Berberis Aquifolium

Introduction: A remedy for the skin, chronic catarrhal affections, secondary syphilis. Hepatic torpor, lassitude and other evidences of incomplete metamorphosis; stimulates all glands and improves nutrition.

Scientific Name: Berberis aquifolium

Synonyms: Mahonia aquifolium; Berberis aquifolium var. juglandifolia; Berberis fascicularis; Berberis fasciculata; Berberis pinnata; Mahonia diversifolia; Odostemon aquifolium; Oregon-grape; Oregon grape root, Holly-leaved barberry, mountain grape; Rocky Mountain Grape: French: Vinettier: German: Gemeiner Sauardorn.

Source: The main source of Berberis aquifolium is vegetable kingdom. It is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to western North America. The specific epithet aquifolium means "holly-leaved", referring to the spiny foliage. It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1 m (3 ft) tall by 1.5 m (5 ft) wide; with pinnate in 3 to 6 pairs leaves consisting of spiny leaflets, and leathery leaves resemble holly and the stems and twigs have a thickened, corky appearance and dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark bluish-black berries. The yellow flowers appear in short, upright clusters. The fruit is a dark purple nearly spherical few –seeded berry.

Macroscopically root occurs in the form of simple or branched cylindrical segments of variable length up to 45 mm in diameter; usually splitting somewhat on drying; externally light yellowish brown to pale olive, longitudinally wrinkled, short-scaly and showing small irregular fissures in the cork; fracture hard and tough; internally showing a thin brownish green soft bark about 1 mm in thickness, easily separable into layers, a broad light yellow to light greenish-yellow wood, becoming deeper yellow upon wetting and exhibiting numerous curved xylem rays and showing annular rings and no pith. Odor slight; taste bitter and colors the saliva yellow on chewing.

Microscopically cork: a narrow irregular zone of brownish, somewhat collapsed cells. Cork cambium also of somewhat collapsed cells. Cortex of only a few layers of tangentially elongated parenchyma cells with yellowish amorphous contents. Numerous radially elongated open collateral fibrovascular bundles arranged in a circle and separated by starch-containing curved xylem rays which are for the most part narrow; each bundle consists of an outer phloem composed of alternating horizontal groups of bast fibers and soft bast, a cambium of more or less collapsed cells and a very broad, porous xylem composed of numerous wood fibres intermingled with pitted reticulate tracheids.

Part Used: The fresh bark of the root.

Composition: Tincture . Drug Strength 1/10

Active ingredient: Berberis aquifolium, fresh root-bark pulp containing solids 100 gm. And drug moisture approximately 100 cc. = 200 gm.

Excipients: Distilled Water = 200 cc. Strong Alcohol = 730 cc.

To make one thousand cubic centimeters of tincture.

Prover Name: Herbert.

Spheres Action: It acts upon the head, face, digestive system, urinary system etc.

Clinical: Biliousness. Bronchorrhoea. Eczema. Face, roughness of. Headache. Herpes. Leucorrhoea. Pityriasis. Psoriasis. Spleen, affections of. Stomatitis. Syphilis. Typhoid. Voice, affections of.

Guiding Symptoms:

1. Berb. aqui. is used by eclectics in chronic syphilis, chronic skin diseases, in scrofulous cachexia, and for removing pimples from the faces of girls. 2. Hale reports a case of very advanced secondary syphilis cured with it, and some characteristic cases of psoriasis. 3. Felt "nausea and thick-headedness." Later there was "straining to vomit without vomiting." Then a peculiar headache, strong compression, as if a band of iron two inches wide passed entirely round head just above ears. It kept growing tighter and tighter. 4. Berb. aq. has a reputation for making "a new man of an old one." and the provings of Berb. aq. show febrile symptoms and a marked action on the spleen. Usefulness in secondary, syphilis.

Particulars:

Head: Sensation of a band just above ears. Bilious headache. "Scald head". Scaly eczema.

Face: Acne. Blotches and pimples. Clears the complexion.

Stomach: Tongue thickly coated, yellowish-brown; feels blistered. Burning in stomach. Nausea and hunger after eating.

Urine: Stitching, crampy pains; thick mucus, and bright-red, mealy sediment. 2

Skin: Pimply, dry, rough, scaly. Eruption on scalp extending to face and neck. Tumor of breast, with pain. Psoriasis. Acne. Dry eczema. Pruritus. Glandular induration.

Relationship: Carbol acid; Euonym; Berb vulg; Hydr.

Dose & Administration: Mother Tincture 03 or 04 drops mixed with water two hours’ intervals daily and locally for acne, blotches & pimples on face or as directed by the Homoeopathic Physician.

Side Effects: No significant side effect has been observed in proper dosage.

Contraindication: There is no known contradiction. Use in Pregnancy: The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been studied; therefore it should be used with caution during pregnancy. If necessary consult with Homoeopathic Physician.

Storage: Keep out of reach of children. Keep away from sunlight. Store in a cool and dry place.

Presentation: 30 ml, 100 ml & 450 ml in bottle.

References: 1. HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA by Dr. William BOERICKE, M.D. 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki 3. Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of M. BHATTCHARYYA & CO.’S 4. https://plants.usda.gov 5. A DICTIONARY OF PRACTICAL MATERIA MEDICA by Dr. John Henry CLARKE, M.D. 6. Infallible Mother Tincture and Indian drugs by Prof. Dr. A. K. Chaklader. 7. Encyclopedia of Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia by Dr. P.N. Varma & Dr. Indu Vaid.