What is Uva Ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi?Its History,Phytochemicals,Mode of Action and Magic Superstition?

Specific Indications and Uses:Uva Ursi Additional Information.

Uva Ursi Extract INCI Name Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi Extract CAS:84776-10-3 EINECS ELINCS No 283-934-3 Arberry Leaf Rockberry leaf Bearberry leaf extract photo picture image Relaxation of the urinary tract, with pain and mucous or bloody secretions; feeling of weight and dragging in the loins and perineum, when not due to prostatic enlargement; chronic vesical irritation, with pain, tenesmus, and catarrhal discharges.

Taken internally as a tea or infusion (see below for specifics), Uva Ursi is helpful for relieving problems associated with kidney infections, prostate inflammation and enlargement, urinary tract infections, bladder infections, kidney stones, nephritis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and spleen, pancreas, and small intestine disorders. For females, it is useful for dysmenorrhea, cystitis, and bloating associated with menstruation. In addition, it is also sometimes used as a tonic, detoxifying the urinary system and thus improving overall health.

Externally, Uva Ursi has antiseptic and astringent properties, and can be made into an ointment for treatment of cuts, scrapes, cold sores, herpes breakouts, and yeast infections.

For medicinal uses, harvest healthy-looking leaves in the fall, and dry on screens in the shade, then grind or use whole. Whole or ground leaves can be soaked in brandy (3 tablespoons ground, or 10 whole leaves or so to a pint of brandy) and the resulting liquid added to water for an infusion (1 teaspoon per cup of water up to three times per day. For urinary tract problems in particular, you should feel relief within a few days, and it is not recommended that you take any Uva Ursi preparations continuously for any longer than one week.

The astringent nature of Uva Ursi leaves makes them an effective diuretic for the relief of temporary water retention. This remedy has an especially useful cleansing action on the genito-urinary system and is recommended as a postpartum diuretic. Arbutin undergoes hydrolysis to yield hydroquinone in the intestines which has urinary disinfectant activities. Arbutin is reported to be an effective urinary disinfectant if taken in large doses and if the urine is alkaline. Used as a urinary disinfectant, especially in Europe. Reported dosage is 1.5-2.5 grams of crude drug, infusion, or cold aqueous extract, containing not less than six percent of hydroquinone derivatives calculated as anhydrous arbutin. Treatment is limited to seven days or less. (Leung and Foster)

Properties: Anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-septic, astringent, diuretic, relaxant (muscle), tonic for kidneys, liver and pancreas.

Indicated for: Chronic diarrhea, cystitis, gonorrhea, nephritis, pyelitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis, urinary tract infections, reduce accumulations of uric acid, relieve the pain of bladder stone, soothes, strengthens, and tightens irritated and inflamed tissues, treat cold sores, herpes, and vaginal infections.

Therapeutic Action: Diuretic, astringent, antiseptic, alterative, tonic. It is a mild CNS depressant and a stimulant.

Energetics: Holmes lists uva ursi as astringent, cold and dry, with secondary qualities of astringing, solidifying, restoring, calming and a stabilizing movement. It enters Bladder, Kidney, Colon, Chong and Ren meridians and influences the urogenital organs, and intestines. The organism is warmth and air. Tierra describes uva ursi as bitter, astringent and cold, influencing the Heart, Bladder, Small Intestines and Liver.
Uva Ursi Extract INCI Name Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi Extract CAS:84776-10-3 EINECS ELINCS No 283-934-3 Arberry Leaf Rockberry leaf Bearberry leaf extract photo picture image

Antiseptic cure for the lower Abdomen:

3 oz (l0 g) bearberry leaves,4 cups (1 liter) water ,1 t (5 g) sodium bicarbonate

Lightly chop the bearberry leaves and soak for 12 hours in a large bowl of cold water. Then boil the leaves in a saucepan for 3 minutes. Pour this mixture into the bowl and infuse until the liquid is drinkable. Add the sodium bicarbonate and shake. Drink 1 cup (250 ml) at a time, warm or cold, several times during the day. Repeat over 10 consecutive days. This bitter herbal tea has a powerful effect on small kidney stones, purulent cystitis, gout, hypotrophy of the prostate and bacterial venereal infections such as blennorrhagia.

Note: Bearberry is the color of greenish urine because of the concentrated tannins.

If you have a hot, sunny area with poor soil somewhere in your garden and need a good-looking evergreen perennial ground cover, Uvi Ursa or Bearberry may just be the plant for you. Not only is this plant a great problem-solver in the landscape, but it is a well-known culinary and medicinal herb, and as such it is so useful that it seems a shame that we all don't have some in our gardens!

Bearberry is a short woody evergreen shrub with trailing stems. The leaves are shiny, leathery, and quite attractive even in the fall, when they turn a pleasing bronze color. Flowering occurs late spring or early summer, with bright red berries following in the fall. The plant never needs fertilizing, rarely needs pruning, and will eventually spread 12-15 feet. It will tolerate some shade, but becomes sparse in heavy shade. Soil must be well-drained and acidic, and the plant will tolerate a wide array of soil types including sandy and rocky situations.

Bearberry will not do well in the hottest zones - above zone 7 or so - but it does take well to container planting for those in the deep south who still wish to utilize the medicinal aspects of the plant.

As noted above, berries are bright red and persist through the winter, making Bearberry a rare find for those looking for winter interest plantings for the landscape. The name Uva (berry) Ursi (bear) is a testament to the fact that bears love the berries of this plant and rely on them to make it through the winter. Berries can be used in jams, jellies, and as substitutes for any recipe calling for Cranberries. The leaves taste rather bitter and astringent and are used medicinally. See the links below for more information on culinary and medicinal uses of this Bearberry/Uva Ursi.

Bearberry is most easily propagated by stem cuttings taken in the winter or by root division, as seed is rather difficult to start with this plant

Reference:

1.What is Uva Ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi?Its History,Phytochemicals,Mode of Action and Magic Superstition?

last edit date:10th,Mar.2010.

Available Product

Name:Uva Ursi Extract
Serie No:P081
Specifications:10:1.TLC
INCI Name:ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA URSI EXTRACT
EINECS/ELINCS No.:283-934-3
CAS:84776-10-3
Chem/IUPAC Name:Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi Extract is an extract of the leaves of the bearberry,Arctostaphylos uva-ursi,Ericaceae

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