Alterative, depurant, tonic, slight stimulant, hepatic, tonic laxative, diuretic, antiscorbutic, antisyphilitic, antiscrofulous, antiperiodic, nerve tonic. oregon grape is one of the best blood purifiers and liver stimulants. It creates appetite, promotes digestion, improves absorption, and increases strength and vitality. It also beneficially influences the bowel (gentle tonic-cathartic) and genito-urinary tract, and is very healing to the lymphatics and skin tissues. A 3 foot evergreen shrub. The leaves are pinnate, darker above than below with 5~9 leaflets in pairs along a thin but tough stem. The margins are wavy with prickly edges, which turn red in the fall. The fragrant, bright yellow flowers are in dense, erect terminal, often 3-headed, clusters. They bloom in early spring, ripening to dusty dark blue berries that are bitter, but also slightly sweet. A native of North America, found mainly in the northwestern U.S. The berries, when ripe in the fall, are used for making jellies and beverages. The medicinal actions are identical to barberry (.Berberis vulgaris) in that the root has hepatic and laxative medicinal actions. The berries are a laxative and refrigerant Oregon grape; however is more effective in cases of liver problems and externally for staph infections and has a mild stimulating effect on thyroid function.