Berberis vulgaris

A deciduous shrub native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. In herbal medicine, the bark and berries contain the alkaloid berberine, well known for its bitter taste and tonic properties. In crude doses, it stimulates digestion and liver function but can be purgative. In homoeopathy, the tincture is prepared from the bark of the root [Clarke].

Historically used for making jellies and preserves; medicinally valued as a bitter tonic, febrifuge, and mild antimicrobial; in folk medicine for jaundice and gall complaints.

Fully proved by Dr. C. Hering and others; numerous symptoms recorded in Allen, Hering, and Clarke.

• Kidneys and Urinary Tract: Especially renal pelvis, ureters, bladder; acts strongly on mucous membranes lining these organs [Hering].
• Liver and Gall Bladder: Congestion, jaundice, sluggish bile flow.
• Digestive Tract: Stomach, intestines; secondary effects from biliary and portal stasis.
• Joints: Metabolic and gouty affections with renal element.
• Skin: Eruptions associated with metabolic disturbance.

• Rest (lessens renal pains).
• Warm applications to affected region.
• Lying down with limbs slightly flexed.

• Motion, especially jarring or sudden movement [Kent].
• Standing (causes renal region dragging).
• Long walking or exertion.
• Vibration, riding in carriage.

• Lycopodium – More right-sided liver symptoms, strong craving for sweets; Berb. more renal colic with radiations.
• Colocynthis – Abdominal colic better by bending double; Berb. pain radiates widely from kidneys.
• Cantharis – Burning pain with tenesmus; Berb. has radiating stitching pains without such intense burning.
• Sarsaparilla – Urinary pain at close of urination; Berb. has pain before, during, and after.

• Complementary: Lycopodium, Nux vomica in hepatic disorders; Sarsaparilla in urinary conditions.
• Antidotes: Opium (toxic suppression of elimination).
• Follows well: After Lycopodium in gallstone colic; after Cantharis in urinary inflammation.

A great remedy for radiating pains, especially from kidneys or liver, with shifting, shooting character. The systemic picture combines venous congestion, sluggish elimination, and irritability of mucous membranes. It is as much a remedy for the constitution prone to stone, gravel, and jaundice as for the acute attack itself.

• For renal colic with pain shooting to bladder, thighs, and groins, few remedies act so rapidly as Berberis vulgaris.
• Chronic gout with alternating urinary and hepatic symptoms responds well in low to medium potencies.
• In gallstone colic, give during and after attacks to improve biliary drainage.

Mind:

• Irritability during pain.
• Aversion to work.
• Dullness of mind.

Head:

• Fullness from hepatic congestion.
• Vertigo on rising.

Abdomen:

• Pain in hypochondria.
• Colic from gallstones.
• Stitching in liver region.

Urinary:

• Pain in kidneys, radiating.
• Gravel, passing.
• Burning urination.
• Frequent urging, scanty urine.

Back:

• Pain in lumbar region, radiating.
• Bruised pain in small of back.

Extremities:

• Tearing pains in joints.
• Gouty nodosities.

Generalities:

• Pains radiating from one point.
• Aggravation from motion, jarring.
• Better from rest.

Hering C. – Guiding Symptoms: Renal and biliary pain descriptions.

Allen T.F. – Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica: Full proving records.

Clarke J.H. – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Clinical indications and modalities.

Boericke W. – Pocket Manual: Concise summary and organ affinities.

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

Kent J.T. – Lectures on Materia Medica: Radiating pain keynote.

Lippe A. von – Keynotes and Red Line Symptoms: Pain modalities.

Nash E.B. – Leaders in Therapeutics: Gallstone and urinary colic notes.

Farrington E.A. – Clinical Materia Medica: Urinary sphere detail.

Dewey W.A. – Practical Homœopathic Therapeutics: Grouping with urinary remedies.