Berberis aquifolium

A perennial evergreen shrub native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. It contains the alkaloids berberine, berbamine, and oxyacanthine. In herbal medicine it is valued for its tonic and alterative properties, especially in chronic skin and liver disorders. In crude form, it acts as a mild stimulant to digestion, promotes bile secretion, and improves skin nutrition. In homoeopathy, the tincture is prepared from the fresh root and bark of the root [Clarke].

Not extensively proved in the Hahnemannian sense; effects are derived largely from clinical experience, empirical herbal tradition, and confirmed homoeopathic use recorded in Clarke and Boericke.

A nutritive skin and liver remedy—chronic eruptions with dry, scaly surface and hepatic sluggishness in debilitated constitutions. It addresses the “soil” in which skin disease grows: poor nutrition, defective elimination, sluggish bile, and low-grade systemic toxicity. Its action is more tonic and supportive than violently eliminative.

• Skin: Chronic eruptions, psoriasis, eczema, acne with roughness, scaling, and itching [Clarke].
• Liver: Stimulates sluggish liver, improves bile secretion.
• Digestive Tract: Dyspepsia from hepatic torpor.
• Mucous Membranes: Especially of alimentary tract and skin.
• Nutrition: Improves assimilation and general nutrition in debilitated states.

Mild mental depression often accompanies the chronic skin conditions for which this remedy is indicated. Patients may feel a sense of diminished self-esteem or social withdrawal due to visible disfigurement of skin [Clarke]. There may be irritability or impatience, especially when itching or discomfort is intense. In long-standing cases, there can be a certain dullness of thought linked with hepatic torpor and poor nutrition.

Disturbed by itching in skin conditions.

Acts as an alterative—slowly improving systemic nutrition and skin health. Best in chronic rather than acute conditions.

Occasional low-grade fever in chronic hepatic congestion.

No distinct patterns beyond slight chilliness in sluggish hepatic cases.

Heaviness of head in the morning, often linked with digestive sluggishness. Dull headache after eating rich food. In some cases, a congestive feeling in forehead accompanies hepatic congestion.

Lids may appear dry and scaly in chronic skin disorders. Slight conjunctival congestion from systemic toxicity.

Occasional eczematous eruptions around ears; itching and dryness of external ear canal.

Dry, cracked skin at the margins of nostrils in those with general psoriasis or eczema.

Complexion sallow or earthy in chronic hepatic conditions. Acne in young people, especially when digestion is impaired. Roughness, dryness, and fine scaling of facial skin.

Bitter taste in morning; coated tongue, usually yellowish. Dryness of mucous membranes when skin eruptions are active.

Mild irritation or rawness, sometimes associated with catarrhal extension from stomach or liver derangement.

No specific symptoms recorded; occasionally slight oppression from digestive disturbance.

Poor appetite, especially in the morning. Sense of fullness after small amounts of food. Dyspepsia from sluggish bile secretion. Nausea and bitter eructations after rich food or alcohol.

Fullness, distension, and tenderness in right hypochondrium from hepatic congestion [Boericke]. Occasional constipation from biliary deficiency.

No proving symptoms recorded; clinically, mild constipation may be present.

No marked urinary sphere symptoms; unlike Berberis vulgaris, this remedy is not primarily a urinary medicine.

Aversion to fatty food; aggravation of symptoms from alcohol.

Skin conditions may worsen before menses. General debility in anaemic young women with chronic eruptions.

Dull ache in lumbar region from hepatic congestion.

Dry, scaly patches on elbows and knees in psoriatic patients. Joints may feel stiff from general metabolic sluggishness.

This is the keynote sphere of action. Chronic skin conditions—especially psoriasis—with thickened, roughened, scaly patches, often itchy but not intensely so [Clarke]. Scaling may be silvery-white or yellowish. Also indicated in eczema, particularly when skin is dry, fissured, and slow to heal. Acne vulgaris, especially in sluggish, sallow patients with poor digestion. Hyperkeratotic and infiltrated patches respond well. It acts as a “blood purifier,” improving nutrition to the skin and aiding resolution. In some cases, discolouration and roughness of skin persist after eruption subsides unless general nutrition is restored.

• Arsenicum album – Much more burning and restlessness; Berberis aquifolium lacks intense mental anxiety.
• Sulphur – Marked itching, burning, aggravation from heat; Berb-aq. more bland itching with hepatic sluggishness.
• Graphites – Thick, oozing eruptions; Berb-aq. dry, scaling, with less discharge.
• Berberis vulgaris – Primarily urinary and kidney; Berb-aq. is chiefly skin and liver.

• Complementary: Sulphur in chronic skin cases; Nux vomica for hepatic torpor.
• Antidotes: Alcohol, rich food as aggravating factors.
• Follows well: After Arsenicum album or Sulphur in chronic psoriasis.

• In psoriasis, 5–10 drops tincture in water, 3× daily, often used in herbal-homoeopathic practice alongside internal potencies.
• Valuable in acne in young people with sluggish digestion.
• Consider in eczema of elderly with sallow skin and low vitality.

Mind:

• Sadness with chronic disease.
• Irritability from itching.

Head:

• Heaviness in morning.
• Dull headache after rich food.

Face:

• Acne, in dyspeptic patients.
• Eruptions, dry and scaly.

Skin:

• Psoriasis.
• Eczema, chronic, dry.
• Scaling eruptions.
• Hyperkeratosis.
• Dryness of skin.

Generalities:

• Debility from hepatic torpor.
• Aggravation from alcohol.
• Improvement in open air.

Clarke J.H. – A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Key indications in psoriasis and hepatic disorders.

Boericke W. – Pocket Manual of Homœopathic Materia Medica: Summary of clinical uses.

Hughes R. – Manual of Pharmacodynamics: Discussion of berberine’s physiological action.

Tyler M.L. – Homœopathic Drug Pictures: General portrait as a skin remedy.

Hale E.M. – New Remedies: Early clinical reports of success in skin disease.

W.A. Dewey – Practical Homœopathic Therapeutics: Skin and liver grouping.

Grieve M. – Modern Herbal: Botanical and herbal background.

Allen T.F. – Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica: References to berberine-containing remedies.

Hering C. – Guiding Symptoms: Skin and hepatic notes.

Nash E.B. – Leaders in Homœopathic Therapeutics: Clinical emphasis on psoriasis.