Bearberry

Latin name: Arctostaphylos Uva-UrsiGenera: Heather plantsPopular names: Description: Evergreen, small shrub with leathery leaves, red berries and fruits. Flowering time April to June, the flowers are small, whitish-pink with a toothed border and bell-shaped. The bearberry is related to the cranberry, which has brown dots on the underside of the leaves as a distinguishing feature. Origin: The plant is widespread in Scandinavia, Northern Germany, the Alps and Italy. Cultivation: It needs moorland and heathland rich in humus to thrive.

Medicinally used plant parts

the leaves

Ingredients

The glycosides arbutin and methylarbutin, hydroquinone, flavonoids, a lot of tannin and only little essential oil.

Healing effects and use of bearberry

Detoxifying agent for the kidney and the urinary tract. Has a slightly disinfecting effect, whether it has a diuretic effect is controversial. Used for mild kidney and bladder inflammations, mainly caused by colds.

If the symptoms do not improve, other medicines must be prescribed by a doctor. Bearberry leaves work best with alkaline urine. It is therefore advisable to avoid anything that makes the urine sour and to prefer a plant-based diet (fruit, fruit juices, vegetables, potatoes, etc.) during the treatment with bearberry leaves.

Preparation of bearberry

Bearberry leaf tea as cold extract: 1 to 2 teaspoons of bearberry leaves are poured over 1⁄4 l of cold water, left to stand for 12 to 24 hours, stir from time to time and then strain. From this extract, slightly warmed up, a cup can be drunk two to three times a day. The cold preparation prevents too many tannins from being dissolved, which would be the case when the water comes to the boil. To achieve an alkaline urine you can add to each cup of tea 1⁄4 teaspoon of baking soda.

Combination with other medicinal plants

tea mixture: Orthosiphon leaves (Indian bladder and kidney tea) 25.0 g and bearberry leaves 25.0 g mixed. This mixture with 1⁄4 l cold water pour over, 10 hours leave, occasionally stir, strain, 2 to three cups daily warmed up drink. This tea has a disinfectant, diuretic and slightly antispasmodic effect when cystitis begins. Indian bladder and kidney tea ideally complements the effect of bearberry leaves. These can also be combined with birch leaves, goldenrod, pumpkin, nasturtium, field horsetail and hackle.

Side effect

Overdosage and wrong preparation (pulled out hot) can lead to stomach intolerances such as nausea and vomiting due to the high amount of tannin. Tanning agents have a stuffing effect. Long-term use of bearberry leaves requires consultation with a doctor.