If you are looking for a natural cure for a uti you may be wondering about uva ursi for urinary tract infection. This herb is excellent for all bladder and urinary problems. You should know more about it before you decide to take any action.
In this post you’ll see how uva ursi helps, how to take it and any safety concerns. Before we get into anything let’s look at some background information on urinary tract infections.
Causes and Symptoms of Uti
A bladder infection, also known as cystitis or urinary tract infection, is a bacterial infection that causes painful urination and a feeling that the bladder never completely empties. You may experience fevers and back pain too.
80% of bladder infections are caused from bacteria from the anus, the main bacteria being Escherichia coli, or E coli for short. This may sound silly but you should wipe front to back to decrease your chances of spreading E coli.
Sex can also spread bacteria.
Both men and women can get these infections but women are more prone to infections because of their shorter urethra. 20% of women experience cystitis in their lives and many are chronic suffers (3 or more times a year). You want something that can prevent or heal this problem in the most natural way; uva ursi can do that for you.
Background Information on Uva Ursi
Common names: Bearberry, upland cranberry, universe vine, mountain cranberry, mountain box, wild cranberry, bear’s grape, kinnpiknnick, mealberry, sagackhomi, red bearberry, arberry.
Parts Used: Leaves
Medicinal Properties: Diuretic, astringent, tonic, mucilaginous
How Can Uva Ursi Help Me?
Different cultures across the world have used uva ursi for thousands of years. All the way from China, to ancient Rome to America with the Native Americans. Today it is highly recommended for kidney and urinary problems.
Commision E is the German version of the FDA in America. Herbs are way more mainstream in Germany and are more widely accepted as treatment. They approve uva ursi in treatments for urinary tract infections.
Dr. Tyler of Purdue University calls uva ursi the “most effective antibacterial herb for urinary tract infection.” It also prevents E coli which I mentioned earlier is the main bacteria to cause this infection.
There’s a chemical found in is this herb called arbutin. This chemcial is transformed into an antimicrobial antiseptic once it hits the urinary tract; this makes it a natural antibiotic.
It also has several diuretic chemicals (important in emptying the bladder) including:
- Ursolic acid
Powerful astringent:
- Tannins
A chemical that promotes the growth of healthy new cells;
- Allantoin
Some people believe this herb can work better than pharmaceutical medicines and has worked in cases where prescriptions haven’t.
This Is Important and Often Overlooked
According to Michael Castleman in his best selling book The New Healing Herbs “to receive the greatest antiseptic benefit from uva ursi your urine must be alkaline.” This means you must avoid acidic foods, supplements, citrus fruits and their juices, sauerkraut, and vitamin C while taking this herb.
What Other Benefits Can You Get?
I hope you’re excited by what uva ursi can do for your urinary problems. The beautiful thing about herbs in general is they offer many benefits for your health. Because it’s a diuretic it can be useful in high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
According to many sources it can help with:
- Diabetes
- Kidney Disease
- Mucous discharge in the bladder with pus and blood
- Hemorrhoids
- Spleen, liver and pancreas problems
- Gonorrhea
There’s Many Ways To Take It
The first beautiful thing about herbs is the multiple medicinal uses. The second beautiful thing is the variety of ways you can take it.
I have created an in depth guide on how to prepare herbs and all the different dosages needed. You can look at it by clicking below:
Learn How To Take And Prepare Herbs
Here are a few common ways to take.
The first way to take it is to steep a heaping teaspoonful in a pint of boiling water for 30 minutes. You’ll want to drink a half cupful every 4 hours. If you are taking as a tincture you should take between 1/4 to 1 teaspoon, up to 3 times a day.
It’s available in capsule forms which is a very convenient way to take it. You only need to take 1 to 2 a day if you take this route.
When combined equal parts with another herb, buchu, it is extremely effective in kidney and bladder troubles.
What Type Of Safety Risks Are There?
In my opinion prescription medicines and synthetic drugs should be your last choice in treatment. Minor lifestyle changes, improving diet and the right kind of exercise can fix and prevent a lot of problems.
Prescription drugs are harmful
I also believe you should choose herbs before medicines with chemicals in them. Did you know deaths from prescription medicines are more than all illegal drugs combined? It’s also more than automobile accidents; making it the 5th most common cause cause of death. Over 100,000 people die because of these legal drugs while pharmaceutical companies make 400 billion a year.
Even if the medicines for urinary tract infections aren’t considered lethal and don’t contribute highly to this death rate, you still should look else where first. Herbs are natural and meant to be in your body.
It is extremely important that you get a correct diagnosis before you start treating yourself. You want to discuss options with your doctor. Don’t wait for him or her to bring up natural treatments though, you have to.
Uva ursi should not be given to children under the age of 2 and for older children and the elderly, start with lower dosages and increase strength if necessary.
Uva ursi may turn your urine a dark green but this is harmless and shouldn’t alarm you. Some people may get an upset stomach from the tannins in this herb.
Medicinal amounts of this herb are usually considered safe. Remember ask your doctor before self medicating and keep him or her in the loop if you feel any symptoms.
Do You Feel Encouraged About Uva Ursi?
I hope so! This is a powerful little herb and can do a lot for your health, primarily with any bladder or urinary infections.
If this sounds like something you want to try I would like to recommend a great online supplier of herbs and herbal products. Their name is Starwest Botanicals and this is where I personally buy my herbs. I have never had a problem and they are one of the most well known and respected supplier in the world.
Learn More About Starwest Botanicals
If you have further questions, opinions or thoughts comment below and I’ll respond as fast as possible. Also, if you believe in the power of herbs share on social media for friends and family to see.
Make sure to keep checking in for new posts. Thanks for reading!
Hi Dylan,
Your article on the subject of urinary tract infection hit home with me in a way. Slightly different last year I was diagnosed twice over a 6 month time period by both my primary care physician and a urologist as suffering from prostatitis. This is an infection of the prostate gland, which also led me to unknowingly retain urine many times.
As I’m now in my late 50’s the urologist diagnosed me as further having an enlarged prostate gland, something that many men around my age and older statistically will have to deal with at some point in their lives.
I am on medication now, but it’s interesting that both doctors, (the specialist included) did not recommend that I try herbal treatments as none that they are aware of have been approved by the FDA. Both discussed with me the unknown related to side-effects of these herbs as no long term study has been completed by people in the field of medicine.
Now the herb that you recommended is for a slightly different cause and has been approved. You took the time in your great review to list the positive effects that Uva ursi has with other medical factors – including diabetes, kidney disease and problems with liver, spleen and pancreas situations.
How long has this herb been out on the market? You did state that different cultures around the world have used this herb for thousands of years. Certainly a lot longer than a product called “Urinozinc” which was advertised last year in the media, not approved by the FDA and to which my doctor warned me to avoid it at all costs.
Great review Dylan that you did in creating the article! Thank you for sharing it publicly as I’m sure people would get some medical benefits out of using it.
Jeff
You can make a tea with equal part uva ursi and buchu. Use a teaspoon to a cup of boiling water. Drink between 2 to 4 cups a day; you can also take these herbs in capsule form and follow directions on the bottle.
Or you can make a tea with equal parts gravel root and cleavers or peach leaves. Make and take the same way as described above. Both these teas and recommendations come from one of the most known herbalists of all time, Jethro Kloss.
Saw palmetto, licorice and pumpkin seeds are highly recommended too. One doctor, James A. Duke, claims that herbal treatments made of these will work better than almost all prescriptions for prostate enlargement. He claims they are cheaper and have way less side effects. He even openly and publicly challenged the FDA about these claims.
Definitely discuss this with your doctor. Commission E is the German version of the FDA. They research herbs more and as a result doctors commonly recommend herbs in Germany for diseases and ailments. If Commision E recommends something it can be trusted.