For this month’s featured product, I wanted to demonstrate the often broad reaching benefits of traditional herbal medicine. Much like the plants we have relied upon for food over many centuries full of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, we’ve evolved the use of medicinal plants, full of compounds with systemic benefits.
Whenever possible, there is an advantage to using herbs that help simplify a health regimen. Integrative Therapeutics Berberine Complex is a simple and effective formula that stacks multiple benefits for digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune function and much more.
Berberine Complex Formula
Berberine Complex is comprised of three herbs that are high in berberine and other related beneficial compounds. It uses high quality, concentrated extracts that provide better absorption of this powerful compound.
- Barberry Root Extract, 400 mg: In western herbal traditions, Barberry has been mainly used to help with kidney, urinary tract and digestive issues. It was also considered beneficial for liver health, circulation, immune function and more.
- Oregon Grape Root Extract 400 mg: Oregon Grape Root is a popular bitter herb used in herbal medicine for blood purification, heartburn, digestive aid, bowel cleansing, skin issues, infections and more.
- Root and Rhizome Extract 100 mg: Goldenseal has long been popular around the world for digestive issues, respiratory health, cold season support, urinary tract health, and skin care. Berberine Complex uses an extract standardized to 5% of active compounds including berberine.
The suggested dosage of Berberine Complex is 2 capsules, three times daily. For more concentrated, advanced dosage of berberine alone, Integrative Therapeutics Berberine provided 500 mg of berberine per serving.
What is Berberine?
Berberine is a group of alkaloid compounds present in the roots of several plants, known for its distinctive yellow color. It is present in commonly used traditional herbs in both western and eastern traditions, such as barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, coptis/chinese goldthread, yellow root, and tree turmeric. It has been used as a traditional coloring dye and herbal folk remedy for centuries.
What Are Its Benefits?
Berberine is a subject of increasing clinical research. It has been extensively studied in China, where it is a commonly used antimicrobial. More extensive, high quality clinical trials are needed to verify its many traditional uses, but here is some of the promising evidence:
- IBS, SIBO and Digestive Health: in a number of studies, berberine improved symptoms and overall quality of life scores in subjects with IBS with diarrhea. It also compared favorably to antibiotics in a study on Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). In its antimicrobial activity, it also appears to be selective, not destroying beneficial bacteria as it inhibits pathogens.(1)
- Blood Sugar Management: In preliminary studies, berberine, at 500 mg 2-3 times daily over three months, compared favorably to common blood sugar medication metformin. In addition, it appeared to help with cholesterol levels and liver health markers that are often issues for this patient population.(2)
- Weight Loss: In addition to blood sugar benefits, which can influence weight, berberine appears to affect the AMPK, an enzyme that helps regulate metabolism. One three month study showed a significant reduction in Body Mass Index and belly fat in people with metabolic syndrome.(3)
- Cholesterol: Several studies showed berberine can impact important cholesterol markers, lowering LDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol, while raising beneficial HDL. It also appears it may lower Apolipoprotein B, an important risk factor in heart disease.(3)
- PCOS: A Meta-analysis study suggested berberine may help with symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in with women with insulin resistance, in comparison with metformin.(4)
Side Effects and Precautions
In recommended doses, Berberine has minimal reports of side effects. In higher doses in clinical trials, at 500mg 3 times daily, some subjects reported mild digestive symptoms such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.(1)
For those taking medications, there are important precautions to consider for certain groups. Berberine may interfere with the absorption of some antibiotics. It may also inhibit certain enzyme pathways that breakdown drugs in the body, which can amplify their effects. Consult your physician if considering taking berberine along with your medication. Diabetics in particular should take precaution and monitor blood sugar if taking berberine along with medication. It is also not recommended to take products containing berberine during pregnancy.
References
- Murray, Michael, ND. ‘A Quick Guide to Berberine’. June 5, 2018. https://www.pharmaca.com/projectwellness/a-quick-guide-to-berberine/ Accessed Oct 10 2019
- Jun Yin. ‘Efficacy of Berberine In Patients with Type 2 Diabetes’. Metabolism. 2008 May; 57(5):712-717. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2410097/ Accessed Oct 10 2019
- Gunnars, Kris, BSc. ‘Berberine: A Powerful Supplement With Many Benefits’. January 24, 2017. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/berberine-powerful-supplement Accessed Oct 10 2019
- Meng, Fei-Li. ‘The of Berberine on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with Insulin Resistance.’ Published Online Nov 14, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6261244/ Accessed Oct 10 2019
