Nomenclature:
· Scientific name (binomial): Arctostaphylos uva ursi
· Family name: Ericaceae
· Common name: Uva-ursi, kinnikinnick, bearberry
Part(s) Used: Leaf (Hoffman, 2003)
Taste/odor: No distinct odor but when the leaves are grinded to a powder form they smell grassy. The taste is astringent, bitter, and liquorice (Felter & Llyod, 1898).
Energetics: drying, cooling
Actions: Diuretic, astringent, antimicrobial, demulcent, stimulant, tonic (Hoffman, 2003; Felter & Llyod, 1898)
Traditional uses: Uva-ursi has a long history of traditional use in various parts of the world to treat urinary tract infections in both men and women, as the leaves possess antiseptic properties. Uva ursi leaf extracts are also known to be diuretic and have been traditionally used to treat bladder infection and kidney stones/infections. Native Americans have used it on sores and smoked it along other mixes known as Kinnikinnick. In parts of America, Europe, and Asia, uva ursi leaves have been used in medicine for the treatment of leucorrhea, gonorrhea, aching of the kidneys, ulceration of the bladder, the prostate gland, and the bowels. The leaves can also be used as a tonic and astringent for a bleeding stomach, bowels and kidneys (Cook, W., 1869).
Therapeutic uses (indications): Urinary tract infections, prostatitis, cystitis, urethritis, dysuria, lithuria, chronic inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, menorrhagia, pyelitis, hemorrhoids and chronic diarrhea (Spiteri, 2011; Remington & Wood, 1918)
Preparations and Dose:
Tincture: 2 to 4 ml, 3 times a day, (1:5 in 25%) (Hoffman, 2003)
Liquid extract: 1.5 to 2.5 ml, 3-4 times a day, (1:1 in 25% ethanol) (Spiteri, 2011)
Dried leaf infusion or cold macerate: 10 to 12 g of dried leaves in 150 ml water. This should be drunk three times a day (Hoffman, 2003)
Scientific section: Clinical studies conducted with human subjects by Frohne in 1970, and Kedzia et al. in1975, showed that urine from patients treated with uva ursi extract (UVA-E) or isolated arbutin (a glycoside), demonstrated substantial antimicrobial activity against E. coli, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and 70 other urinary bacteria. These studies underlined also that the UVU-E was more effective compared to the isolated arbutin (Amalaradjou & Venkitanarayanan, 2011). A 1993 controlled, double-blind clinical study by Larsson showed a decrease in the occurrence of UTIs in patients treated with uva ursi. For this study 57 women with chronic UTI (suffered at least 3 episodes of cystitis during the prior year) were placed into two groups: the treatment group (n = 30) received uva ursi extract and the second group (n = 27) received the placebo, for one month. At the end of the 1 year follow up, the treatment group showed a substantial drop in the occurrence of UTIs (0/30 women had a recurrence) compared to the placebo group (5/27 women had a recurrence). No side effects were reported as well. (EMA, 2012).
Safety: Uva ursi is considered safe; however it can be toxic if administered in high doses. It is advised that children under 12 years of age, pregnant or nursing woman, and/or individuals who suffer from digestive disorders and kidney infection avoid using it, as its safety has not been well established. The claim that uva ursi should not be given with substances (foods and/or drugs) that acidify the urine as it will render it less effective by reducing its antibacterial effect, has been disproven and to date there is no clinical evidence for the claim. (Siegers et al., 2003)
References
Amalaradjou, M. A. R., & Venkitanarayanan, K. (2011). Natural Approaches for Controlling Urinary Tract Infections. Retrieved from http://cdn.intechweb.org/pdfs/20575.pdf
Cook, W. (1869). The Physiomedical Dispensatory. Retrieved from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/cook/ARCTOSTAPHALOS_UVA_URSI.htm
European Medicines Agency. (2012). Assessment report on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., folium. Retrieved from https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/superseded-assessment-report-arctostaphylos-uva-ursi-l-spreng-folium-revision-1_en.pdf
Felter, H.W. & Llyod, J.U. (1898). King's American Dispensatory. Retrieved from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/arctostaphylos.html
Hoffman, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press
Remington, J. P., Wood, H. C. (1918). The Dispensatory of the United States of America. Retrieved from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/usdisp/arctostaphylos.html
Siegers, C., Bodinet, C., Syed Ali, S., & Siegers, C. (2003). Bacterial deconjugation of Arbutin by Escherichia coli. Phytomedicine, 10, 58-60. https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/elsevier/bacterial-deconjugation-of-arbutin-by-escherichia-coli-ss8SWQ0Bgp?key=dd_plugin&utm_campaign=pluginG
Spiteri, M. (2011). Herbal Monographs including Herbal Medicinal Products and Food Supplements. Retrieved from https://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/148975/herbalmonographs.pdf
Note: Information found on this website is meant for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose medical conditions, to treat any medical conditions or to prescribe medicine.
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