Description
Product
Dried Oregon Grape Root
Cut and sifted
2 oz of cut Oregon Grape Root fill one standard measuring cup
Botany
Genus: Mahonia
Species: aquifolium
Family: Berberidaceae
Product Origin
Sustainably wild harvested in Oregon by collectors with decades of experience in properly identifying, collecting, drying and processing wild plants.
The permitted harvests are done in full compliance with all USDA Forest Service collection rules and regulations.
Uses
Oregon Grape root has a very bitter flavor.
It is used in herbal medicine product manufacturing for it’s anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory compounds, such the alkaloid Berberine, as well as berbamine, baluchistine, aromoline, oxyacanthine, aquifoline, obamegine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, oxyberberine, columbamine; and aporphine alkaloids, such as magnoflorine, corytuberine, isothebaine, and isocorydine.
Berberine has an intensely yellow color, and can be used a plant based dye.
Berberine is also present in the roots of the Barberry shrub (Berberis), a close relative of Mahonia, as well as in the endangered Golden seal plant (Hydrastis canadensis).
Oregon Grape root is a sustainable replacement for Golden seal root in herbal medicine.
Habitat
Oregon Grape is a low growing, understory shrub, native to the forests of Western North America.
Mahonia propagates itself by root runners, as well as through the seeds in it’s small, purplish black fruits that resemble grapes.
The berries are tart, and can be used to make jelly, or fermented to make wine wine.
Oregon Grape berries produce a purple dye.
The leaves of Oregon Grape are evergreen, and resemble the spiny leaves of the Holly shrub, with which it shares the specific epithet “aquifolium”, meaning sharp leaved.
Mahonia aquifolium is an excellent, easy to cultivate landscape plant for a shady woodland area. It is resistant to summer drought.
The spectacular, bright yellow flowers are fragrant, and the berries attract birds.
Precautions
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and is not a replacement for professional health advice.
