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Uva-ursi has been used as a diuretic and urinary antiseptic for more than 1,000 years by cultures as widely spread as the Chinese and Native Americans. Today it’s an ingredient found in most herbal diuretics and urinary remedies and in many weight loss formulas. Uva-ursi may not be effective if it’s taken in combination with certain foods. This is critical information some herbals fail to mention. Uva-Ursi Therapeutic Uses The herb turns into an antiseptic in the urinary tract. In addition, the herb contains several diuretic chemicals, powerful astringents, and allantoin, a chemical that helps promote the growth of healthy new cells. Uva-ursi is effective against Escherichia coli, the most frequent cause of UTIs. Some report the uva-ursi has cured UTIs that were unresponsive to antibiotics. For mild urinary symptoms, try uva-ursi as herbal first aid. But, there’s an important catch in using uva-ursi. To receive the greatest antiseptic benefit, the urine must be alkaline. This means that you must avoid acidic foods and supplements, such as sauerkraut, citrus fruits and their juices, and vitamin C, while taking the herb. Diuretics may provide relief from premenstrual bloating that bothers many women. Doctors often prescribe diuretics to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, which involves serious fatigue of the heart. If you have either of these heart related issues, please speak to your doctor before taking uva-ursi as part of your treatment. The astringent tannins in uva-ursi are binding and help relieve diarrhea. When applied topically, uva-ursi’s allantoin may help spur wound healing. Allantoin is the active ingredient in Derma-Heal, an over-the-counter skin cream. Uva-ursi appears to have some anti-inflammatory properties and may help dermatitis. In animal studies, the herb has helped treat hepatitis. Uva-Ursi Dosage Recommendations If you are going to make a tea from uva-ursi, you’ll want to minimize the unpleasantly astringent taste of the high-tannin herb by soaking the leaves in cold water overnight. Then simmer 1 teaspoon per cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. You can drink up to 3 cups of tea per day for relief from urinary symptoms or diarrhea. Uva-Ursi Safety Pregnant and nursing women should not take diuretics like uva-ursi. The herb also stimulates uterine contractions, making it even more off-limits to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Diuretics deplete the body of potassium, an essential nutrient. If you use uva-ursi regularly, be sure to eat more potassium rich foods such as bananas and fresh vegetables. Uva-ursi turns the urine dark green. This is harmless and should be no cause for alarm. Herbal weight loss formulas typically contain diuretics, with uva-ursi being among the common ingredients. Because diuretics boost urine production, they temporarily eliminate some water weight. Any pounds lost with help from diuretics almost invariably return, and weight loss experts advise against using diuretics for this purpose. Because uva-ursi is a diuretic, it may contribute to dehydration. If you use the herb make sure to drink plenty of fluids. It also contains high levels of tannins, so much so that it’s been used to tan leather. Large doses of tannins may cause stomach upset. To avoid this issue, add milk to neutralize the tannins.
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