Berberine has become one of the most searched supplements for PCOS, and for good reason. The clinical research is more robust than for most botanical compounds. But the devil is in the details: dose, form, timing, and who is (and isn’t) a good candidate matter enormously. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in plants such as Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Oregon grape root (Mahonia aquifolium), Coptis chinensis, and Hydrastis canadensis. The primary mechanism of action of berberine for PCOS is activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) – the same cellular energy-sensing pathway targeted by metformin. This leads to improved glucose uptake,…