10 Comments

fantastic article!

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Good article-thank you. Berberine has been part of my toolbox for many years.

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Thank you for this article on Berberine. What would be your thoughts on Berberine vs Quercetin vs Baicalin?

Also as bioavailability is an issue, how we can ensure we use it via "nanomedicines, adjuncts or by compounding as organic acids". Do you mean via compound pharmacy or ...?

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Organic acid salts of berberine have greater bioavailability, so you can get the same efficacy from lower doses, ie a chemical compound:

Preparation and Evaluation of Antidiabetic Agents of Berberine Organic Acid Salts for Enhancing the Bioavailability

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337101/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20the,%5D%E2%80%94a%20quaternary%20ammonium%20base.

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Thank you. I tried to find Organic acid salts of berberine and did not have any luck. I also asked the compound pharmacist and no luck there either...so is there a trade name I should look for ? Berberine Hydrochloride (BerberPure™)? What specifically has to say on the label when I am buying berberine so that I know that is the organic acid salt of berberine? Grateful for your reply.

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Hi Bibi, it's extracted from root or bark and should be a bright gold colour, can be the hydrochloride and usually encapsulated. A quick confirmation is by placing a small amount on your tongue, it's extremely bitter!

It's often sold diluted but the colour is a giveaway. Better still obtain a quality cert analysis.

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Deeply grateful for your reply. If you do not mind pointing me a bit more (please do not feel like you have to) into the practical ways of how to obtain Berberine Organic Acid Salts. I purchased encapsulated supplement on iherb...it says " Clinical Grade Berberine" (which is a marketing spin, obviously) and at the back it just says Berberine Hydrochloride (BerberPure) 500mg. It is "gold" (not shiny but kind a powdery matt shade of yellow) So the one I am taking is in powder. Does that sound to you like I am taking an Organic Acid salt? Would you be open to recommend the same one you are taking? Or a compound pharmacist? Or if you are making the one? I am in Australia but happy to buy internationally if the product is decent. Grateful for your assistance.

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Quercetin has similar therapeutic action to berberine. I take it in lemon balm amongst others.

Quercetin and its derivates as antiviral potentials: A comprehensive review

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.7309

Baicalin appears beneficial too:

Study of Baicalin toward COVID-19 Treatment: In silico Target Analysis and in vitro Inhibitory Effects on SARS-CoV-2 Proteases

https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/519564

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If I understand you correctly, you take Quercentin in lemon balm.. What is the therapeutic dose of Lemon Balm? I drink Lemon Balm Tea and also Lemon Balm in tincture (awesome tasting).

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Quercetin is one of the key compounds and an infusion is a great way to take it.

Melissa officinalis L: A Review Study With an Antioxidant Prospective

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871149/

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