GET GROWING!
A MEDICINAL SHRUB IN MY YARD?
Barberries offer several beneficial compounds, most notably berberine, which acts as an antioxidant and may help manage conditions like diabetes, fight dental infections, and treat acne.
A friend in India was recently told she needed to take meds to control her high BP and she is not happy.
Anecdotal evidence tells her that once you go on these meds, you are on them for life, and she has asked for time to try and bring it under control by other means. As her readings are not alarming, her physician has agreed, provided she comes in for regular check-ups and then submits to the plan he has in mind should it not work within a certain period.
Why are we discussing high blood pressure in a gardening column? Well, because as regular readers of this column may have noticed, I am a fan of natural remedies and am fascinated by the healing powers of many common plants.
I’m also amazed by the fact that in spite of having read about echinacea, feverfew, yarrow, rose hips and a multitude of other plants over the years, there are new uses for old plants that I continue to come across.
Like the one for barberry that resulted from the discussion about blood pressure with my friend.
Among cures that she read about in her research – walk more, meditate, reduce stress – she also found mention of drumstick leaves and flowers (botanical name Moringa oleifera). These are rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium which help regulate blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls, which can reduce the strain on the cardiovascular system.
I use drumsticks in sambhar preparations or in curries with potatoes, but never thought of using the leaves or flowers. It is besides the point that I am unlikely to find the said leaves and flowers in our part of the world, unlike my friend who has a tree growing in her yard!
But I file the info away under good-to-know.
The narrative is flipped when she shares what she has read about the fruit of the barberry bush.
The aqueous extract of barberry has beneficial effects on both the cardiovascular and neural system. As such, it may be useful in the treatment of hypertension, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), and some neuronal disorders, such as epilepsy and convulsions.
According to an article on Healthline by Lizzie Streit, its berries have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat digestive issues, infections and skin conditions.
They contain several beneficial compounds, most notably berberine, which acts as an antioxidant and may help manage conditions like diabetes, fight dental infections, and treat acne.
Benefits of barberries include:
• High in nutrients.
• Berberine may help reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, slow the progression of certain cancer cells, fight infections, and have anti-inflammatory effects.
• Treatment for diarrhea.
Super interesting as all this is, I tell my friend what I am writing here:
Many traditional therapies are very effective and have also been incorporated into modern medicine, but some have harmful side effects that we may not be aware of. Therefore, proceed with caution and get everything okayed by your physician. In fact, Streit herself adds this note: If you are interested in taking a barberry or berberine supplement, consult your healthcare provider first and look for a supplement that has been tested for quality by a third party.
The good thing is, should my friend’s physician okay barberries, they are easy to add to your diet, as Streit writes in her article. They have a tart, slightly sweet flavour and can be eaten raw, in jam, or as a component of rice dishes and salads. They can also be juiced or used to make tea.
“You have your drumstick tree and I have my barberry bush!” I can’t help but crow.
A bush, that I am sorry to confess, I have treated with less love than it obviously deserves. Only because though beautiful, it is also super thorny/prickly. And the way it’s positioned right in front of a window, we have to trim it back several times a season. I vow to treat it with due respect from now on and save the berries for use later.
After checking with my doctor.