Use as salve or wash for itchy skin, boils and wounds. Berries are edible raw, and the juice is often used as a substitute for lemon juice. Avoid during pregnancy. Avoid in hyperthyroid conditions. Do not use in cases of excessive flatulence.
High doses can cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure and lowered heart rate.
They are treated as one herb in this description. The genus name Berberis is thought to be derived from a Phoenician word, barbar, meaning 'glossy' in reference to the glossy leaves. Farmers often dislike Barberry, because it can transmit a fungus to nearby wheat crops. The species name Mahonia is named after Bernard McMahon, an American horticulturist. Mahonia is evergreen and has prickly leaves, but the stems lack thorns.