Phellodendron is a plant. The bark is used to make medicine. Be careful not to confuse phellodendron with the houseplant called philodendron. The names are similar but the plants are unrelated. Phellodendron is used for osteoarthritis, weight loss and obesity, diarrhea, ulcers in thestomach or upper part of the small intestine (peptic ulcers), diabetes, meningitis,pneumonia, eye infections, tuberculosis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Some people apply phellodendron to the skin for psoriasis, to kill germs, and to reduce redness and swelling. How does it work? Some chemicals in phellodendron might reduce redness and swelling (inflammation). Another chemical, berberine, might be able to lower blood sugar and “bad” LDLcholesterolas well as protect the liver against toxic materials. Berberine might also be active against tumors.