Berberine, known as Daruharidra in Ayurveda, is suddenly attracting global attention for its alleged weight-management and blood-sugar benefits. CA Sarthak Ahuja has highlighted why the centuries-old ingredient is becoming a modern wellness trend.
Berberine is a naturally occurring compound found in plants belonging to the Berberis family. One important source is Berberis aristata, also known as Indian barberry, Daruharidra, or tree turmeric. The plant is native to the Himalayas in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. It is also found naturally in parts of southern India and Sri Lanka.
While berberine may sound like a new wellness discovery, its history goes back centuries. According to CA Sarthak Ahuja, it has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 3,000 years. It also has a place in Indian Ayurveda.
Why Is It Suddenly Viral?
In a recent Instagram video, Ahuja said berberine is gaining popularity in the US, particularly among people interested in weight management and wellness. He said the ingredient is being discussed for its potential role in weight management, blood sugar regulation, and cholesterol management.
In his post, he also mentioned areas such as gut health, cardiovascular support, and PCOS.
The renewed interest reportedly began around 2023, when US influencers started talking about their experiences with berberine. According to Ahuja, some claimed that consuming it made them feel fuller and helped them eat less, which they associated with losing weight.
That social media buzz helped turn a centuries-old ingredient into a modern wellness trend. And that is where the nickname "Nature's Ozempic" came from. It is essentially a nickname being used online because of berberine's growing association with weight loss.
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It Is Also An Ayurvedic Ingredient
Ahuja pointed out that berberine is not simply a new Chinese or American wellness discovery. In Ayurveda, the plant associated with it is known as Daruharidra. He said it has traditionally been used for fevers, diarrhoea, skin conditions, and eye conditions.
This gives the ingredient an interesting connection between traditional Chinese medicine, Indian Ayurveda, and today's global nutraceutical market.
China Is Already A Major Player
The business around berberine is also becoming an important part of the story. Ahuja said China is currently the world's largest producer and also extracts berberine for pharmaceutical applications. Japan, meanwhile, uses berberine chloride, a salt form of berberine.
According to Ahuja, this form can be used in capsules, tablets, supplements and functional beverages.
So the ingredient is no longer limited to its traditional plant form. It can be processed and incorporated into modern consumer products.
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The Us Is Driving A Large Part Of The Demand
One of Ahuja's key observations was about where the current demand is coming from.
He said around 40% of global consumption is happening in the US, particularly through nutraceuticals and functional beverages. The popularity is now also spreading to other wealthier Eastern markets, according to his post. That has created interest in what could come next.
Ahuja believes there is an opportunity for Indian businesses to go beyond simply producing the raw material. He pointed to the possibility of growing berberine-rich plants in India's mountain regions, extracting the compound, crystallising it and converting it into the salt form used in products.