Bearberry (Uva ursi) Leaves 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Bearberry (Uva ursi) Leaves  100 g ($13.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits
Uva ursi leaves have been used for centuries as a mild diuretic and in the treatment of bladder and kidney infections. The leaves also have anesthetic properties that help to numb urinary-tract pain. It has been used for liver ailments. Herbalists also recommend the herb as a diuretic for fluid retention, bloating, and swelling. Homeopathic remedies are for inflammation of the urinary tract. The German Commission E has approved uva ursi for infections of the urinary tract. The tannins in uva ursi act as an astringent, and the phenol glucosides have antibacterial effects. The antimicrobial effect is associated with a substance released from arbutin (an extract of the herb). This makes this herb a urine-sterilizing agent, and some practitioners recommend its use internally and externally for inflammatory conditions such as dermatitis, edema, arthritis, and hyperpigmentation disorders.

Bladder infection and cystitis. Arbutin is the active ingredient in uva ursi. It is an antiseptic for the urinary tract that is particularly effective against E. coli infection. It is also effective against Proteus infections, provided steps are taken to ensure alkalization of the urine. The sugar portion of arbutin, and its attached small molecule (hydroquinone), must be broken apart for arbutin to be effective, and the urine must be alkaline for this to happen. This herb prevents bleeding in mild kidney disease and urinary tract infection (UTI). In one study, patients with chronic cystitis benefited from a standardized extract of uva ursi and dandelion root. The benefits can’t only be attributed to uva ursi, however, as the other herb was included in the product. It seems that uva ursi should not be used to treat acute cystitis, but it reduced recurrent UTIs by 23 percent in this study. In rats, uva ursi has shown diuretic effects, and it seems worth exploring whether it works in humans.

Recommended Use
Uva ursi is available in the form of capsules or tablets, preferably standardized for arbutin. It also may be taken as a tea. Daily dose is about 3 grams of the uva ursi, which is equal to 100 to 210 milligrams of water-free arbutin.

Uva ursi is effective against the full range of UTIs only if the urine is alkaline. To achieve this effect, you should avoid consuming acidic agents such as meat, vitamin C, and fruit juice, and you also should take ¼ teaspoon (0.5 gram) of baking soda in ¼ cup (50 milliliters) of water with every dose of herb.

Most authorities caution that uva ursi should be avoided by people with chronic kidney disease, including acidic urine, peptic ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. Uva ursi may aggravate gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Herb expert James Duke reports that uva ursi sometimes aggravates tinnitus (ringing in the ears). If this effect occurs, it will be noticed after using the herb for two or three days. Ringing in the ears caused by uva ursi should wear off two or three days after the herb is discontinued. Nausea and vomiting may occur in sensitive adults and children. The herb may temporarily turn the urine green. This is a harmless effect. However, liver damage could occur if the herb is used too long, particularly in children.

This herb should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, or by children under twelve. Avoid taking uva ursi for longer than a week. Take all kidney and bladder infections seriously; they can cause complications if not treated promptly. If symptoms of a UTI persist for more than forty-eight hours, you should always seek medical attention. If you develop symptoms such as high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe back pain, get medical assistance immediately.

Iron can form harmful complexes when used at the same time as uva ursi; separate the two by one to two hours. Do not use uva ursi if you take thiazide and loop diuretics because the purpose of these drugs is to rid the body of sodium, and uva ursi will cause the body to retain it.

Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
English: Uva Ursi, Bearberry, kinninnick
Unani: Inbud-dub, Angur-e-khiras, Reechh Daakh
Also, known as: Achelblätter, Achelkraut, Arberry, Arctostaphylos, Bärenkraut, Barentraube, Barentraubenblatter, Bearberry, Bear’s Grape, Beredruif, Berry Leaves, Brockberry, Busserole, Coralillo, Crowberry, Dogberry, Enab Edhdhib, Feuille De Busserole, Feuille De Raisin D’ours, Folia Artostaphyli, Folia Garjubae, Folia Uvae-Ursi, Folia Vaccinii Ursi, Foxberry, Gayuba, Herba Garjubae, Hog Cranberry, Hojas De Gayuba, Kinnikinnick, Leesikas, Lise Maçznicy, Mealyberry, Medveszololevel, Moosbeerenblatter, Mountain Box, Ptarmigan Berry, Raisin D’ours, Red Bearberry, Sagochomi, Sandblatter, Steinbeerenblatter, Upland Cranberry, Uva Ursi, Uvaursina, Uwaurushi, and Wolfsbeerenblatter
Origin: Mexico
Harvested: Wild or cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. Branchlets mature to reddish-brown, with papery peeling bark on older twigs. Branchlets are clad with alternate, entire, short-stalked, leathery, rounded-at the-tip, obovate to spatulate. Leaves are 0.25-0.5-inch-wide, 0.5-1-inch-long, leathery, evergreen, round-oval and glossy with smooth edges, tapering at the base to a short stalk. Leaves are light green in spring, dark green in summer and turn purple in fall. White to pink bell-like flowers 0.25-inch-wide by 0.5-0.75-inch-long, with the opening smaller than the base, and 5 fringed pink lobes. One plant has several clusters on branching stems. The fruit is a bright red berry (drupe) of roughly the same size as the flowers, containing 5 nutlets.

Drupes are green in summer ripening to red in fall, sometimes remaining on the plants throughout winter. Drupes are bittersweet raw off the plant, but sweeter when first boiled. Fruit spoils slowly so lasts through winter and is available when other fruits are gone. Black bear and grizzly bear eat kinnikinnick fruits in the autumn, but fruits are especially important to bear in the early spring

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.