To enhance the therapeutic effect, you can combine both ingredients. The benefits and harms of tea with barberry for the stomach lies in the chemical composition. Tannins reduce the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract and have anti-inflammatory and astringent effects. At the same time, you should not abuse the drink, as it can provoke the development of constipation.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry leaves - 1 teaspoon.
2. Barberry berries - 1 teaspoon.
3. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour barberry leaves and berries into a teapot, pour boiling water over them and close the lid. Infuse the drink for half an hour.

How to use: Take ⅓ cup 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 15 days.

Result: The drink envelops the walls of the stomach, reducing inflammation and pain. With regular use eliminates the symptoms of gastritis, duodenitis, peptic ulcer.

Decoction for the heart

Barberry normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system. A decoction of the plant improves blood flow to the heart and normalizes its rhythm. To prepare the product, use fresh or dried berries. Consider a recipe based on dried fruits.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry berries - 2 tablespoons.
2. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Crush dry berries with a rolling pin, fill them with water and put on the stove. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat to a minimum and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Remove from the stove, cover with a lid and leave to infuse for 2-3 hours. Strain the finished broth through a multilayer gauze.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon up to 3 times daily.

Result: The drink lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation and eliminates tachycardia. The decoction is also used to treat cancer and normalize the menstrual cycle.

Infusion for the liver

For the treatment of liver diseases, water infusions of barberry or alcohol-containing agents are used. Consider the recipe for non-alcoholic infusion. Read more about how to prepare alcohol tincture in the article - Barberry tincture.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry leaves - 2 tablespoons.
2. Water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Pour dry barberry leaves into a thermos, pour boiling water over them and close the lid. Infuse the remedy for at least an hour. Strain the finished drink through a strainer.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon 4-5 times a day. The course is 1 month.

Result: Infusion stimulates the liver, cleanses it of toxins and toxins, has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Morse for immunity

Morse from barberry berries is rich in vitamins C and E. The drink has an immunomodulatory effect and slows down cell aging.

Ingredients:

1. Barberry berries - 100 gr.
2. Water - 500 ml.
3. Sugar - 3 tablespoons.

How to cook: Crush the barberry berries with a rolling pin, sprinkle with sugar and leave at room temperature for half an hour so that the fruits give juice. Transfer them to a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil the drink under a closed lid for 15 minutes. Remove fruit drink from heat, cool and strain through cheesecloth or strainer.

How to use: Drink 1 glass up to 3 times a day.

Result: Vitamin drink increases the body's defenses, has antiviral, antibacterial and antipyretic effects.

barberry berries

Barberry berries are a source of a complex of vitamins and microelements useful for the body. Medicinal infusions and decoctions are prepared on their basis. Only ripe fruits are suitable for medical purposes and for consumption, as unripe berries are poisonous and can be harmful to health.

barberry root

The medicinal properties and contraindications of barberry roots also lie in the chemical composition. This part of the plant is used to produce berberine, which has a choleretic effect, lowers blood pressure and normalizes the heart rhythm. The medicinal properties of barberry roots make it possible to use it for the treatment of hypertension, gallstone disease, and flatulence.

How to dry barberry

To preserve useful substances in the leaves and fruits of barberry for a long time, they are dried. Raw materials are harvested during the flowering period, laid out under a canopy in the open air and dried at a temperature not exceeding 45 degrees. Store dry leaves and berries in paper or fabric bags in a ventilated area for no more than 2 years.

Dried barberry is widely used not only in medicine, but also in cooking as a seasoning. Read more in the article - Seasoning barberry.

To harvest berries for the winter, they can be frozen. The fruits are sorted and placed in a hermetically sealed container, which is removed in the freezer. In this form, the berries retain useful substances throughout the year.

You have learned how barberry is useful, how to properly use products based on it for medical purposes, and how to harvest plant berries for storage. Despite the mass of healing properties, barberry has a number of contraindications for use. Let's consider them below.

For more information about the benefits of barberry, see the video:

Barberry contraindications

Contraindications to the use of barberry:

• increased acidity of gastric juice;
• hypotension;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• thrombophlebitis;
• bleeding during menopause;
• children's age up to 12 years.

Barberry is used with caution during pregnancy. Although the berries are effective in eliminating the symptoms of toxicosis, they increase uterine contractions and can lead to miscarriage. Prolonged use of barberry causes constipation.

What to remember

1. The health benefits of barberry lie in the rich chemical composition of the plant. It contains vitamins C and E, tannins, tocopherol, alkaloids, carotene, organic acids.
2. Means based on barberry are used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous and genitourinary systems.
3. Barberry has anti-inflammatory, choleretic, antiseptic, antipyretic and immunomodulatory effects.
4. Before using berry-based products for medicinal purposes, consult a specialist so as not to harm the body.

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Other names: Sour turn, Kislyanka.

Diseases and effects: peptic ulcer, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, neurasthenia, cholecystitis, rheumatism, polyarthritis, conjunctivitis, gingivitis, stomatitis, hepatitis, hepatocholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, cholelithiasis, atonic bleeding in the postpartum period, endometriosis.

Active substances: berberine, palmatin, leonthine, columbamine, iatroricin, berberrubin, hydroxyacanthin, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, sugars, pectins, cholines, pigments, ascorbic acid, minerals, essential oil, saponins.

Plant collection and preparation time: May - June, September - October.

Botanical description of the common barberry

Barberry common- prickly strongly branched shrub 1.5-3 m high, family Barberries (Berberidaceae).

Roots barberries are cylindrical, straight or curved, give abundant root shoots.

branches the plants are covered with tripartite spines up to 2 cm long. On young branches the bark is yellowish, from the second year it is gray.

Leaves are located on short (reduced) shoots are located in the axils of the spines. The leaves are obovate, thin, serrate-toothed, narrowed towards the petiole, sour in taste. Leaves are dark green above, lighter below. In autumn, the leaves take on a bright fiery color.

flowers small, odorous, collected in a drooping brush. Petals, sepals and stamens six each. Petals are light yellow, oblong.

Fetus- an oblong cylindrical red berry containing 2-3 elongated seeds, sour in taste. The length of the berry is about 1 cm.

Common barberry blooms in May-June, and its fruits ripen in September-October.

Distribution and habitat of the common barberry

Common barberry grows in the European part of Russia, almost throughout Ukraine, in the Crimea, the Caucasus and the Ciscaucasia. Occasionally, barberry can also be found in the forest-steppe zone.

The habitat of the common barberry is sparse forests, edges and glades, rocky slopes and hillocks.

The plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental.

Harvesting barberry ordinary

Leaves, fruits, bark are harvested for medical purposes. Sometimes the roots of the plant are also collected as raw materials.

The leaves and bark of the common barberry are harvested in the spring after flowering (mid-May - mid-June). Also, the bark can be harvested along with berries in September - October.

Raw materials are collected in gloves or mittens, partially cutting branches and fully developed leaves with garden shears, which are then cut off into a bag.

Dry the leaves in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated area, spreading a thin layer and periodically turning over. The leaves of barberry are sour in taste, have a peculiar smell. Store them in boxes in a dry place.

The chemical composition of the common barberry

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids. The main alkaloid isolated from the roots of the common barberry is berberine. In addition to berberine, the roots of the plant contain palmatin, leontin, columbamine, iatroricin, berberrubin, and oxyacanthin.

Malic, citric, tartaric and other organic acids, sugars, pectin substances, cholines, pigments, ascorbic acid and minerals were found in the fruits of common barberry.

The shoots of the plant contain vitamins C, E, essential oil and saponins.

Pharmacological properties of common barberry

The plant has a sedative, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and diuretic effect. Barberry somewhat lowers blood pressure, accelerates blood clotting.

Galenic dosage forms from the roots of barberry in large doses depress the central nervous system, disrupt the coordination of movements and relax the muscles while maintaining reflex activity.

Barberry tincture has antispasmodic properties, manifested in a decrease in the tone of the gallbladder and in a slowdown in the rhythm of its contraction. This improves the outflow of bile and creates favorable conditions for the elimination of the inflammatory process in the bile ducts and gallbladder.

When tested on animals, preparations from barberry roots increased contractions of the isolated uterine horn of guinea pigs, stimulated bile secretion in animals in chronic experiments with a gallbladder fistula, caused hypotension in rabbits, and increased blood clotting.

In an experimental study of the pharmacological properties of an individual plant alkaloid, berberine bisulfate, it was found that, in subtoxic doses, it, like plant tinctures, causes some increase in motor activity, which then changes into a state of general depression.

In animal experiments, with the introduction of berberine bisulfate in therapeutic doses, an increase in bile secretion was noted. In chronic experiments with a fistula of the gallbladder with a free flow of bile into the gastrointestinal tract, berberine led to irritation of bile without a noticeable increase in its amount, and a decrease in relative density.

The use of common barberry in medicine

Barberry preparations are used as a choleretic agent for hepatitis, hepatocholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia (with hyperkinetic form), cholelithiasis not complicated by jaundice.

In obstetric and gynecological practice, barberry tincture is prescribed as an adjuvant for atonic bleeding in the postpartum period, for bleeding associated with inflammatory processes, for subnivolution of the uterus, endometriosis.

The use of berberine bisulfate without other medicinal preparations and physiotherapeutic procedures in patients with uncomplicated forms of cholecystitis leads to a decrease or disappearance of pain in the right hypochondrium and dyspeptic symptoms, normalization of stool and temperature. In the study of duodenal contents after treatment with berberine, the amount of secreted gallbladder bile increases, its relative density decreases, which is explained by a decrease in congestion in the gallbladder. The concentration of bilirubin in cystic bile decreases. There are no side effects in patients treated with berberine.

Berberine also gives positive results in exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis complicated by secondary hepatitis. The functional state of the liver improves, the number of leukocytes in bile decreases. In chronic hepatitis of various etiologies, the therapeutic effect of berberine is expressed in a decrease in the size of the liver, an improvement in the performance of functional tests, and a decrease in pain. In patients with chronic hepatitis with a transition to cirrhosis, as well as in cholelithiasis with secondary hepatitis, severe toxic hepatitis with biliary dyskinesia, berberine is ineffective.

Berries and barberry juice show a therapeutic effect in gastric ulcer, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, neurasthenia.

Preparations from barberry are well tolerated by patients with diabetes mellitus. They are effective in the treatment of renal complications in diabetic patients in the initial stages of nephropathy, as well as in cystitis, pyelonephritis, as an adjuvant.

Dosage forms, method of application of common barberry

Tincture from the leaves of the common barberry (Tinctura folii Berberis vulgaris). Assign alcohol (40% alcohol) tincture (1: 5) orally 30-40 drops 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is 2-3 weeks.

Store in a cool, dark place.

Berberine bisulfate (Berberini bisulfas) produced in tablets of 0.005 g. Taken orally at 0.005-0.01 g (5-10 mg) 3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 2-4 weeks.

Infusion of leaves of common barberry (Infusum foliorum Berberis vulgaris). 10 g (1 tablespoon) of crushed leaves are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 100 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, filter, squeeze. The volume of the resulting infusion is added with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days.

Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day as an anti-inflammatory agent for diseases of the liver and biliary tract.

Raw materials are produced in packs of 100 g. The leaves are stored in a dry, cool place.

decoction of barberry roots. 1 teaspoon of dry crushed roots is poured with two cups of boiling water, boiled for 20 minutes on low heat, insisted for 30 minutes and filtered. Take 1 tablespoon 5-6 times a day for rheumatism and polyarthritis.

A decoction of the bark of barberry. For conjunctivitis, 1/2 tablespoon of barberry bark is poured into a glass of hot water, boiled for 30 minutes, then infused for 10 minutes, filtered and the volume is adjusted to 20 ml (1 glass). A decoction is used to wash inflamed eyes.

A decoction of the bark and roots of barberry. In diseases of the oral cavity (gingivitis, stomatitis), the roots and bark of barberry are poured with a glass of hot water, boiled for 30 minutes, filtered and used to rinse the mouth.

bark tincture used for salt deposition. 25 g of the bark is poured into 1/2 cup of 70% alcohol, insisted for 7-10 days in the dark, then filtered. Take orally 30 drops 2 times a day.

Contraindications to the use of common barberry

In general, preparations from barberry do not give side effects, but it is worth remembering that barberry tincture is contraindicated in menopausal bleeding associated with ovarian dysfunction.

The use of barberry ordinary in nutrition

Common barberry is very much used for preparing various dietary dishes. Syrups, juice, kvass, jam, jam are prepared from it, and vitamin salads are made from young leaves.

Dried fruits of barberry are a fragrant seasoning for many dishes. Barberry berries are always put in real oriental pilaf: they not only give golden rice a unique flavor, but also decorate it.

Natural barberry juice

Ripe barberry berries are washed, allowed to drain, then pressed. The resulting juice is poured into enamelware and heated to 80°C, then poured into jars, covered with lids, sterilized for 15 minutes and corked.

Barberry mashed with sugar

The berries are washed, allowed to drain, then kneaded with a wooden spoon. Put on a small fire, heat up to 80-85 ° C, add sugar (1: 1) and bring to its dissolution. Leave for 20 minutes, then bring to a boil, packaged in jars, sterilized for 7-10 minutes, sealed and cooled.

Other information about common barberry

Common barberry is a very unpretentious shrub, its powerful root system allows it to gain a foothold on the steepest rocky slopes. It is able to grow due to rhizomes and form dense curtains, so it is planted in the form of hedges. This plant is often bred and simply used to decorate gardens, parks and squares.

In total, the genus contains about 5000 species. Amur barberry grows in the Far East, and Siberian barberry grows in the south of Siberia.

Barberry ordinary in history and mythology

Barberry as a remedy was used in ancient times in India, Egypt, Ancient Babylon. Later, in the Middle Ages, its infusion was used to treat various diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. In the 18th century, barberry was used to treat scurvy and jaundice.

Barberry in dreams

The barberry family includes a large number of barberry shrubs. One of the common species can be called the common barberry. The plant grows both in mountainous areas and on the plateau. Gardeners are not indifferent to barberry, for its decorative effect and useful properties.

The species features of the barberry differ among themselves in the color of the foliage, the size and shape of the bush. The common barberry comes in red, purple, yellow and variegated colors.

Barberry description

The common barberry is represented by a thorny shrub, about two to three meters high. The trunk and shoots are covered with sharp thorns, and ellipse-shaped leaves 4.5x2.5 cm in size are formed on the branches. Barberry, due to its decorative features and prickly "protection", is often used as a hedge.

Autumn paints the leaves of the barberry in bright colors of burgundy, purple and fiery colors. Barberry blooms in spring, forming tassels of 20 small yellow flowers, the plant continues to bloom for about two weeks. Being an excellent nectar-bearing plant, the barberry is widely used to produce fragrant honey.

Barberry ordinary, bushes generously, releasing many arcuate shoots, of medium length, the shape of the bushes is given by pruning. The trunk of the bush is brown. The root system is well developed, produces creeping rhizomes, which are located in the upper layers of the soil and nourish the plant.

Barberry fruits are elongated, barrel-shaped berries of scarlet color, sour and tart. The weight of one berry is about 4 grams, length is about 2 cm.

Ripening begins in early autumn, "green" barberry berries are dangerous to eat for food purposes, since their high content of alkaloids is dangerous for humans and promises poisoning.

Types and varieties of common barberry

The variety of varieties of barberry allows the summer resident to choose the one that will satisfy his needs. The plant is represented by several species, which in turn include a variety of varieties.

The most extensive group and the most common type of barberry. It grows in the south of Russia, settles along the forest edges, forest-steppe, hilly terrain and in the mountains of the Caucasus. Spreading shrub, not exceeding three meters, is protected by thorns. The shoots of the shrub are arched, prone to lodging. The foliage of the common barberry is green and red, round-oval in shape, located on short petioles. In spring, the shrub blooms with yellow small inflorescences, and in autumn bright and conspicuous fruits suitable for consumption appear.

Another common type of barberry, combining a huge number of varieties. The Thunberg bush is popular with gardeners for its decorative effect and unpretentiousness. The plant is a medium-sized shrub about two to three meters high. A strong plant needs pruning, due to the large number of shoots. The trunk and branches are covered with thorns and over time change color from burgundy to brown, the shrub looks spectacular as part of a hedge. Barberry foliage has a different shape and color, most often the shape of a pointed oval of burgundy or green color, located on short petioles, the leaves do not reach large sizes (average size 4x2 cm).

Thunberg barberry inflorescences can be solitary or racemose, flowers appear in mid-May, giving bright fruits in autumn. Summer residents note one of the most remarkable varieties of Thunberg:

Barberry red Red Pilar, ornamental plant, low shrub with attractive, lush forms. Lilac foliage, with burgundy and gray tints.

Barberry variety yellow Golden Ring, medium-sized bush about three meters, with a lush hat. The foliage is purple, with a red tint and a yellow border. Flowering is abundant, bright, begins in spring, and barberry berries can be harvested in autumn.

Orange Rocket, an orange variety of barberry, an ornamental shrub with bright foliage and abundant fruiting. Leaves vary in color from bright red to orange. Berries of rich coral color, elongated shape and sour-tart taste.

Ottawa hybrid species

Obtained by crossing the barberry Atropurpurea and Thunberg.

It has an exclusively decorative purpose and is similar to Thunberg's barberry. Leaf colors come in purplish, violet, and dirty pink hues. The plant develops rapidly, is stable and unpretentious. Needs pruning and sunlight. In autumn, the bright burgundy Ottawa barberry stands out against the gloomy gray backdrop of the garden. The varieties preferred by summer residents: Superba, Aurikoma, Silver Miles, these representatives of the species have a bright appearance and are unpretentious in their care.

Barberry ordinary purple Anthropurpurea or red-leaved

The bush is lush, sprawling, up to two meters high, very popular among summer residents. Anthropurpurea has burgundy or purple leaves, blooms with orange inflorescences, giving bright, large, shiny berries.

The purple species also has a variegated barberry form Albovariegata, differing from Anthropurpurea in a more squat shape, and green foliage in white stains and veins.

Aureomarginata with variegated leaves framed by a bronze border, is another form of Anthropurpurea. This species is demanding on the presence of sunlight, in the shade the bright color of the foliage fades, and the bush begins to stretch upwards, losing its "splendor".

Serrata, another form of purple barberry, has serrated leaves.

Sulcata, long, ribbed shoots, lutea, yellow fruit, Macrocarp fruit well, Alba produces white berries Asperms berries do not have seeds.

Amur barberry bush

Spreading, lush, deciduous plant. Primorye is considered the birthplace of growth. Outwardly, Amursky is similar to Ordinary, it is a large, tall (up to three meters), prickly barberry bush, with wide, serrated leaves. A spring green color, Amursky changes to an autumn shade of a blazing, scarlet color. This species is unpretentious, resistant to low temperatures, grows well on any soil. Propagation by cuttings and layering always brings good results. The Amur species of barberry, due to its height, is perfect for building a hedge on the site.

Red Barberry Cabernet

A low bush, does not reach a meter in height, the thorns reliably protect the plant from uninvited "guests". Foliage changes color from red to maroon or fiery orange closer to autumn.

It flowers mainly in spring and bears fruit in autumn. Flowers yellow, small. The berries are crimson red. The plant prefers sunny places with good moisture.

Needs pruning and does not tolerate drought well.

Motley Barberry Harlequin

The plant grows slowly, capriciously tolerates low temperatures.

The leaves are variegated, with white spots. The shoots are covered with small thorns. Flowering begins from May to June. Flowers, small, light yellow are located throughout the shoot. Harlequin does not tolerate acidic soils and waterlogging.

Planting a common barberry

The time of planting the barberry should be determined by the temperature indicators. These are mainly autumn months, before the onset of cold weather or in the second decade of spring. Barberry seedlings are preferably planted in the evening.

Growing a barberry will not be difficult, even a novice gardener will cope with a shrub, the main thing is to follow some recommendations when planting a plant. In order for the barberry to please with bright colors, a well-lit, quiet place should be chosen. The distance of planting barberry seedlings varies in steps from one and a half meters, if we are talking about a single planting, and not about building a hedge.

Barberry bushes can be planted both in linear and staggered order, the plant will grow in any case.

As for a suitable soil, it should be soddy, ideally, chernozems are suitable, with low acidity (high soil acidity, eliminated by liming), and high humus content. If the soil in your area is poor, enrich it artificially, apply rotted manure and mineral fertilizers. Like any other ornamental plant, the barberry needs light, both to form fruits and to maintain the brightness of the bush.

The next step is drainage. Barberry will not survive a long stagnation of moisture in the soil, will not tolerate waterlogging and simply rot.

Therefore, it will not be superfluous to bring sand into the pit when planting a barberry, in the amount of a quarter of a bucket.

So, in a well-lit place, dig a planting hole with a depth of about 40-50 cm and a width of about 35-45 cm. Pour river sand about 7-8 cm, pour sawdust on top with a layer of 5 cm, the third layer is soddy soil mixed with mineral fertilizers, after the formation of drainage, pour a bucket of water into the recess and proceed to planting.

The barberry seedling is placed vertically in the pit, the roots are sprinkled with wood ash, and then covered with soil, it will not be superfluous, in the middle, in a thin layer, to add peat or dry foliage to the planting pit, and cover it with the remaining earth from above. Do not cover the root neck, it should show up from the ground.

The planted seedling is watered abundantly and the top is cut off to form side shoots and a lush bush. On the surface of the soil, rotted manure can be decomposed, which will solve the problem of top dressing. Before winter, the plant is mulched or covered with spruce branches.

Barberry ordinary care

Plant care is simple and with the timely implementation of simple agricultural techniques, your barberry bush will delight you with its appearance for a long time. Care activities include: watering, weeding, loosening, hilling, pruning and top dressing.

Barberry bushes do not tolerate waterlogging, watering is limited to once a week. Weeding and hilling should be carried out as necessary, preventing the growth of weeds on the site. From unwanted plants, the method of mulching the soil around the young seedling will save. It is enough to fertilize the barberry just once a year in early spring. The plant responds well to nitrogen, organic matter and nitroammophoska.

In order for the plant to remain in “shape” for a long time, it is necessary to perform pruning, in addition, decorative pruning will create a look of well-groomed plant and please with its appearance. Barberry branches tolerate pruning painlessly, in early spring, as soon as the snow melts or in late autumn.

When cutting the shoots, make sure that at least four live buds remain on it, for further vegetation of the branch, and not drying out.

You can give any shape to the common barberry, thanks to the lush growth and the rapid growth of the bush, the bushes look most spectacular in the form of a “ball”.

Sanitary treatment of plantings is mandatory before wintering, pruning of old, dry and affected shoots is performed.

Treating the soil with fungicides or a strong manganese solution will protect the plant from a fungal infection. For the winter, young plantings must be mulched or covered with spruce branches.

Mature plants winter well and tolerate low temperatures, however, in severe winters, they also need additional shelter, like all garden vegetation.

Useful properties of common barberry

Speaking about the usefulness of the barberry, many will doubt it, since the common barberry is grown largely because of its decorative effect.

However, the opinion can be considered erroneous. Kissels, compotes, marshmallows, molasses are cooked from barberry. Prepare jellies, mousses, syrups, tinctures, liqueurs. They are used in marinades, added to dishes as a fragrant seasoning, pickled berries are in demand in the national Caucasian cuisine.

Barberry berries have a choleretic and antipyretic effect.

Decoctions of barberry root serve as an aid in the elimination of attacks associated with exacerbation of gallstone disease, normalize the functioning of the digestive tract, eliminating constipation. Table varieties of barberry contain a huge amount of vitamins and organic acids.

In pharmacology, I use all parts of the plant, in the form of oils, dietary supplements and teas. In the fight against uncomplicated hepatitis of various etiologies, a decoction of barberry leaves is used, for this, 50 grams of raw material is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted and drunk on an empty stomach for half a glass. Barberry oil is used as a wound healing and decongestant.

Barberry fruits are harvested during the period of full ripening, unripe berries can harm the body and cause severe poisoning. The collected berries are dried in the sun and then stored in cloth bags. Thus, the berries do not deteriorate for a long time and do not lose their beneficial properties.