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Herbal Glossary | Medicinal Glossary | Herbal Preparations | Ayervedic Formulas | Chinese Formulas Bearberry
Scientific Names
Common Names
Parts Usually UsedLeaves Description of Plant(s) and CultureTrailing or prostrate evergreen shrub with mats of leafy stems; bark fine-hairy. Leaves shiny-leathery, spatula-shaped. A long single, fibrous main root sends out several prostrate or buried stems from which grow erect, branching stems Needs partial shade or full sun, is considered a good ground cover where lime is not in the soil and drainage is good. Zones Where FoundFound in dry, sterile, sandy or gravely soil, exposed rock. Arctic to northern United States. Also found in Europe and Mexico. Found in Medicinal PropertiesDiuretic, strongly astringent, tonic Biochemical InformationArbutin, chorine, ellagic acid, ericolin, gallic acid, hydroquinolone, malic acid, methyl-arbutin, myricetin, volatile oils, quercetin, tannins, ursolic acid, ursone, and a substance similar to quercetin. Tannin is present up to 6% or 7%. Legends, Myths and StoriesNative Americans used bearberry, or kinnikinnick as they called it, in their ceremonial pipe in place of tobacco. The Arikaras cultivated sacred tobacco and mixed it with bearberry dried leaves and the dried inner bark of red dogwood. Some Native American tribes mixed tobacco with bearberry to make a milder smoke. The pipe-stem of the Plains Indians was made of golden sumac, a sumac which used to grow close by the pipestone quarry. This stem was about 24 inches long and an inch wide, but quite thick, flat like a carpenter's pencil. This is the way the hole through the stem was made. Gathering the sumac in Spring when the sap was up in the large pith, some meat or fish was put out where blowflies could work on it. When large maggots were on the meat, the piece of sumac which had previously been put in a can of oil or bear grease, was brought in. As the large pith had taken up the oil, it was soft, and quite a bit was dug out. The maggots were then sealed up in the stem, to either eat their way through, or die. Sometimes they did both, but there was plenty of time to do it all over again, patiently, till a long perfect hole was drilled through. The use of bearberry as a folk remedy for urinary tract infections has been validated by modern research showing that this herb is an effective treatment for bladder and kidney ailments. UsesA bitter herb used for kidney and bladder infections, kidney stones, nephritis, diabetes, and hemorrhoids. Strengthens the heart muscle, used as a tonic, and helps disorders of the spleen, liver, pancreas, and small intestines. Used as a diuretic. Good for female disorders. Also used in bronchitis, gonorrhea, diarrhea, and to stop bleeding. It is not necessary to drink the tea for long periods, because acute symptoms generally will disappear within a few days with treatment of bearberry leaf tea. Formulas or DosagesFall is the best time to pick the leaves. Only the leaves are harvested, which is possible year-round, but should not begin harvesting them until the first blooms. Infusion: soak the leaves in alcohol (not rubbing alcohol) or brandy, then add Dried herb: mix Tincture: take How SoldCapsules: take 1 for up to WarningContains arbutin, which hydrolyzes to the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone. Use should be under medical supervision. Bearberry can lead to stomach distress, and prolonged use can produce chronic poisoning. High doses may cause nausea.
Resource LinksLiveStrong: What Are the Benefits of the Herb Uva Ursi? University of Maryland Medical Center: Uva Ursi Bastyr University: Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Natural Resources Conservation Service: Bearberry Natural Resources Conservation Service: Plant profile for Uva Ursi Bibliography
Herbal Gardening, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition
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Arberry
The Herb Book
, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.
, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993Copyright © 1996-2010 Lynn DeVries, all rights reserved.