Witnessed by: Western
Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), of the Berberidaceae family. Evergreen shrub with spiny holly-like leaflets and blue-black berries; native range: coniferous woodlands and slopes of western North America. Globally recognized as holly-leaved barberry; mountain grape in English. The part used is root and root bark. Woody root with a brilliant chrome-yellow inner bark, intensely bitter.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
OREGON GRAPE
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Oregon grape
- Scientific name
- Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.
- Family
- Berberidaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and root bark
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter (intense)
Temperature
- Western
- cool (drying)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- liver · skin · blood
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- alterative, cholagogue, bitter tonic, antimicrobial, mild laxative
Cautions
Contraindications: avoid in pregnancy owing to berberine
Toxicity: well tolerated at customary dose; large amounts may irritate and purge
Interactions
- Western
- CYP450-metabolised drugs: berberine inhibits CYP3A4, raising levels of co-administered drugs · anticoagulants: berberine may potentiate anticoagulant effect
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