Phellodendron, coptis and babesia

[Guest guest]

Interesting things I didn't know. I did my decoctions with

phellodendron and they became yellow. Turmeric is said to have

berberine as well as neem (if my memory is good), all the herbs which

are said to attack babesia. Turmeric is very yellow.

I see here that coptis and phellodendron have berberine too!!! So I

guess that's why my kinesiological test said: phellodendron attacks

babesia's cysts! Phellodendron was testing good even for borrelia

cysts and for bartonella. All the stuff above with berberine have

been used against babesia (or other pathogens, in case of coptis)!

Coptis has a higher concentration of berberine. But my body can't

take it, it's much too strong (caused me severe pain in my kidneys in

very little concentrations).

Phellodendron has other active components, not only berberine. And

it's a widespread used plant in China, so probably with less side

effects.

Phellodendron is used against Staphylococcus infections of the skin

too. It does seem to have 'antibiotic' effects then!

Phellodendron is used against bacteries that cause tooth decay!

I see I wrote on June 24:

" Phellodendron-cortex tested good for: borrelia's cysts, L-form,

babesia's cysts, bartonella, infection of my upper tooth. It DOESN'T

test good for: borrelia active form, babesia active form, fungi (my

fungi) " .

What a coincidence! I had no idea about this article by then!! I

start to believe my tests are not all my imagination!

My lyme doctor ART tested phellodendron and gardenia for me and tehy

tested very good.

Gardenia by the way, from the same day's notes: " it tested good for

borrelia, babesia and bartonella " . So it's complementary to

phellodendron.

I didn't take lots of Buhner's herbs this time re-infection, I guess

that the combo phellodendron - gardenia - gervao was enough. I was

already on more than a year on B's herbs when I was reinfected, so I

guess my body wanted a bit of a change!

I hope you'll enjoy the info on phellodendron and other herbs below!

Selma

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BACKGROUND

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid with a bright yellow color that

is easily seen in most of the herb materials that contain any

significant amount of this compound. Among Chinese herbs, the primary

sources are phellodendron and coptis (similar isoquinoline alkaloids,

in these herbs, such as jateorrhizine, coptisine, palmatine, and

columbamine, also have a yellowish color). Berberine has long been

used as a dye; it is currently known as " natural yellow 18, " being

one of about 35 yellow dyes from natural sources.

Coptis chinensis rhizomes (huanglian; literally " yellow thread " ) and

related species used as its substitutes have about 4-8% berberine,

while Phellodendron amurense bark (huangbo, literally " yellow bo, "

where bo is this particular type of tree) has about half as much, at

2-4% berberine. This compound is also found in the less commonly used

Chinese herb sankezhen (B. sargentiana) and in the Japanese barberry

(woody portion of Berberis thunbergii). All of these herbs are known

as therapies for damp-heat syndromes, particularly for intestinal and

lung infections, and they are used topically for various skin

diseases.

Several Western herbs also contain berberine, such as barberry root

bark (Berberis vulgaris), Oregon grape root (Berberis aquifolium),

and goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis). Berberine was isolated

and used as an herbal drug in China 50 years ago (the drug forms are

usually the hydrochloride or sulfate; the chloride, as used in the

dye, may have the strongest antiseptic action). It has since become

an ingredient in several Western herbal products, particularly for

treatment of intestinal infections.

Coptis and phellodendron have been used in China for treating

gastrointestinal diseases with reported success; applications have

included acute gastroenteritis, cholera, and bacillary dysentery. So,

the first applications of isolated berberine were for treatment of

these conditions. Recent clinical trials have yielded conflicting

results as to which of the disease organisms causing intestinal

symptoms are responsive to berberine (1, 2).

Tests of the antiseptic action of berberine against bacteria, yeasts,

viruses, and amoebas have shown a range of activity levels from

apparent potent action to mild suppression. Inhibition of giardia and

of candida have been areas of considerable interest and initial

positive research results have led to development of several herb

products for those applications.

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http://www.itmonline.org/arts/ermiao.htm

MODERN RESEARCH ON THE ACTIVE COMPONENTS

Phellodendron is obtained from the bark of the tree Phellodendron

amurense (see Figure 1) or, sometimes, Phellodendron chinense. The

trees are cultivated in China to supply the huge demand for this

frequently used herb.

The main active components are alkaloids of the isoquinoline type,

with berberine, palmatine, magnoflorine, phellodendrine, candicine,

and jatorrhizine being the main ones.

Berberine is one of the most extensively studied of these alkaloids;

it constitutes about 1.7% of the dried bark from P. amurense.

Berberine is also a key component of other Chinese herbs, including

coptis and sankezhen (Berberis sp.).

Berberine has been clinically evaluated in the treatment of diarrhea

due to a variety of pathogens including bacterial infections and

giardia; it is also used topically for treatment of bacterial eye

infections, and applied orally to the treatment of bacteria that

cause tooth decay.

The alkaloids found in phellodendron, such as berberine and

palmatine, have been isolated in relatively pure form (greater than

90% purity) for use in treatment of infections.

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http://www.itmonline.org/arts/impetigo.htm

Chinese reports of successful treatment of infant eczema with topical

phellodendron-based treatments (11) may, in fact, represent therapy

for atopic dermatitis associated with Staphylococcus. The alkaloids

of phellodendron, such as berberine and palmatine (see Figure 1),

have antiseptic action against Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

Coptis (see Figure 2), another source of berberine and palmatine, was

shown to inhibit S. aureus, while the combination of coptis, scute,

and licorice had an even stronger effect (9).