Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Part Used: Dried leaf
Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a small shrub, with decumbent, much branched, irregular stems and evergreen leaves, is distributed over the greater part of the Northern Hemisphere, being found in the northern latitudes and high mountains of Europe, Asia and America. It rarely grows more than a few inches tall. It has been used against urinary tract infections since the 17th century, and despite the discovery of antibiotics, is still in use today. It contains a substance called arbutin which has proven antibacterial properties. The leaf is also rich in tannins, useful for tanning leather. The glycoside arbutin is the active ingredient in Uva Ursi. It is especially useful for kidney infections, bladder infections, and inflammatory disease of the urinary tract. It is used as a diabetes remedy for excessive sugar in the blood. It is used for postpartum women to return the womb to its natural size, as well as to prevent infection of the womb after childbirth. It should not be used by pregnant women. Its leaves contain arbutin, a powerful astringent that has antiseptic properties.
Uva Ursi contains chemicals, primarily hydroquinone and hydroquinone derivatives, that make it potentially useful for urinary conditions. It has been approved for treating inflammation of the lower urinary tract by Commission E of the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, which is the German governmental agency that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of herbal products. Several chemicals found in Uva Ursi have antibacterial, antiseptic, and astringent properties that may help to treat urinary tract infections. An astringent shrinks and tightens the top layers of mucous membranes, thereby reducing secretions, relieving irritation, and improving tissue firmness. Formerly, Uva Ursi was also thought to promote the production of urine by the body, but this diuretic effect has not been proved in studies of humans.
References:
Drug Digest. http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsWho/0,3923,4130%7CUva+Ursi,00.html
All Natural. http://www.allnatural.net/herbpages/uva-ursi.shtml
