Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Uva Ursi

July 18, 2006 on 9:15 pm | In Main, Uva Ursi | Comments Off

Uva ursi

Uva ursi, also known as Bearberry is a procumbent shrub from 10-30 cm high. It is part of the genus Arctostaphylos, and along with two other types of barry from this genus, it has adapted to arctic and sub-arctic climates, and has a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia, Europe, and also some parts of Central America. Its medicinal use started in 1763, although it was in 13th century when Marco Polo reported that the Chinese were using it as a diuretic, to treat kidney and urinary problems. On the other hand Native Americans used it with tobacco and other herbs in religious ceremonies; used as incense or smoked in a sacred pipe, though they also used uva ursi tea to treat inflammation of the urinary tract, urethritis, kidney stones, and cystitis.

Composition

Uva ursi contains: arbutin, methylarbutin, a bitter principle, ursolic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, some essential oil and resin, hydroquinones (mainly arbutin, up to 17%), tannins (up to 15%), phenolic glycosides, and flavonoids.

These compounds are absorbed via the gastrointestinal tract, transported to the kidneys via the blood and excreted from the body via the urine. Apparently many of them give uva ursi the following properties: aromatic, astringent (its leaves) diuretic, lithontripic, and stimulant (mild), among others. Apparently, the actions experienced by Chinese and Native Americans are related to its function as a tonic for the sphincter muscle of the bladder, which of course helps with bladder control problems.

Uva ursi has also a strong antibiotic action against the bacterias Staphylococci and Escherichia coli, mainly due to the presence of a compound called Arbutin. However, it has been shown that uva ursi’s antiseptic compounds are also the ones that help to regulate normal flora in the urinary system. That is why nowadays, uva ursi is a common ingredient in dietary supplements, in order to avoid a very common problem when it comes to lose fat…

Water retention

Water is a critical nutrient for many bodily processes. In terms of fat loss, water intake helps to flush out toxins from the fat cells, stored in fat tissue. Besides, the body will hold on to excess water for survival if adequate amounts of water are not supplied. The fact is that in order to burn these fat cells, they first have to be free, not only from toxins, but also from excess water.

Another important related detail is to pay attention to the frequency of bowel movements. In case they are not frequent enough, the body absorbs poison from partially digested foods in the intestinal tract. The constipation this generates, encourages the body to retain fluids for diluting these poisons. In this last type of cases, it may be helpful to incorporate a laxative supplement before using uva ursi. So it is important to establish the reasons behind water retention, in order to chose the right treatment.

Side effects

Although uva ursi is relatively safe, large doses may cause nausea, green urine, bluish-grey skin, vomiting, fever, chills, severe back pain, or ringing in the ears. Treatment with pure uva ursi should not last for more than a week. It contraindicated for pregnant and breast feeding women, children under 12 years old, and patients with kidney disease. Drug interactions have been recorded with diuretics, as well as drugs that make the urine acidic (such as ascorbic acid and Urex).

In terms of urinal infections, the most common is to take 10-12 grams per day of dried leaf powder, prepared by steeping 3 grams of dried leaf in 150 ml (5 fluid ounces) boiling water for up to 15 minutes; and repeat it up to four times a day. The same amount of dried leaf (3 grams) may be steeped in 150 ml cold water for several hours.

However, as uva ursi can be taken in combination with other substances in the form of fat loss supplement, in those cases the indications in the label must be followed, appart from previously consulting a physician.