Oregon grape is not actually a grape but nevertheless it’s a fruit grown in Oregon. The lovely shrub displays bright yellow flowers in the spring and spreads by underground stems known as rhizomes.
The tree produces deep purple berries, and its dark green leaves turn bronze, crimson, or purple in the fall and has numerous health benefits. Oregon grape improves the flow of blood to the liver and acts as a bitter tonic, stimulating the flow of bile and intestinal secretions.
Oregon grape also has antibiotic and anticancer properties that are receiving more and more attention by researchers and doctors. Berberine and other alkaloids have been shown to kill a wide range of microbes and have been effective in human studies for speeding recovery from giardia, Candida, diarrhoea and cholera.
Oregon grape is applied to the skin for a skin disorder called psoriasis and as a disinfectant. Orgegon grape can be used in skin washes to deter the over production of skin cells that occurs in plaque psoriasis.
It is commonly used as a treatment for hepatitis, jaundice and poor digestion. Some people also use this fruit to improve general gastrointestinal health.
A tincture can also be made from Oregon grape root, as well. Two droppers of tincture taken three times a day is the usual recommendation for any herbal tincture.
The tincture can be added to an ointment for skin issues such as psoriasis and other skin problems, according to both traditional herbalists and clinical dermatologists. It can also be made into a tea. Since Oregon grape root is a tough root, the herb must be boiled for 15 minutes before drinking.
Talk with your caregiver about how much Oregon grape you should take. The amount depends on the strength of the medicine and the reason you are taking Oregon Grape.
If you are using this medicine without instructions from your caregiver, follow the directions on the medicine bottle. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than the directions tell you to.
