Oregon grape root
Mahonia aquifolium
Herbs & Roots. Native American and Western & European.
Also called Holly grape, Mountain grape
Avoid in newbornsA holly-leaved shrub of the Pacific Northwest whose yellow root is used as a bitter tonic and a folk germ fighter.
Did you know? Its yellow root contains berberine, the same yellow chemical found in goldenseal and barberry.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Infections. Berberine kills some germs in lab tests. Human studies on the root are missing.Traditional proof
- Digestion & gut health. Used as a bitter digestive tea in folk medicine. No good human trials exist.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Native peoples used the root for skin problems and sores. Later, Eclectic doctors used it as a bitter tonic for the liver and digestion.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Bitter, Antimicrobial, Hepatic. Energy: cooling.
How people take it
Tea is made from dried root, or a tincture or capsule is taken per label. No tested dose exists, and long-term use is not advised.
Tea, tincture and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows in forest understory and dry slopes of the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. Wild-dug roots are common. Sold as root powder, tinctures, capsules and in berberine-rich blends.
Be careful
Berberine can raise the risk of jaundice in newborns, so it is not safe for babies. Common side effects include upset stomach and diarrhea. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Berberine can lower blood sugar, so use caution with diabetes medicines.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; children under 12.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Also contains berberine, and the two are often swapped or combined in folk herbalism.
- Use cautionDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Berberine may lower blood sugar, so it can add to diabetes medicines.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.
The honest take
Oregon grape root has little human research of its own. Its main chemical, berberine, has some human trials for blood sugar and cholesterol, but those results do not transfer to the whole root. Think of it as a bitter folk tea, not a proven remedy.