Uva Ursi For Bladder Infection

Bladder infections, known medically as cystitis, occur when bacteria travels up the urethra and infects and inflames the bladder, commonly causing bladder pain, burning, strong-smelling urine, urinary urgency, fever and dull pain in your lower abdomen. Approximately 700,000 Americans have chronic bladder infections, 90 percent of them women, according to women's health advocate Dr. Donnica L. Moore. Practitioners of alternative medicine claim the herb uva ursi may help relieve uncomplicated urinary tract infections, such as cystitis. However, as its safety and efficacy remain unclear and unsubstantiated, consult your doctor before use.

About Uva Ursi

Native to the coniferous forests, sandy soils and rocky slopes of Alaska, California, Georgia and Arkansas, uva ursi features oblong leaves and bell-shaped pink flowers that bear small red berries in late summer. The bitter-tasting leaves of the low-growing evergreen shrub constitute uva ursi's medicinal source.

Pros

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, lab and animal studies indicate uva ursi provides tannins and several chemicals, including arbutin and hydroquinone, that help fight urinary tract infections and bladder inflammation. Phyllis A. Balch, certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Herbal Healing," claims uva ursi's key constituent, arbutin, acts as an urinary antiseptic, particularly effective against E. coli and Proteus bacterial infections.

Cons

The therapeutic effectiveness of arbutin as it relates to bladder infections appears to be dependent on its ability to convert into the known antimicrobial agent hydroquinone. For uva ursi to work, hydroquinone and the sugar portion of arbutin must separate, and you must have alkaline urine to facilitate this, according to Balch. Additionally, while a few studies indicate that uva ursi may help prevent potential bladder infections by fighting bacteria, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center cautions that no studies exist that confirm the herb's efficacy against established bladder infections.

Cautions and Considerations

Uva ursi has several significant adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, turning urine green and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center cautions against using uva ursi for extended periods of time, since it can lead to liver damage. Children, pregnant and nursing women and people with chronic kidney disease, peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease should avoid the herb.