PRIMARY USES:

Liver Deficiency, Cleansing, Toxemia, “Blood Purifier”, Digestive Enzyme Deficiency, Sluggish Digestion and Elimination, Allergies, Anti-Bacterial (Goldenseal substitute)

PROPERTIES:

Bitter Tonic

Liver Stimulant

Cholagogue

Anti-Bacterial

INDICATIONS:

Oregon Grape has a wide variety of uses. It is perhaps the best western herb for liver deficiency, or as the Chinese would say, liver chi stagnation. It stimulates the liver to produce more bile and other liver enzymes. It essentially increases liver function and is indicated for those with constitutional deficiency patterns in the liver and digestive systems. It can help other symptoms relating to liver deficiency (which includes dry skin, eczema, reference to sweets and carbohydrates, prone to allergies or environmental illness, prone to fatigue, avoids fat and protein, is drawn to a cleansing, vegetarian diet and get tired and depleted, PMS, constipation).

Oregon Grape will increase fat digestion (increases bile) and protein digestion (increase HCI and pepsinogen). For those who avoid fats and proteins because they cannot digest them well (feel sluggish after eating them) and tend to have dry mouth and gum problems, Oregon can help. Those who avoid fats and especially protein can become fatigued and depleted. Oregon Grape increases the rate in which the liver detoxifies the blood as it passes through the liver. It is a great cleansing agent for systemic (whole body) cleansing or for fast cleansing in larger doses. Toxins are removed from the body quickly as this function is the liver’s responsibility.

As an anti-microbial, Oregon Grape contains the same alkaloid, berberine, as Goldenseal which increases anti-bacterial action. It makes a great topical wash and internal bacteria killer. It also increases the liver\s ability to clean out as it kills foreign invaders. Intestinal bacterial infections respond well to Oregon Grape.

Oregon Grape is indicated in Allergies (hayfever) as it increases the livers ability to digest and synthesize protein. Pollen is a protein and if Oregon Grape is used as part of an allergy (hayfever) or environmental illness treatment, the body’s ability to handle the pollen and environmental toxin is increased and therefore lessens the body’s strong antihistamine reaction.

Oregon Grape is a specific for skin problems in the Naturopathic community. It is indicated for eczema, psoriasis and other toxic skin conditions. It is commonly combined here with Dandelion Root, Burdock Root and Yellow Dock Root. The Liver Complex formula contains all these herbs.

Oregon Grape can be used acutely in larger doses or long term in smaller doses as a tonic.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS AND CAUTIONS:

Pregnancy

COMPLIMENTARY FORMULAS & SINGLE HERBS:

Liver Detox/Liver Complex (liver formula)

Milk Thistle Seed (to cool can calm liver, is for excess livers and elevated liver enzymes)

Burdock (liver cleanser if skin problems)

Goldenseal (anti-bacterial with berberine alkaloid too)

Aller-Calm/Allerg-Ease (if allergies)

TASTE:
Very Bitter.

Formula may contain small amounts of herbal precipitate (small particles) due to strength of preparation.