Oregon Grape Uses and Plant Monograph
With its ability to both fight acute infections and address a variety of modern chronic diseases, Oregon grape is a powerful herb to include in your apothecary. Native to many parts of the world, these species have been historically used by people for thousands of years.
Oregon Grape Energetics
Sometimes when we taste an herb we may say, “That has a hint of bitterness” or “This is slightly sour.” Oregon grape, on the other hand, commands your attention with the incredibly bitter taste of its roots. The fruits and young leaves scream their sourness, with a bitter aftertaste. There’s nothing subtle about this plant!
The roots are both cooling and drying and are often used to release heat in both acute and chronic conditions. The berries and young leaves are also cooling. Sour and bitter herbs both stimulate saliva and other digestive secretions, making them initially moistening to the gut. However, the end result is the loss of fluid, which makes most bitter and sour herbs drying in a constitutional sense.
The strong flavors of Oregon grape help to stimulate and move things in the body. The root of this herb is ideal for signs of heat and stagnation, rather than signs of coldness and depletion.
Oregon grape Uses & Plant Profile Summary:
- Botanical Name: Mahonia nervosa, M. aquifolium, M. repens. Synonym: Berberis genus
- Family: Berberidaceae
- Parts Used: roots, leaves, berries
- Energetics: cool, dry
- Taste: roots are bitter, berries/leaves are sour and bitter
- Plant Properties: alterative, antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal), hepatic, cholagogue, antioxidant
- Plant Uses: liver stagnation, eczema, constipation, heat in the digestive tract, mouth infections, eye infections, digestive tract infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids, sore throat, acne, syphilis
- Plant Preparations: tea, tincture, oil infusion and salve, berries and young leaves are edible
Infections (Including Antibiotic-Resistant Infections)
Oregon grape root has been used to address minor to severe infections for thousands of years.
According to the book Native American Ethnobotany by Daniel Moerman, the Nitinaht and the Sanpoil have used the roots for tuberculosis, an infection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.1 Many tribes use the root as a blood tonic.2
The Eclectic physicians of the early 20th century also considered it beneficial for lung conditions, but above all it was highly regarded for use against syphilis, an infection of the Treponema pallidum bacteria.
“Berberis aquifolium has won its reputation chiefly as a remedy for the syphilitic taint. The more chronic the conditions or results of the disease, the more it has been praised. Some claim that if given early it will abort the tertiary stage, but this of course depends in most cases upon the resisting powers of the body and the care the patient takes of himself.”
- Harvey Wickes Felter, MD (1922)
Today herbalists use Oregon grape root for many types of infections including:
- eye infections (conjunctivitis)
- vaginal infections
- wounds on the skin, including wounds infected by Staphylococcus bacteria
- mouth infections (shown to be effective against Porphyromonas gingivalis)3
- inflammatory bowel conditions
- infectious diarrhea (example Giardia and other parasites)
- infections in the upper digestive tract
- urinary tract infections
- sore throats
Research has also shown some interesting ways that various Mahonia species can be used against infections.
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a serious staph infection that is resistant to pharmaceutical antibiotics. According to the MRSA research center at the Chicago Institute of Medicine, each year about 100,000 people contract MRSA and about 20,000 people die from it.4
A constituent of Oregon grape, the alkaloid berberine, has caught researchers’ attention because it contains a specific multidrug resistance (MDR) pump inhibitor named 5′-methoxyhydnocarpin (5’-MHC). Basically, this pump (or efflux) inhibitor works to decrease bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Imagine this simplified view of how antibiotic resistance works: MRSA cells contain pumps that remove antibiotics so they are unable to destroy the cell. 5′-MHC, which is derived from berberine containing plants like Oregon grape, stops that pumping action so the antibiotics can have an effect on the MRSA cell.
Some herbalists are using Oregon grape root alongside antibiotics to increase their effectiveness against this deadly infection.
While it may have some antimicrobial abilities, it’s important to note that Oregon grape root is not a systemic antibiotic. It only works locally, meaning you need to get the medicine in contact with the infection.
In 2017, Chinese researchers showed that Mahonia root is effective against granulomatous lobular mastitis, a type of chronic mammary inflammation in vitro and ex vivo.5
In addition to negatively effecting pathogenic bacteria, Mahonia aquifolium root has been shown to have some antifungal properties.6
An Alterative Herb
“Alterative” is a category of medicinal action that is unique to herbalism. The definition for “alterative” includes “altering a person’s metabolism towards health” to “a blood purifier.”
Alterative herbs are like a clean-up crew. They can stimulate the liver, the lymph, and other detoxification organs to pick up the pace and remove excessive or stagnant metabolic wastes that may be accumulating in the body. It is important to note that these herbs aren’t actually doing the work, rather they are encouraging the body to do its job.
I envision the action of alterative herbs as the transformation from a stagnant pond to a clear running brook. A stagnant pond is filled with muck and sludge. The longer it remains stagnant, the more it accumulates. Alterative herbs are like removing the dam on that pond, allowing the sludge to break free and fresh water to move through. With time the sludge is removed and you are left with a clear running brook.
As a strong bitter, Oregon grape root has a powerful effect on the liver. Herbalists use it for signs of a stagnant or congested liver, in which symptoms include trouble digesting fats, feeling bloated after a meal, constipation, frequent headaches associated with heat, and some chronic skin conditions.
Sluggish Digestion and Constipation
Digestion is hindered when the liver isn’t optimally functioning. In herbal theory, the inability to digest fats, frequent bloating and gas, hemorrhoids, and constipation can all be attributed to a stagnant liver. Small amounts of Oregon grape root can be added to bitters blends or other herbal formulas to gently help move the liver and promote healthy digestion.
Pelvic Stagnation
Because the liver filters hormones, a stagnant liver can be the root cause of many menstrual problems, from irregular menstruation and flooding to cramping, bloating, headaches, and PMS. It can also be the underlying cause of more severe dysfunctions in the female reproductive system, such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and fibroids.
When choosing Oregon grape to address pelvic stagnation, look for signs of excess rather than deficiency. For example, does the person tend to run more hot than cold? Do they have boisterous energy or are they weak or easily fatigued? Oregon grape root is more appropriate for the person who tends to run hot instead of the person who is cold or deficient.
Hepatic herbs like Oregon grape root can be combined with lymphatic herbs and blood moving herbs (along with lifestyle changes) to address a variety of these complaints. (See the discussion below about berberine’s positive effects for people with polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS.)
Skin
Herbalists see a strong connection between liver health and the skin. The liver is a main organ of elimination; when it is not optimally functioning, other systems of elimination may be overwhelmed. We can clearly see this with the connection of the liver and the skin. A congested liver oftentimes plays a role in things like rashes, eczema, and psoriasis. Alterative herbs like Oregon grape root and dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) are often used for people with these types of skin afflictions.
“In moist eczema [Oregon grape root] has acted most satisfactorily, but has usually been given in conjunction with other treatment. Dr. Soper, in 1884, reported in the Therapeutic Gazette a most intractable case of moist eczema of an acute character covering the entire body. No other alterative was given. The case was cured in four weeks.”
- Finley Ellingwood
There has been some research done to determine Oregon grape root’s benefits for rashes. A randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, half-side comparison with a herbal ointment containing Mahonia aquifolium, Viola tricolor (Johnny jump-up violet) and Centella asiatica (gotu kola) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis showed it to be effective for people in cold and dry climates.7
Oregon Grape Leaves
Currently, western herbalists most often use the roots as herbal medicine, but the leaves and berries have historical and modern uses as well. Herbalist Robert Dale Rogers writes, “The leaf tea was a used for kidney and stomach ailments, as well as rheumatism and lack of appetite …. the dried leaf is an excellent anti-microbial styptic for herpes and psoriatic skin lesions. They contain alkaloids that act on cardiac and smooth muscle as an anti-spasmodic.”
The young leaves can be eaten. And when I say young, I mean young! The older leaves become very tough and spiky. The young tender leaves have a slightly sour taste reminiscent of a citrus fruit. I like them finely chopped and added to salads.
Oregon Grape Berries
The berries of Oregon grape are edible, but their intense sourness makes them somewhat unpalatable straight off the bush. Most often the berries are mixed with sugar before they are considered edible. Jams, pies, and wines are made from the berries. The First Peoples in my area dry them and combine them with other sweeter fruits like saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) berries.
The Alkaloid Berberine
You’ll often see Oregon grape referred to as a “berberine containing plant.” Found in a number of different plants, berberine is a chemical constituent that has been extensively studied.
Studying the chemical constituents of plants gives new insights that weren’t available even 200 years ago. It is also important to avoid an entirely reductionist model of herbalism. The Mahonia genus has over 150 different phytochemical constituents, many of which undoubtedly work as a synergistic whole rather than as isolated constituents.8 I don’t believe it is wise to attribute the healing gifts of any plant to a single chemical.
Nevertheless, here are some highlights of the many studies that have been done on berberine as an isolated constituent.
Berberine has been shown to benefit the heart in many ways, including anti-hypertension, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-insulin resistance, anti-arrhythmias, and anti-platelet aggregation actions.9
A 2016 study showed that berberine is effective against fluconazole-resistant pathogenic yeasts, possibly by breaking up bio-films that the yeasts form to protect themselves from antifungal agents.10
Berberine has been shown to be helpful for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).11 It has also been shown to help regulate blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a marker in people with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.12
One study showed that berberine is effective against MRSA, possibly by inhibiting MRSA biofilm formation.13
Other berberine containing plants include goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), goldthread (Coptis trifolia), and Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense).
Botanically Speaking
There are multiple plants referred to as “Oregon grape” in the Mahonia genus. The following description is specifically about Mahonia aquifolium. Check your local guidebook for the identifying features of your local native or ornamental varieties.
Some botanists think the Mahonia genus should be reclassified in the Berberis genus; it’s an ongoing discussion.
Sometimes referred to as tall Oregon grape, Mahonia aquifolium can grow upwards of 10 feet tall in the right conditions. I more commonly see it around four to five feet in height.
Ethical Wildcrafting Considerations
In its native habitat, Oregon grape root is being threatened with over-harvesting, partly due to the florist business. The green leaflets stay vibrant for a long time after they are picked, making them very desirable for floral arrangements. Because of this status, Oregon grape is on the United Plant Savers watch list. Keep an eye on your local plant populations and report any illegal harvesting that you see.
Oregon grape root can be harvested sustainably. Horizontal and somewhat superficial roots can be sparingly harvested from the plant, leaving the remainder of the plant to grow in place.
In other parts of the US, Oregon grape and related species are popular ornamental plantings. These plants can be easily cultivated for medicinal use, or can be harvested from abandoned ornamental plantings. Just being sure to harvest from soils that are clean, are not near old buildings with contamination or lead paint, and have not been treated with pesticides or herbicides. Some related Berberis species have become invasive in the eastern forests of the Appalachian region – these plants should be harvested with gusto in order to control their populations!
Plant Preparations
Although herbalists refer to this as Oregon grape root, the root bark is what is more typically used as medicine. To get the root bark, I harvest the roots, wash them, and then using a knife or vegetable peeler, scrape off the outer layers of the root. The root bark will be vibrantly yellow, leaving the hard inner white root behind. If the roots are too small to peel, you can simply chop the roots in their entirety for making medicine.
When working with Oregon grape root, make sure that your root or root bark is vibrant yellow. If it is only a creamy color, you really don’t have potent medicine. It can unfortunately be hard to find really yellow roots in commerce, so harvesting your own Oregon grape is the best way to get potent medicine.
Oregon grape root is commonly used as a tincture, mainly because it is hard for most people to take something so incredibly bitter as a tea. However, a decoction of the roots is a viable way to extract the medicine. The tea also works great as an external wash for wounds and skin conditions.
It is most used in formulations, although it can be used as a simple (single herb), especially when used for infections.
Oregon grape root can be used as a dye.
It can also be infused into an oil and made into a salve. Herbalist Darcey Williamson recommends it combined with willow bark for aches and pains.
Dosage Suggestions
- Tincture (fresh): 1:2 75% alcohol, 3-5 mL, 3-5 times a day (smaller doses more frequently for acute situations)
- Tea: 3-6 grams per day (more can be used for an external wash)
Special Considerations
- Oregon grape root is ideal for signs of heat, excess, and stagnation. It is not ideal for people suffering from coldness and deficiency.
- Not for use during pregnancy due to some concerns about its uterine-stimulating activity.
- May not be appropriate during breastfeeding; best to consult with a clinical herbalist before using.
Footnotes
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