The Surprising Power of the Bearberry Plant

The bearberry plant was a favorite food among bears living in the European mountains. The bears enjoyed the tiny berries that resembled small apples. Although the berries are edible, the medicinal uses of the plant reside mainly in the leaves.

The medicinal use of the bearberry plant began long ago in northern European countries, but classical Roman and Greek botanists did not know this plant. In the 18^th century, the excellent properties of this plant in treating urinary ailments were already known all over Europe and America.  Today, its properties have been proven in scientific research, and it is a valuable remedy for people suffering from urinary ailments. Hence, several pharmaceutical preparations are made from bearberry extract.

Bearberry Plant Scientific Facts

1. Scientific synonyms: Arbutus uva-ursi L.
2. Other names: Arberry, bear’s grape, kinnikinnick, mealberry, mountain box, mountain cranberry, red bearberry, sagackhomi, sandberry, upland cranberry, uva ursi.
3. French: Raisin d’ ours, busserole.
4. Spanish: Gayuba, uva de oso.
5. Environment: Native to northern Europe and Asia, it is widely spread throughout Europe and North America. It usually grows in rocky soils and on mountain slopes.
6. Description: This woody shrub of the Ericaceae family grows from 15 to 30 cm high. It has long, creeping stems and evergreen, small, fleshy leaves that are dark green. The flowers are round, white, or pink, and the fruit are bright red berries.
7. Parts of the plant used medicinally: The leaves.

Healing Properties and Warning

The leaves of the bearberry plant contain high amounts of tannin, which gives the plant astringent properties and flavonoid glycosides, to which bearberry owes its mildly diuretic properties and fatty and resinous substances. However, its most crucial active component is arbutin, a phenol glycoside whose genine is hydroquinone. This substance provides a decisive antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action on the urinary organs and is eliminated through the urine.

The urine must have an alkaline reaction for the hydroquinone to exert its action since the alkaloid is neutralized in acid pH environments. This is no problem for those with vegetarian diets, as they have alkaline urine. However, those people with diets rich in meat and shellfish produce acid urine, and the bearberry plant cannot exert its beneficial action.

Therefore, we recommend following a vegetarian diet rich in fruits and vegetables when treating bearberry. This diet will also positively affect urinary afflictions by making the urine alkaline and allowing bearberry to act. Sodium bicarbonate can also temporarily make the urine alkaline, though the action of this substance does not last long and has several side effects.

Since the germs that cause urinary infections usually become resistant to habitual antibiotics and antiseptic substances, bearberry offers a valid alternative to treat such afflictions. However, for urinary infections, you should always see the doctor. The bearberry plant, alone or combined with other treatments, is recommended in the following cases:

1. Pyelonephritis is an infection of the renal pelvis (a cavity inside the kidneys), in which the urine produced collects. This affliction manifests itself with intermittent high fever, cloudy urine, and kidney pain. Bearberry acts as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory substance by eliminating its active components through urine.
2. Cystitis. (infection and inflammation of the urinary bladder). Bearberry eases the sensation of burning and pain suffered when urinating. It is especially effective for chronic cystitis and has proven resistant to other treatments.
3. Urethritis. An infection of the urethra, which in some cases can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases.
4. Prostatitis. Almost always caused by urinary infections.
5. Kidney sand and stones. Some people believe bearberry dissolves kidney stones, but this has not been proven. Bearberry is beneficial for these afflictions since it prevents the urine infections that usually accompany them. The bearberry plant gives urine a greenish color, showing effective treatment.

WARNING! Treatments with bearberry must last no longer than ten days or 15 as a maximum. If needed, they can be repeated after a few weeks. Some people with delicate stomachs may present a digestive intolerance to the tannin in bearberry leaves. We recommend making herbal teas less concentrated (only 20-30 grams of leaves) and taking charcoal simultaneously, which absorbs tannin.

How to use Bearberry

1. Decoction with 50-60 grams of dry ground leaves, previously soaked for 3-4 hours, per liter of water. Boil for 15 minutes and drink a cup every 3-4 hours. Intake should be close together since bearberry’s active principles are quickly eliminated through urine.
2. Cold extract with 50-60 grams of leaves in a liter of water. Steep for 24 hours, then strain and drink three cups daily, gently heated. This is an excellent way to take bearberry, which lacks the undesirable side effects of tannin, though the results are less intense than those of the decoction.
3. There are several pharmaceutical preparations based on bearberry extract, which doctors can prescribe depending on the patient’s condition.

DISCLAIMER: All content on this website is presented solely for educational and informational objectives. Do not rely on the information provided as a replacement for advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified medical expert. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have any preexisting medical concerns, talk to your doctor before using any herbal or natural medicines.

REFERENCES

1. George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 564, 565. Print.[bearberry plant]
2. WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/
3. Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/