Plant Study
Oregon grape
Family Name: Barberry
Latin Name: Berberis aquifolium, Mahonia aquifolium.or Berberidaceae
Common Name: Oregon grape, Mountain grape, Holly-leaved barberry, Mahonia, Agrecillo, Berberi, Epine Vinette, Yerba De Sangre,
Body System Affiliations:
1. Gasstro-interstine
2. Immune system
Botanical Description:
Habit: Evergreen Shrub
Size: 3-9 feet tall
Arrangement: Alternate
Leaves: Green 9-19 leaflets 6-12 inches long, alternate, glossy leathery texture on
Both sides. Once pinnate with spiny teeth.
Flowers: Small, yellow, lightly scented flowers in clusters, they are in bloom
From January to May.
Fruit: Dark blue to purple berries (not actually grapes) with large seeds, they are
Present from August to September, sour taste.
Bark: Inner bark is yellow in color
Twigs: Green at first and turns brown with grey as it ages.
Underground Parts: Rhizomes and roots
Ecology:
Habitat: This plant can grow in dry or moist soil, in low to mid elevations, in
Rocky open land or mixed coniferous forests. Prefers acid and alkaline
Soils. Can grow in sun or shade. Likes regular watering, but can
Withstand drought. Does not like strong winds.
Range: Western North America, Europe
Native Where: Northwest states as well as into Canada.
Propagation:
Technique: Seeds should be sown ripe, when harvested. Germinates in the spring, plant out in late spring or early summer.
Ecological Considerations of Harvest:
Cultural Considerations of Harvest:
Cautions:
Indigenous and Non-Western Use/Significance/Relationship:
Part Used: Rhizome and root
Food: Bark was used in stew for flavoring.
Materials/Technology: The inside of the bark has been used for yellow dye for
Basket making.
Medicine:
Indigenous Group: North American Indian tribes such as, Catawba and
Blackfoot.
Indications: Helps improve digestion; helps treat hemorrhages, psoriasis,
Syphilis, stomach problems, blood conditions, sore throat, and
Blurry vision, inflammations, jaundice, and infections.
Harvest: Late Autumn or early spring
Food: The berries are used to make jelly, wines and pies.
Part Used: The fruit, berries (grapes)
Materials: The berries were used as a dye.
Medicine:
Indications: Used to treat loss of appetite as well as debility:
Medical Actions: Gentle laxative, relives constipation, liver diseases,
Treats the spleen and lungs, activates immune system, treats
Fevers and, infections in the urinary tract.
Harvest: Autumn
Cautions:
- Long term internal use can be harmful. Do not use for more than six weeks without a break.
- Could worsen jaundice in infants, therefore nursing and pregnant women should not use.
- If you have heard disease you should not use this plant.
- Too mach bark can cause diarrhea, nosebleeds, vomiting, nausea, headache, kidney irritation and, lowered blood sugar.
Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships:
Materials/technology:
Medicine:
Part Used: Rhizome and true bark
Medicinal Actions: Blood tonic, Cholagogue, diuretic, laxative, Antibacterial. Helps strengthen digestion and absorption.
Externally the bark root can be used for bloodshot eyes or a gargle
For sore throats. Internally it will help with psoriasis, syphilis,
Hemorrhages, impure blood and stomach problems.
Body System Associations: Gastro-Intestinal and Immune system
Indications: Small amounts help treat diarrhea, however large amounts
Create an effective laxative.
Harvest: Late Autumn is best but other times it is still harvestable.
Medicine:
Part Used: The fruit or berries (grapes)
Medicinal Actions: Gentle laxative
Constituents: The main activity of Oregon grape is an Alkaloid called Berberine. Other Alkaloids include: Berbamine, Canadine, and
Hydrastine. Berberine is the Alkaloid found to treat diarrhea due to infection from E. coli, it will slow transit time into the intestine.
Berberine also attracts bacteria to human cells, this may prevent
Infections in the areas of the throat, urinary tract, and intestines.
It may also contain antitumor properties. Berberine is an anti-
Bacterial, and an antioxidant, mostly containing vitamin c.
How to use Oregon grape for medicine:
- Tea
- Tincture
- Ointment for skin conditions
- Wash from root decoction
- Syrups for coughs
- Juice to stimulate immune system
- Jam for constipation
- The plant can be dried and used for later
Cautions:
- Long term internal use can be harmful. Do not use for more than six weeks without a break.
- Could worsen jaundice in infants, therefore nursing and pregnant women should not use.
- If you have heard disease you should not use this plant.
- Too mach bark can cause diarrhea, nosebleeds, vomiting, nausea, headache, kidney irritation and, lowered blood sugar
Personal Experience:
The first time I successfully identified this plant was on the field trip to Kennedy creek. I was wondering around looking at plant and spotted it, I was overjoyed. I then went hunting for a plant to harvest to make medicine with. I went to a creek by my home and found one Oregon grape growing there. I sat and spent some time with it. After a while I asked it if I could harvest it, it told me no. After looking around I realized it was because it was the only one I could see. So I thanked and moved on. I then found some Dandelion that I sat with and ended up harvesting. I took it home and made a tincture and infused oil.
Work Cited:
Pojar, Jim and Mackinnon, Andy.1994. Revised Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast.Vancover, British Columbia, Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing.
Dendrolgy at Virginia Tech. 2005http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=422
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. August 26, 2005. http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/420.htm
Creative commons License. Morris, Rich and Hammon, Rich.June 2004. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Mahonia+aquifolium.
Green Medicine. October 28, 2005. http://www.nsp.gov/plants/medicinal/plants/mohonia_aquifolium.htm
Hansen, Wallace. Native Plants of the Northwest. July 9, 2005. USDA Forest Service.
http://www.geocities.com/nutriflip/Naturopathy/OregonGrape.html?20051
Nicole Mohabir-Walking the Wheel-fall-2005
