Bearberry, leaves, cut, organic

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng., controlled organic cultivation

Indication

antibacterial effect, for inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract (cystitis, bladder catarrh), cystitis, kidney inflammation

Application

A cold extract of the leaves is particularly suitable for preparing a bearberry leaf tea. This is easier on the stomach than boiling the tea hot. For a cold extract, pour 250 ml of cold water over 1-2 teaspoons of bearberry leaves. Allow the mixture to steep for 12-24 hours, stirring occasionally. Then strain and warm the tea slightly. In case of cystitis or inflammation of the kidneys, you can drink about 2-3 cups of this tea daily. For acute symptoms, you can drink up to 4 cups per day.

Medicinal herb description

History

The first written records of bearberry can be found in the Middle Ages. At that time, bearberry was mainly used for diseases of the urinary tract as well as for bilious diseases. In addition to the berries, the bearberry leaves were also used to treat open wounds due to their anti-inflammatory effect.
Note: Bearberry is a protected plant in Germany. It may therefore not be collected. Our bearberry leaves are from controlled organic cultivation and of the highest quality.

Plant family

Bearberry belongs to the heather family.

Colloquial names

Achelkraut, bear's tea, bear's grape leaf, gaden, garlen, granten, harneweed, mealberry, cranberry, sandberry, stoneberry, wild boxwood, wolfberry, wolf grape

Ingredients

"Glycosides
" arbutin and methylarbutin
" tannic acid
" tannin
" vitamin C
" alantoin
" Flavones
" Salicylic acid

Medicinal properties

The leaves of bearberry contain, among other things, up to six percent phenolic glycosides: the most important representative of these phenolic glycosides is the plant substance arbutin, which is converted in the body into its effective form: hydroquinone. This has a mild disinfecting effect and also inhibits the growth of bacteria. The hydroquinone is excreted by the body via the kidneys. In this way, it can develop its antibacterial effect in the urinary tract (ureter, bladder and urethra). Because of this property, bearberry leaves are considered the best-known herbal medicine for bladder infections.