During pregnancy, it is often hard to determine which herbal supplements are still safe for consumption. Herbalists commonly use uva ursi for the treatment of urinary tract infections. You are more likely to develop urinary tract infections during pregnancy, especially between weeks six and 24, according to the American Nurses Association. Because so many pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drugs are off limits, you may consider using uva ursi to treat your infection. You should always consult your physician before using this or any other herbal remedy, particularly during pregnancy.
Uva Ursi
Arctostaphylos uva ursi, also known as bearberry, is a trailing evergreen shrub with red berries that grows in the alpine forests of Europe, North America, Siberia as well as the Iberian peninsula and the Himalayas. Until sulfa drugs were discovered, uva ursi was the most common treatment for urinary tract infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that researchers have discovered that uva ursi contains antibacterial properties that fight infection including arbutin and hydroquinone.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections can occur anywhere along the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the urethra, and are often extremely painful. The most common cause of urinary tract infections are germs or bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder and kidneys. Women tend to get more urinary tract infections than men because the urethra is shorter and closer to the anus than in men.
Pregnant women get UTI's more frequently because of changes to the urinary tract during pregnancy. The uterus sits over the bladder, and as it grows the increase in weight blocks the drainage of urine, leading to infection. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection commonly include cloudy or bloody urine, low-grade fever, pain or a burning sensation during urination, pressure or cramping in the back or abdomen and a frequent feeling of having to urinate. If the infection spreads to the kidneys, you may experience symptoms including chills, shaking, night sweats, fatigue, flank pain, groin pain, flushed or reddened skin, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain.
Uva Ursi During Pregnancy
Drugs.com explains that the Expert Advisory Committee in Herbs and Botanical Preparations advice against using uva ursi during pregnancy because it is oxytocic. Oxytocic herbs or medications can hasten childbirth by stimulating uterine contractions. Oxytocic herbs and medications should only be taken under the direct care of a physician or certified midwife and for the express use of inducing labor at the proper time. The use of uva ursi can often lead to miscarriage as well as pre-term labor.
Warnings
One of the active components of uva ursi, hydroquinone, can be toxic to the liver, and you should not take it if you are pregnant, nursing or have digestive problems, Crohn's disease, kidney or liver problems or ulcers. Uva ursi may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroids, increasing their effects, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Using vitamin C, cranberry juice and other citrus fruits may make urine more acidic, diminishing the effectiveness of uva ursi's antibacterial properties.
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