BACKGROUND
Ingredient Type: Botanical
Also Known As: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Bear’s grape, Bearberry, Bearberry manzanita, Hogberry, Kinnikinnick, Mealberry, Mountain box, Mountain cranberry, Rockberry, Sandberry
Uva Ursi is a an evergreen shrub that grows in alpine forests in many regions, including North America, Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Siberia, and the Himalayas. It produces bright red or pink berries that are edible (but sour) that bears like to eat, leading to its common name of Bearberry. Uva Ursi has been used medicinally since the 2nd century, and Native Americans used it for urinary tract infections.
Uva Ursi contains tannins that have astringent effects, helping to shrink and tighten mucous membranes in the body.
Uva Ursi is used in health supplements today to help manage bacteria in the urinary tract.
MORE COMING SOON
In the meantime see the Penn State Hershey Health Information Library entry for uva ursi, the Examine.com entry for uva ursi, or the Michigan Medicine Health Library entry for uva ursi, or this European Medicines Agency mongraph on Arctostaphylos uva-ursi for more information.
