Thinking About Berberine

Abstract

The alkaloid berberine is a constituent of several medicinal herbs with centuries of use. Emerging research is documenting many effective clinical applications. It has been shown to improve blood sugar control, lower cholesterol, inhibit infectious microorganisms, decrease inflammation, ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease, lower blood pressure, facilitate weight loss, and even inhibit cancer cells. However, it is important to recognize that relying solely on berberine as a treatment because it is a natural molecule ignores the need to address causes of the diseases and dysfunctions the patient is suffering.