Ayurvedic properties and benefits of Daruharidra (Berberis aristata)

This post was last updated on November 2, 2022 by Preethi Sukumaran

In this blog post, we are going to talk about an Ayurvedic herb called Daruharidra with multiple benefits. This ayurvedic herb has anti inflammatory, anti fungal, anti-viral, and anti diabetic properties , and is great to use for skin both as a lepa (face mask) or as a dusting powder. 

Benefits of Daruharidra: morphology and occurrence

Daruharidra is a wild shrub found in altitudes of 5000 feet and above, typically in the Himalayas and Nepal – it is also found in high altitude regions in the Nilgiris in South India.

Ayurvedic properties & benefits of Daruhridra

 Daruharidra, like Haridra is an excellent ayurvedic herb used in eye, skin, and pitta aggravation diseases like anemia, jaundice, and pitta-kapha aggravation disorders like diabetes.

In eye disorders, also Daruharidra offers potent benefits. A special extract of Daruhridra called Rasaut / Rasanjana is used where the Kashaya of daruharidra is boiled along with goats milk until a solid mass forms. This solid mass is made into Anjana (collyrium) paste / stick and applied to the eye. Due to its hot and bitter potency ,this extract helps clear out Mala from the eyes by inducing profuse watering. It also helps shrink styes in the eyes, inflammation of the eyes, etc.

Benefits of Daruharidra: properties of Berberine extract vs Whole Daruharidra 

With all herbs, there is a lot of excitement around the Isolates extracted. Every herb is a powerhouse of nutrient benefits and pure potent action – most importantly when used in their natural form, they are much lower on side effects and work extremely holistically.

In order to create IP protect-able formulae , many companies are in a rush to isolate the botanical “actives” in herbs. Berberine, is one active found in daruharidra. It is also found in other herbs like Goldenseal, Oregon grape, etc. It is an isoquinolone alkaloid and across hundreds of studies has been found to have potential benefits in diabetes, helps regulate metabolism, and is studied to cause a major reduction in sugar levels.

Also, the Berberine isolate found in Daruharidra would have different markers and different effects compared to the Berberine found in the Oregon grape, for example. Everything including the soil, country and climate are different from the Himalayan Daruharidra and the Oregon grape, so it makes little sense to treat their isolates as identical.

Ayurveda is certainly not crude or unsophisticated in its approach to pharmaceuticals . Ayurveda and Ayurvedic acharyas have described an astounding variety of complex extraction processes. Rasa shastra which is the ayurvedic sub branch of extracting various metals and elemental compounds utilizes even poisonous elements like Mercury to create healing formulations.

Yet, ayurvedic acharyas have repeatedly stayed away from simpler isolate extraction methods from plants. This is not because they were unaware or incapable of doing this extraction.  The Acharyas have understood and practiced several powerful concepts like Anupana (medium through which a drug is absorbed well), complementary drugs and herbs and most importantly, using the same drug in different compositions, dosage , anupana and extraction methods according to the prakriti of the patient. Ayurveda studies the drug in its whole form and understands its multiple properties and benefits well. It then advises how each herb must be processed and used in external and internal applications so that each person is able to absorb the herb’s properties better. 

So in disease conditions like Prameha (diabetes), Daruharidra is used along with Amla in an anupana of Madhu (honey) – this is a potent and powerful combination which treats many manifestations of prameha including excessive teekshna agni (very high levels of agni), blocked Ama in the body, tendency towards Kapha aggravation, etc and not just blood sugar levels taken in isolation.

If you would like to take Daruhridra for its benefits, make sure you consult a good Vaidya and take it in an appropriate form , and preparation that will suit your Prakriti and disease condition.

Benefits of Daruharidra: How Krya uses this herb

At Krya we use Daruharidra extensively for its skin healing properties. For our Classic Skin Oil serum and the Moisture Plus Skin serum, we extract Daruharidra both in its Kashaya and kalpa form (as a herb decoction) and as a wet herb paste.

These 2 extraction methods are recommended in Ayurveda when you want to extract the botanical nutrients of a herb into an oil.

Daruharidra in Krya’s Sensitive range of products:

Krya has a Sensitive Range of products for both toddlers and adults. Here we address the issues of contact dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis in skin. The skin we deal with is often patchy, thickened with production of scales, is sometimes filled with oozing clear liquid, is intensely itchy and irritable.

Some experimental products we have used Daruharidra in:

We have also used Daruharidra in a few experimental Krya products. We have used it in a Kashaya preparation meant as an additive to Snana (bath water) for post partum women. Here we utilise the ushna veerya and teekshna property of Daruharidra to help drive down Vata aggravation.

As per the suggestion given in Bhavaprakakasha Nighantu, we have also tried Daruharidra both stand alone and in a multi herb product which is a dusting powder meant for psoriasis and eczema. Additionally , we have experimented with Daruharidra in a toothpowder formulation meant for kapha aggravated conditions like gum inflammation, frequent caries, etc.

In all of these the hot, intensive, sharp, bitter , kapha reducing and skin healing properties of Daruharidra are very ideal.

To sum up: the benefits of Daruharidra 

So there you have it: that’s a brief glimpse into the properties and benefits of Berberis arista /  Daruharidra which goes into Krya’s skin care products. Daruharidra is a potent skin healing , wound healing and and skin restoring Ayurvedic herb that has been discussed in the Brhat Trayee texts and across other Ayurvedic texts.

We harness Daruharidra’s potent skin healing properties across a wide range of skin care products at Krya, specifically our healing and restoring skin serums and oils.

A word of caution: although this post discusses several ways that Daruharidra can be consumed internally, all Ayurvedic herbs are potent and strong, and must always be tailor made using the right anupana to suit your constitution. Do not attempt to self medicate. If you feel internal consumption of Daruharidra could help you, please meet an Ayurvedic Vaidya who can diagnose your condition and prescribe Daruharidra in the right dose and right format for you.