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Today's Daily Health Tip
Uva Ursi: A Natural Alternative for Bladder Related Issues?
by Jennifer Good
Each week we take a closer look at some common and some not so common ingredients used in the natural health world. This week's featured ingredient is uva ursi, sometimes referred to as bear berry because bears enjoy eating the fruit from this plant. For natural health purposes, however, only the leaves, not the berries, are used in herbal medicine. Uva ursi has been used medicinally for nearly 2,000 years mostly for the use in urinary tract infections. In fact, until the discovery of sulfa drugs and antibiotics, uva ursi was a common treatment for bladder and related infections.
1 Uva ursi contains a compound called arbutin, a glycosylated hydroquinone, which has the ability to drain excess water from cells, promoting an antiseptic effect on the kidneys. Uva ursi also contains diuretic chemicals, including ursolic acid, powerful astringents, and a chemical, allantoin, that helps promote the growth of healthy new cells and the healing of wounds. Uva ursi may help the bladder, cystitis, nephritis, water retention, liver ailments, and chronic diarrhea.
During its excretion, arbutin produces an antiseptic effect on the urinary mucous membrane and can therefore help assist with the urinary tract. Tannic acid is also contained in the leaves. Despite the presence of several acids in its makeup, uva ursi helps to keep the pH balance of urine from being too acid. It actually strengthens the lining of the urinary tract and helps to ease any inflammation in the system. It has a direct sedative effect on the bladder walls. For chronic inflammation of the bladder or kidneys, uva ursi has no equal. Two studies report that urine from individuals given uva ursi is active against the most commonly involved microorganisms in bladder and urinary tract ailments.
This study supports the results of a double blind study of 57 women with recurrent cystitis. After one year, the placebo group had 20% incidence of recurring cystitis, whereas the uva ursi group had no reoccurrence.
2 In addition, uva ursi has anti-lithic properties that help in dissolving crystals not just in the kidneys, but throughout the body as well. It has, therefore, been used for arthritis and other joint problems.
Uva ursi is most commonly available as a dried or crushed herb, capsule and powder. It can also be taken as a tea. Note: uva ursi should not be taken at high doses or for prolonged periods of time.
For more on how uva ursi can be used in a formula to strengthen the lining of the urinary tract and flush the kidneys,
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Podcasts Sources:
1 - http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/uva-ursi-000278.htm
2 - http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/cuthre/article/... 
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