BARBERRY BARK (Berberis vulgaris) *Liver-cleansing, bile-flowing, metabolism-balancing powerhouse

💧Organic Barberry Bark Tincture

Our human-grade, certified organic tinctures give you a ready-to-absorb potent source of phytonutrients at the highest-strength available, for immediate absorption straight into the bloodstream and to the body’s cells.

• Berberis vulgaris
• Cut Bark, Dried
• Decocted 1:3 35%
• Wild Crafted

~ Feed Guide - barberry bark tincture for horses

• 6ml/100kg bodyweight, daily in feed.
• Our tinctures come in a heat-sealed, twin-neck, child-resistant HDPE plastic dosing bottle, complete with dosing chamber. ♻️ HDPE is recyclable and low-impact - aligned with our sustainability ethos.

🌿Organic Dried Barberry Bark

Grown, harvested and dried without the use of agri-chemicals, non-irradiated and GMO free - see our Quality page for Quality Management & Certification Documents.

• Berberis vulgaris
• Cut Bark, Dried
• Wild Harvested
• Origin Pakistan

~ Feed Guide - dried barberry bark for horses

• 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.
• Want a scoop? You can add a scoop to your basket during checkout.
• ♻️Supplied in a 100% fully recylable, resealable, food-grade foil pouch for freshness.

Functional Nutritional Value

Constituents: Isoquinoline alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, triterpenes, sterols, flavonols.

• Laboratory tested for identification and compliance to the British and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
• Human grade.
• Please be aware that if you're purchasing our dried botanicals for human use, our dried range is cut to appropriate sizes for feeding to horses.
• ♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
• 🧊 Storage Tip: Keep cool and dry.

Advisories

• Barberry is generally considered safe when used orally and within the recommended dose range (Arayne et al., 2007).
• Berberine, its primary alkaloid, is metabolised in the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4(Imenshahidi & Hosseinzadeh, 2019), which means it may interact with other substances metabolised via these pathways - for example, phenylbutazone(Mills & Bone, 2005).
• If the horse is receiving prescription medication, professional veterinary guidance is advised before use.

Contraindications

• Not to be used during pregnancy, as berberine may increase bilirubin levels, which can be harmful to the developing foetus (Chan, 1993 in Arayne et al., 2007).
• Due to the lack of reliable studies on berberine’s safety during lactation, it is not recommended for nursing mares.

Barberry might look like just another pretty garden shrub with its deep maroon leaves - but behind that ornamental beauty is one of the most versatile and time-honoured herbs in the world.

Its healing reputation goes way back to 650 BC - when a clay tablet from the library of King Ashurbanipal of Assyria praised barberry for its “blood-cleansing” powers. Since then, it has found a firm place in Western herbalism, Ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What’s it used for?

It’s the roots and stem bark that do the heavy lifting. Traditionally, barberry has been used to:

• Support the liver and gallbladder as a cholagogue and hepatic herb
• Act as a gentle antimicrobial for diarrhoea, dysentery, and parasites
• Serve as an alterative or “blood purifier” in spring tonics
• Work as a bitter tonic for sluggish digestion
• Even soothe the eyes as a cleansing eye wash

But that’s not all - barberry’s influence extends to modern concerns too. Herbalists use it for inflammatory issues, women’s hormonal health (including PCOS), and even metabolic challenges like diabetes and high cholesterol.

The berberine connection

The real magic in barberry lies in its bright yellow alkaloid, berberine . This compound has been widely studied for its anti-diabetic effects.

Studies show barberry can:

• Help lower blood glucose, insulin, and triglycerides
• Reduce total and LDL cholesterol
• Improve insulin function and support better glucose metabolism

In short, barberry helps the body use sugar more efficiently and keep those metabolic wheels turning smoothly.

With its roots in ancient medicine and its value confirmed by modern science, barberry is far more than a pretty plant - it’s a powerful ally for liver health, digestion, immunity, and metabolic balance.