Berberine

What is Berberine? 
Berberine is a plant-derived compound traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine. In functional medicine, it’s valued for supporting healthy blood sugar, metabolic balance, a healthy weight, and gut integrity, while also helping to maintain a balanced microbiome and healthy immune function.*

What are the benefits of Berberine? 
Berberine may support healthy blood sugar, help to maintain metabolic balance and a healthy weight, and support gut integrity, while also helping to maintain a balanced microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract and promote healthy immune function.* Rootcology’s Berberine is highly concentrated, delivering 500 mg of berberine HCl per capsule.

What is the recommended dose? 
The recommended dose is two capsules twice daily, or as directed by your healthcare professional. Please note: Depending on intended use and tolerance, an individual’s ideal dose may be as little as one, or as many as four, capsules per day. The most common range in research for supporting cellular health, gut health, metabolic health, cardiovascular support, healthy weight management, inflammatory balance, and healthy blood sugar is 500 to 1500 mg per day in divided doses (i.e. 500 mg one to three times daily; often with meals).* Starting with one capsule per day and slowly working up to the target dose, is recommended.

When should I take it? 
This supplement should be taken with meals.

Can it be taken with thyroid medications? 
Berberine should be taken at least 30 to 60 minutes away from thyroid medications. High doses of berberine may have thyroid-modulating activity, while doses used clinically may optimize thyroid hormone function due to the effect on the microbiome.* (1, 2) Testing your thyroid hormone levels every 30-90 days to see if a medication adjustment is needed, is recommended. 

How long can I take Berberine for? 
Berberine has been studied to be safe and effective when used daily for up to three years. Because it has various benefits, the duration you and your practitioner may choose may vary.

For gut health support, berberine is generally used for 2 weeks to 2 months.*

For metabolic health support, berberine may be used long-term. Many practitioners recommend cycling on and off for best results. For example, 8 weeks on, then 2-4 weeks off.*

Are there any side effects that I should be aware of when taking Berberine?
May cause dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, gastroesophageal reflux, and/or a bitter taste in the mouth. In rare cases, skin rashes have been reported.

Consult with a physician before use if pregnant or breastfeeding.

DO NOT TAKE if taking the following medications: anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs, antidiabetic drugs, antihypertensive drugs, blood thinners, CNS depressants, cyclosporine, cytochrome P450 substrates (2C9, 2D6, 3A4), dextromethorphan, losartan, metformin, midazolam, pentobarbital, and/or tacrolimus

1. Maurya H, Dhiman S, Dua K, Gupta G. Pharmacological Effect of Berberine Chloride in Propyl Thiouracil Induced Thyroidal Dysfunction - A Time Bound Study in Female Rats. Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul. 2016;10(2):165-173. doi:10.2174/1872211310666160321123610
2. Han Z, Cen C, Ou Q et al. The Potential Prebiotic Berberine Combined With Methimazole Improved the Therapeutic Effect of Graves’ Disease Patients Through Regulating the Intestinal Microbiome. Front Immunol. 2022;12. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.826067
3. Och A, Och M, Nowak R, Podgórska D, Podgórski R. Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease. Molecules. 2022;27(4):1351. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041351
4. Natural Medicines Therapeutic Research Collaboration. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/. Accessed December 19, 2025.