Before we get into touting some of the many benefits of the popular herb/supplement berberine, we need to make a couple things clear: One, berberine doesn’t have magical powers and is not a cure-all for every health condition imaginable. Two, berberine, on the other hand, is something special. It has an impressive centuries-old record of health treatment success, yet is viewed by many professionals in the health-care field as a modern-day marvel that only in recent years has emerged as one of the most popular supplements in the Western world.
Something old, something new, all wrapped up in one?
A golden-yellow, bioactive compound that is sourced from plants, berberine’s star continues to rise thanks to its apparent knack for aiding in weight loss, while also showing evidence of being adept at helping to maintain healthy blood-sugar levels. And that’s just scratching the surface for this naturally-occurring substance, found in a variety of plants, such as Oregon grape and barberry.
Berberine has been used for centuries (experts estimate it at 2,500 years), dating back to Chinese and Ayurvedic medical practices to treat a wide assortment of illnesses, such as diarrhea and gastrointestinal infections, among other health-related needs.
Berberine is classified as an alkaloid (alongside the likes of morphine and caffeine). That means it is a naturally occurring organic compound that possesses nitrogen and has a reputation for its wide variety of biological activities and even strong pharmacological characteristics, almost as if it’s a medication, although, if so, it’s one for which a prescription is not required, as it is available over the counter.
5 of Berberine’s Many Natural Health Benefits
Although we could easily list more than five potential health benefits that are tied to the use of berberine, here are five that we believe you will find most impressive and which help explain its reputation as a “super” supplement:
Thwarting bacterial infections. A 2022 study discovered that berberine can impede the growth of a nasty microbe known as Staphylococcus aureus that is the root of numerous health issues such as sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis and even some skin conditions. Another study took it a step further in praising the work of berberine, saying it can be effective in battling antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Help with weight loss. There is no known conclusive solid evidence that berberine itself will actually assist a person’s efforts to lose weight—there is no definitive magic formula for that—but some research has indicated that berberine’s ability to activate an enzyme in our bodies known as AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) can stimulate the body’s ability to burn fat mor efficiently. Such metabolic effects also show a propensity for suppressing appetite and reducing fat storage, among other benefits that might contribute to weight loss.
Treating diabetes. Studies and scientific literature reviews have shown that berberine performed better than a placebo is reducing blood-sugar levels, while also showing that treating subjects with blood-sugar-lowering medications in tandem with berberine was more effective than treatment with the drugs alone. Researchers have also found that berberine has the capacity to bolster insulin resistance by reducing body mass index (BMI) numbers as well as decreasing fasting blood insulin levels.
Enhance good gut bacteria. One thing health science has taught us in recent years is that our gut health—specifically the bacteria in our gut and the balance between “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria—is a major factor in the state of our health throughout our bodies. As you might expect, berberine plays a key role in that. Research has shown that berberine can help regulate intestinal health by diminishing damaging bacteria while helping to provide a positive growth environment for helpful bacteria.
Protect heart health. Recent research has linked the bioactivity of treatment with berberine to protection against heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), arrhythmias, and other heart-related issues, all of which add up to the compound’s multifaceted ability to help bolster heart health.
Berberine’s glowing reputation as an herb-based supplement has become known worldwide, and its effectiveness in targeting numerous health-related illnesses and conditions has many centuries of anecdotal and scientific proof behind it. If you plan to add berberine to your daily supplement/vitamin regimen, make it a point to first discuss its use with your personal physician or other licensed health-care professional.