Uva ursi herb is also known as bearberry since bears are fond of the berries. Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) is an evergreen shrub that has long been popular for fighting urinary tract infections.
How is Uva Ursi available?
You will find uva ursi as a tea, tinctures, capsules, and uva ursi
extracts.
UTI treatment naturally
Int J Toxicol. 2013. Risk assessment of free hydroquinone derived
from Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi folium herbal preparations. Uva-ursi folium
(bearberry leaf) has been traditionally used to treat symptoms of lower
urinary tract infections. The most representative constituent of this
herbal drug is arbutin that is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine
and undergoes hepatic conjugation to form hydroquinone (HQ) conjugates.
As free HQ is crucial for the safety of the herbal preparation, we
reviewed published and unpublished experimental and human studies to
clarify some outdated assumptions and to support the safety of
therapeutic daily doses of Uva-ursi folium extract. Specifically, data
on pharmacokinetics and the human exposure of arbutin and HQ were
reviewed. A therapeutic recommended human daily dose of bearberry leaf
extract (420 mg hydroquinone derivatives calculated as anhydrous arbutin)
liberates free HQ in urine at a maximum exposure level of 11 µg/kg body
weight (bw)/d. By means of an experimental no observed effect level
value, a permitted daily exposure dose below which there is a negligible
risk to human health was estimated for free HQ (100 µg/kg bw/d). Dietary
sources of arbutin/HQ that are regularly consumed long term by humans
generate comparable free HQ exposure levels. There is no direct
evidence, regarding human data, supporting the fact that free HQ causes
convulsion, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, or promotion of tumors in
humans. Free HQ had no activity promoting pancreatic, bladder, stomach,
or liver carcinogenesis. In conclusion, under the recommended use
conditions Uva-ursi folium is a safe therapeutic option for treating
lower urinary tract infections.
Botanical medicines for the urinary tract.
World J Urol. 2002. Yarnell E.
Four important categories of urologic herbs, their history, and modern
scientific investigations regarding them are reviewed. Botanical diuretics
are discussed with a focus on Solidago spp (goldenrod) herb, Levisticum
officinale (lovage) root, Petroselinum crispus (parsley) fruit, and Urtica
dioica (stinging nettle) herb. Urinary antiseptic and anti-adhesion herbs,
particularly Arctostaphylos uva ursi (uva-uri) leaf, Juniperus spp
(juniper) leaf, and Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) fruit are reviewed.
The antinephrotoxic botanicals Rheum palmatum (Chinese rhubarb) root and
Lespedeza capitata (round-head lespedeza) herb are surveyed, followed by
herbs for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, most notably Serenoa
repens (saw palmetto) fruit, Urtica dioica root, and Prunus africana (pygeum)
bark.
Int J Toxicol. December 2013. Risk assessment of free hydroquinone derived from Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi folium herbal preparations. Uva-ursi folium (bearberry leaf) has been traditionally used to treat symptoms of lower urinary tract infections. The most representative constituent of this herbal drug is arbutin that is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine and undergoes hepatic conjugation to form hydroquinone (HQ) conjugates. There is no direct evidence, regarding human data, supporting the fact that free HQ causes convulsion, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, or promotion of tumors in humans. Free HQ had no activity promoting pancreatic, bladder, stomach, or liver carcinogenesis. In conclusion, under the recommended use conditions Uva-ursi folium is a safe therapeutic option for treating lower urinary tract infections.
Uva Ursi side effects
I found one medical report of damage to the retina in one person
who used uva ursi daily for 3 years. As with most herbs, it is a good idea
to take occasional breaks and often this prevents any toxicity or harm.
Uva Ursi study
Bull's-eye maculopathy secondary to herbal toxicity from uva ursi.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2004. Wang L, Del Priore LV.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Weill Medical College,
Cornell University, New York, NY
We report a case of bilateral bull's-eye maculopathy in a
patient who ingested uva ursi, a known inhibitor of melanin synthesis, for
3 years before the onset of symptoms. Both eyes of a female patient were examined in the clinical
practice setting. A 56-year-old woman who ingested uva ursi for 3
years noted a decrease in visual acuity within the past year. Ocular
examination including fluorescein angiography revealed a typical
bull's-eye maculopathy bilaterally. Uva ursi is a known
inhibitor of melanin synthesis. It is necessary to broaden the list of
potential retinal toxic drugs to include herbal adjuvants such as Uva Ursi
and to elicit a history of their use in patients with unexplained ocular
findings.
Pak J Pharm Sci. 2014. In vivo evaluation & safety profile evaluation of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Spreng. extract in rabbits. The aim of our research work was to investigate the effects of low dose of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. on rabbits. Crude extract was administered for 90 days in rabbits and hematology, biochemistry parameters and histopathology changes were analyzed. In result of it gender-based variations were observed in hematological, kidney function, liver function, cardiac enzymes and lipid profile. Urine analysis revealed same results as that of standard and control drug. No significant pathology was observed in heart, stomach, liver and kidney tissues of rabbits, treated with A.uva-ursi in a dose of 25 mg/kg/day. Our results justify the use of A. uva-ursi in medicine for treatment of variable pathologies.
Urinary excretion and metabolism of arbutin after
oral administration of Arctostaphylos uvae ursi extract as film-coated
tablets and aqueous solution in healthy humans.
J Clin Pharmacol. 2002.
Bearberry leaves and preparations made from them are traditionally used
for urinary tract infections. The urinary excretion of arbutin metabolites
was examined in a randomized crossover design in 16 healthy volunteers
after the application of a single oral dose of bearberry leaves dry
extract. There were two groups of application using either film-coated
tablets (FCT) or aqueous solution (AS). The urine sample analysis was
performed by a validated HPLC coolarray method (hydroquinone) and a
validated capillary electrophoresis method (hydroquinone-glucuronide,
hydroquinone-sulfate). No significant differences between the two groups
were found in the metabolite patterns detected (hydroquinone,
hydroquinone-glucuronide, and hydroquinone-sulfate).
A single extraction step in the quantitative
analysis of arbutin in bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) leaves by
high-performance liquid chromatography.
Phytochem Anal. 2001.
A fast and simple extraction procedure coupled with a simple HPLC
method has been developed in order to determine the arbutin content of
leaves of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi plants grown at four different
geographical sites and collected during two different seasons. Using the
optimised analytical system, the arbutin content of bearberry leaves was
found to vary from 6.30 to 9% expressed on a dry weight basis. Autumn
is shown to be a better period than spring for the collection of plant
material in order to obtain the highest yield of arbutin. Uva ursi leaf.
Carrier herbal medicine: traditional and
contemporary plant use.
J Ethnopharmacol. 1996.
College of New Caledonia, Prince George, BC, Canada.
The Carrier, an Athapaskan-speaking people of northcentral British
Columbia, occupy the sub-boreal spruce forests of the central interior.
This report, which is based on field study, documents some traditional and
contemporary knowledge of the medicinal use of plants by the Carrier
people. Important medicinal plants include: Abies lasiocarpa, Alnus incana,
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Artemisia frigida, Fragaria virginiana, Juniperus
communis, Picea glauca, Pinus contorta, Populus tremuloides, Rubus idaeus
and Shepherdia canadensis.