Uva ursi, pronounced yuva ursee, is traditionally prescribed for kidney and bladder infections, especially when water retention is a problem. This bitter herb has long been used successfully in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, including urethritis and cystitis, and is said to help dissolve kidney stones. It is considered valuable against disorders of the spleen, liver, pancreas, and small intestines.

DESCRIPTION AND PARTS USED

A small evergreen shrub, uva ursi is found throughout Europe and in the northern United States. This shrub grows sideways and can eventually spread into a low-growing bushy clump that covers an area up to fifteen feet. It makes quite a nice ground cover. Uva ursi has a long, tough root that sends out burrowing stems which turn upward and attain a height of from four to six inches. Its flowers can be pink or white; the fruit can be bright red or pink. The leaves, which contain this herb’s medicinal properties, are only 1/2 to 1 inch long.

Herbal BeautyHISTORICAL NOTES

Uva ursi means “the bear’s grape” in Latin, which explains why the herb is also known as bear berry. Evidence shows that this herb was highly valued by the celebrated Welsh “Physicians of Myddfai” as far back as the 13th century. Uva ursi first appeared in the London Pharmacopoeia in 1788, but it was in common use throughout Europe for hundreds of years before it was officially recognized.

Native Americans called this plant Kinnikinnick and ranked it right up there with acorns as nutritious food. The leaves were used for smoking. The berries were variously eaten raw, juiced and fermented into cider, ground and cooked as porridge, or made into jelly.

SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS

Scientific investigation of this herb has centered on extracted arbutin, the most active constituent of uva ursi. It totals from 7 to 9 percent of the components found in the leaves. Research shows that arbutin has marked antiseptic and diuretic action. To do its duty, arbutin must be converted to hydroquinone in the urinary tract. However, when extracted arbutin is administered, bacteria in the intestines break it down before it can be absorbed, which destroys its usefulness. When the whole herb is administered, bacterial breakdown of arbutin does not occur. Components in the herb prevent the breakdown of the helpful arbutin and more is converted to hydroquinone. There’s yet another benefit of using the whole herb. Full antibiotic activity of the arbutin depends on the alkalinity of the urine, and other constituents of the herb help increase the alkalinity of urine.

TRADITIONAL USE

Internal. To brew a healing uva ursi tea, pour 8 ounces of freshly boiled water over 1 3/4 teaspoons (1/4 ounce or 7.08 grams) of the dried leaves. Cover, steep for 5 minutes, strain, and sip hot. The traditional dose is 1 cup of tea taken 3 times daily.

CONSIDERATIONS

Hydroquinone has been shown toxic at 1 gram, which is equal to .035 ounces of the fresh leaves. Toxicity, of course, depends on how much arbutin is actually converted to hydroquinone in the urinary tract and there’s no way to predict that. Symptoms range from nausea and vomiting to convulsions and collapse. Do not exceed the recommended dose.

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UVa UrSi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi)