Bearberry - Uva Ursi Herbal Extract - 50 ml
Description
Bearberry - Arctostaphylos Uva ursi herbal Extract - 50 ml
TRADITIONALLY USED FOR
May help with
Urination - Diuretic
Urination infection
Menstrual remedy
anti-inflammatory
INFORMATION
Source : http://www.wikiphyto.org/wiki/Busserole
Reference on http://www.wikiphyto.org
Translation in English by Google Translate (go to the page of the source linked | on Chrome cellphones go on the 3 dots on the top right and select translate in your preferred language | on laptop right click your mouse and select option translate when hoovering on the page
plant name
Bearberry or bearberry
International Latin denomination
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. = Arbutus uva-ursi
botanical family
Ericaceae
Description and habitat
- Perennial subshrub with creeping, underground stems
- It emits tufts of glossy green evergreen leaves, smooth-edged oval, leathery, finely veined above
- Clusters of flowers with pinkish-white globose corolla
- The fruit is a red spherical berry without juice nicknamed “bearberry”
History and tradition
- Common in dry shady places, Europe, northern Asia and America
Parts used
- Leaf
Dosage forms available
- Leafy twig tincture
- sheet eps
- Elusanes dry extract
- Fluid extract
Usual dosages
- 4 times 3 grams of drug per 24 hours, i.e. 400 to 840 mg of hydroquinone derivatives
- 1 to 2 grams of dry extract
Composition
Main components of the plant
- Arbutoside (= arbutin , hydroquinone glucoside: 5 to 15%) of aqueous extraction
- Gallic tannins (15 to 20%)
- Flavonoids ( hyperoside , quercetol , kaempferol , myricetin )
- Pentacyclic triterpenes ( ursolic acid and other ursanes , uvaol )
- Iridoid : monotropeoside , piceoside
- Allantoin
Main components of buds or young shoots
Main components of essential oil
Properties
Plant properties
- Astringent, antiseptic (very oriented towards urinary tract conditions)
- Arbutoside (or arbutin ) is stable in the drug thanks to the tannins (hence the interest in keeping the totum) but hydrolyzed by the intestinal bacteria with the release of its aglycone, hydroquinone (a phenol ), conjugated in the liver, excreted via the kidneys and then released into the urinary tract
- Synergy with phenolic acids and piceoside
- Diuretic ( flavonoids and glycosides)
- Anti-inflammatory ( iridoids and allantoin )
- It's necessary :
- 1°) a sufficient quantity of glucoside (non-toxic) in principle up to 4 times 3 grams of drug per 24 hours, i.e. 400 to 840 mg of hydroquinone derivatives
- 2°) provide the urine with an alkaline reaction (for example with Vichy water or sodium bicarbonate) to decompose the esters
- The leaves are antimicrobial in vitro and in vivo against many germs ( Candida, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Salmonella )
Bud properties
Properties of essential oil
Directions
Indications of the whole plant (phytotherapy)
- Urinary infections, cystitis, urethritis, nephritis, pyelitis
- Maximum urinary concentration after 6 hours (70-75% of administered dose), lasting for 24 hours
- Depigmenting effect of the skin in cosmetics (reduction of tyrosinase and melanin)
- Contraindicated in pregnant women, arbutoside seems teratogenic
- Interactions: avoid drugs that acidify the urine
Indications of the bud (gemmotherapy)
Specific indications of essential oil (aromatherapy)
Known or suspected mode of action
- Arbutoside is hydrolyzed by intestinal bacteria with release of its aglycone, hydroquinone (a phenol), conjugated in the liver, excreted renally and then released in the urinary tract
- sufficient amount of glucoside (non-toxic)
- It has been said that alkalinization of urine is necessary to break down esters and improve efficiency, which does not seem essential [1]
Usual formulations
- Use cold maceration to avoid too high a tannin content , then heat in a second step to eliminate any echinococcosis
Regulations
- French Pharmacopoeia list A (sheet)
Possible side effects and precautions for use
- Under the recommended conditions of use, the use of bearberry leaves is a safe therapeutic option for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections [2].
- Contraindicated in pregnant women, bearberry being oxytocic and arbutoside seeming teratogenic
- Interactions: avoid drugs that acidify the urine (vitamin C, acid fruits)
- At high doses: nausea, vomiting, irritability, insomnia, increased heart rate, albuminuria, hematuria [3]
- Extremely high doses (ten times the recommended amount) may cause tinnitus, dyspnoea, seizures, delirium, vomiting
Bibliographic references
- Go↑ Siegers C, Bodinet C, Ali SS, Siegers CP. Bacterial deconjugation of arbutin by Escherichia coli. Phytomedicine. 2003;10 Suppl 4:58-60. PMID 12807345
- Go↑ Arriba SG, Naser B, Nolte KU. Risk assessment of free hydroquinone derived from Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi folium herbal preparations. Int J Toxicol. 2013 Nov-Dec;32(6):442-53. doi: 10.1177/1091581813507721. PMID 24296864
- Go↑ Chemical Information Review Document for Arbutin [CAS No. 497-76-7] and Extracts from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Supporting Nomination for Toxicological Evaluation by the National Toxicology Program, January 2006 [1]
- WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants (WHO Monographs) VOLUME 2
- Dombrowicz, E., Zadernowski, R. & Swiatek, L. (1991). Phenolic acids in leaves of Arctostaphylos uva ursi L., Vaccinium vitis idaea L. and Vaccinium myrtillus L, Pharmazie, 46 (9): 680-1
- Akerreta Silvia, Cavero Rita Yolanda, Calvo Maria Isabel. First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees. J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine. 2007; 3:26.
- RiosJL et al. Antimicrobial activity of selected plants employed in the Spanish Mediterranean area. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 1987, 21:139–152.
- Grases F et al. Urolithiasis and phytotherapy. International Urology and Nephrology, 1994, 26:507–511.
- Gina L. Nick. Antibiotics and urinary infections: too much too often? Life & Health Library, Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Nov 2005 [2]
CAUTION
Store in a cool, dry place, away from light. Keep tightly closed, away from the reach of Children and pets.
Do not exceed the daily dose.
This product is not intended to prevent or cure any form of illness or disease.
If you are pregnant or nursing ; If you have a medical condition or are in the course of medical treatment ; If you are programmed for theater/operation in the near future, please consult your healthcare practitioner before using this product.
This product cannot replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
This product has not been evaluated by the SAHPRA for its quality, safety or intended use.
For More Information please check our General Safety Herbal products Page