Uva Ursi

Notes

Many people experience urinary tract infections as a frequent urge to urinate and a burning or otherwise painful sensation when voiding. Consult a doctor if these kinds of signs or symptoms persist for more than 24 to 36 hours because potentially serious complications can develop, including kidney problems.

Because of a lack of information regarding safety, children, people with kidney disease, pregnant women, and breast-feeding mothers should not take Uva Ursi. Large doses may stimulate uterine contractions during pregnancy. People with high blood pressure should consult a doctor before using Uva Ursi.

Because Uva Ursi requires an alkaline urine for its antimicrobial properties to work, those taking Uva Ursi should avoid eating acidic foods like citrus, pineapple, tomato. Prescription drugs such as ammonium chloride, non-prescription products such as vitamin C, herbals such as rose hips, and foods such as cranberry juice may all make the urine more acidic in nature. Potentially, taking a urine acidifier may lessen or destroy the antibacterial effects of Uva Ursi.

On the other hand, urinary alkalizers, drugs such as antacids, Bicitra, K-lyte, Polycitra, and sodium bicarbonate; herbals such as alfalfa and peppermint; and foods such as molasses, raisins, spinach, and some dried beans reduce the acid levels in urine, which may increase Uva Ursi's antibacterial effects.

Uva Ursi should only be taken for short periods (no longer than a week), and not repeated more than five times in one year.

While some people with sensitive stomachs develop nausea and vomiting with Uva Ursi, the herb appears to be quite safe for most people when taken at commonly recommended doses. However, high doses can cause a disconcerting, although apparently harmless, greenish-brown discoloration of the urine.

Extremely high doses of Uva Ursi, in the range of 10 times greater than the commonly recommended amount, can cause vomiting, ringing in the ears, shortness of breath, convulsions, and collapse in some cases. Liver damage is also a risk with high doses taken over extended periods of time. In a dose of 6,000 mg (6 grams) or higher taken at one time, Uva Ursi may cause seizures or cyanosis (a blue tint to the skin caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood). Single doses of 30,000 mg (30 grams) or higher have been reported to cause death. A case study of several individuals who regularly used large amounts of an oral product similar to Uva Ursi for many years, found that they had a higher incidence of tongue and lip cancer than expected. Cancers of the nose and esophagus may also be more likely in people who use large amounts of tannin-containing products for long amounts of time.

Other Names

• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
• Arberry,
• Arbutus,
• Bearberry,
• Bear's Berry,
• Bear's Grape,
• Carillo,
• Chipmunk's Apples,
• Coralillo,
• Crowberry,
• Foxberry,
• Hogberry,
• Kinnikinnick,
• Manzanita,
• Mealberry,
• Mountain Box,
• Mountain Cranberry,
• Mountain Tobacco,
• Pinemat Manzanita,
• Red Bearberry,
• Rockberry,
• Sandberry,
• Sagackhomi,
• Sagakomi,
• Upland Cranberry,
• Uva-Ursi,
• Whortleberry.

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