Plenty of folks have been using GLP-1s — generic versions of popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound — to jump-start their health journeys. But not everyone can afford the drugs.

Berberine, or berberine hydrochloride, is a plant compound used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine that may support metabolic health, but research is still evolving. Studies suggest berberine may help ...