Medical expert of the article
New publications
Velvet tree berries for diabetes mellitus
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

Traditional healers also use the berries of the velvet tree for medicinal purposes in diabetes. The velvet tree (also known as Amur cork tree or Amur cork tree) is a tall, long-lived plant common in the Far East, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and can also be found in China, Japan, and Korea.
[ 1 ]
Benefits
Like many other berries, the fruits of the Amur cork tree are distinguished by a high content of vitamin C, which is simply necessary for the body to fight various diseases. But even if we do not dwell on the content of vitamins, microelements, coumarins, essential oils and other useful components in the berries, the very fact that they contain the alkaloid berberine speaks in favor of the fact that these fruits, like the berries of mahonia, will have a therapeutic effect on diabetes.
The fruits, leaves, and bark of the Amur cork tree have pronounced healing properties. The medicines prepared on their basis are famous for their antimicrobial, antiherpetic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, anticancer and many other effects. But in the treatment of diabetes, mainly the round black berries of the Amur cork tree are used, which have a specific smell and bitter taste.
Diabetics and people with high blood pressure are recommended to eat fresh or dried berries in the morning half an hour before breakfast, chewing for several minutes. The daily dose is 2-3 berries, which, despite the bitter taste, should not be washed down with any liquid.
The course of treatment with velvet tree berries lasts for six months, after which the sugar level should stabilize. After another six months, preventive intake of fruits is recommended, 1 berry per day for 3 months.
Perhaps, daily consumption of bitter berries of Amur cork tree will not bring much pleasure to diabetics, but it is a real chance to normalize blood sugar levels and stop taking medications or significantly reduce their dosage and negative impact on the body.
Contraindications
The fruits of the velvet tree can hardly be called a delicacy. Black berries with a very distinctive aroma are used for medicinal purposes in diabetes. It is important to remember that for people with a predisposition to allergies, eating more than five berries can cause allergic reactions.
In addition to useful substances, berries and other parts of the plant also contain quite poisonous substances, so abuse of potions based on them is unlikely to improve the treatment result, but can easily cause poisoning. It is not for nothing that one of the requirements for safe treatment is considered to be the refusal of smoking, drinking alcohol, coffee-containing drinks, and strong teas.
Treatment with Amur cork tree fruits is suitable for adult patients, but to reduce sugar levels in children and pregnant women, you need to look for other means.