Berberine is a compound with a fascinating history (the US government spent almost 60 years trying to eradicate its most common source) and powerful health benefits. Long cherished in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Indigenous American medicine, berberine’s role in blood sugar control, cholesterol management, weight loss, and anti-inflammatory effects is being validated by modern science.
I use a lot of berberine in my practice. It has, many properties as supporting blood sugar, encourages weight loss and even as an anti inflammatory I have seen it as touted as the ‘ natural ozempic ‘ Traditional Chinese Medicine has utilized berberine for over 2,000 years. Chinese herbalists source it from several plants and use it to treat digestive issues, infections, and inflammation. Before the mass production of antibiotics in the mid-20th century, berberine was prized for its antimicrobial properties.
Many indigenous peoples in North America, including the Cherokee, Catawba, and Kickapoo tribes, have also utilized plants containing berberine, such as goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), to treat gastric and digestive disorders, peptic ulcers, colitis, eye ailments, and even certain types of cancer. There are 4 plants that contgain berberine that also can be used for the content of berberine
I do use a lot of berberine for its blood sugar effects. Berberine helps regulate blood sugar levels. Research suggests that it can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce glucose production in the liver, which may help people with type 2 diabetes or those at risk of developing the condition. Berberine may be a potential alternative for metformin in treating metabolic diseases
Since it lowers blood sugar, consult a health care practitioner if you also use conventional medications to lower blood sugar As a cardiologist I utilize berberine for its lipid lowering effects. Research has shown that berberine can lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which can improve metabolic health in people whose levels of those lipids are above normal. A 2017 meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials found that berberine significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in participants with metabolic syndrome.