Botanical Names

• Family Ericaceae
• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
• Arctostaphylos manzanita
• Arctostaphylos pungens

Common Names

• Bearberry, Arberry, Bearsgrape, Kinnikinnick, Mealberry, Mountain Box, Mountain Cranberry, Upland Cranberry, Redberry Leaves, Sagackhomi, Sandberry, Rockberry, Hogberry
• Spanish: Pingüica, Manzana, Manzanita, Corallino, Coralillo
• Nahuatl: Tomazquitl, Tepeizquitl, Tepesquisúchil

Cautions

 The high tannin content of uva ursi can cause nausea and vomiting and should not be taken if pregnant, while breastfeeding, or be given to children under the age of twelve.

Do not take in the presence of kidney disease.

Do not take longer than seven to ten days at a time as liver damage can occur. High doses and long-term use can also cause serious urinary tract irritation; and hydroquinone, derived from arbutin, may be toxic to the liver. In addition, long-term use can also affect nutrient absorption especially if taken in conjunction with a neutralizing agent.

Do not give in combination with preparations that cause acidic urine since this reduces the antibacterial effect.

Excessive use by anyone can cause stomach discomfort and pain.

Description

 Native to Europe, the herb is now naturalized throughout the Northern Hemisphere up to the Arctic. It is popular with some gardeners who cultivate it as a ground cover. Uva ursi is a low-lying perennial evergreen shrub, growing to twenty inches having long, trailing stems, dark green leaves that are glossy on the upper side, bell-shaped pink flowers, and small glossy red berries. It grows in damp conditions in undergrowth, heathland, and grassland. The leaves and berries are gathered in autumn.

History

 It is the bitter leaves that are used medicinally and have been used as such for more than a thousand years from the Himalayas to North America.

In Latin, the name uva-ursi means "bear's grape" and stems from the fact that bears feast on the red berries and bitter leaves. Although the red fruits resemble cranberries, their taste is rather bland.

After his return from China, Marco Polo described how Chinese doctors used the herb to treat urinary disorders. European healers soon followed suit, and herbalists continue to recommend it for kidney and bladder disorders.

The plant was first documented in The Physicians of Myddfai, a 13th century Welsh herbal.

The fruit formed part of the staple diet of the Native American who, in turn, taught the new settlers to appreciate the herb as a food and as a medicine. The Okanagan-Coleville Indians drank a tonic to treat kidney and liver problems, made by combining the stems and leaves of urva ursi along with twigs from the Oregon grape.

Key Actions

• astringent
• antibacterial
• anti-inflammatory
• diuretic
• urinary antiseptic

Key Components

• hydroquinones (mainly up to 17% arbutin)
• tannins (up to 15%)
• phenolic glycosides
• flavonoids
• very high in iron, manganese, and vitamin A

Medicinal Parts

 Leaves, berries

Recent chemical studies document that the leaves do contain antibacterial chemicals which appear to validate the long-standing use of uva ursi in treating urinary tract and bladder infections.

Arbutin, which becomes hydroquinone in the body, is an antiseptic that can kill bacteria and other micro-organisms.

Ursolic acid and isoquercitrin have diuretic properties, but it is not known whether the herb can actually rid the body of excess water.

It has proven to be effective on several organisms, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, common in urinary tract infections.

The herb also appears to destroy Candida albicans, a common cause of yeast infections.

Traditional Uses

 Astringent and diuretic, uva ursi is used almost exclusively in the treatment of urinary disorders by herbalists in North America. It is widely used to disinfect and astringe the urinary tract in cases of acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis. Although one of the best natural urinary antiseptics, it is not suitable if there is a simultaneous kidney infection. Research has confirmed its antibacterial effect, which is thought to be stronger in alkaline urine. Thus, it is likely to be more effective if taken in combination with a vegetable-based diet. Therefore, while taking uva ursi, such vitamin C and acid-rich foods as citrus and many other fruits, should be avoided. A quick way to ensure an alkaline urine is to dilute a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it when taking the herb. However, this should not be done for more than one week at a time as this process will eventually interfere with nutrient absorption.

The herb is also an anthilic, quickly breaking down kidney and bladder stones, and stopping new ones from forming. It has been recommended for ulceration of the bladder and leucorrhoea and to reduce excessive menstrual flow.

To ease muscle pain and sprains, a poultice of crushed leaves can be used on the area. Boil the leaves in a small amount of water and drain. Cover the area with cheesecloth and place the leaves on top then cover with a towel to retain the heat. This treatment can be repeated two or three times a day until healing takes place.

There are over seventy species of Arctostaphylos, with uva ursi being one of the most pronounced medicinally. It is available commercially in forms for infusions, cold macerations, extracts, capsules, and powdered forms. These preparations can also be made at home under professional guidance.

Botanical Names

• Family Parmeliaceae
• Usnea sp. (notably U. barbata, U. longissima, U. florida, U. ceratina, U. hirta, U. dasypoga, and U. plicata)

Common Names

• Tree Moss, Old Man’s Beard, Beard Moss

Cautions

 Animal testing has shown excessively large amounts of usnic acid is toxic to animals, but no toxicity has been noted in humans.

Do not use during pregnancy.

Usnea readily absorbs heavy metals in potentially toxic amounts, a problem faced by the people in far northern latitudes. In order to avoid potentially toxic compounds in the plant itself, harvest at least 300 feet from any road, factory, or polluted area.

Description

 This plant is found worldwide in cool, damp places and commonly seen as the long, gray-green hairy moss growing on trees, mainly fruit, fir, oak and pine. Although slow-growing, it is extremely prolific and long-lived. It can be a tuft the size of a kiwi fruit or it may cover entire stumps and dying trees. It may be gray-green in smaller species or a mild yellow-green in the larger hanging strands.

The herb is a symbiote composed of two plants intertwined. The gray-green outer portion (cortex) contains the antibiotic compounds. The inner portion (thallus) is visible as a thin white thread inside the cortex. It contains immune-stimulating substances and stretches when wet, but is stiff when dry. The outer plant gives the herb its colour and grows around the inner plant. Usnea is round, not flat, and covered by minute projections called papillate. Collect only live plants growing on live trees.

History

 Obviously, its nicknames were derived from its appearance.

Usnea has a broad use across many cultures throughout the world as a general wound healer (Canary Islands), eupeptic (Italy), antiseptic (Argentina), antibacterial (Saudi Arabia), antitumor agent (Chile), and for delayed menstration (Korea and other Asian countries).

Native Americans viewed it as representing the male gender and the northly direction. To them, usnea's primary purpose was that of maintaining the lung system of the planet, namely, the trees. Its use for people was secondary. Plants provide medicinal action for the ecosystem by maintaining a healthy balance within itself and because humans and animals are a part of that ecosystem, the plants are able to help them as well. Usnea helps fight off infection in the trees, and thus serves a crucial function in maintaining rainfall patterns. We see this today. As more and more land upheaval takes place through stripping it of plants or polluting them with chemicals, the more we see a change in weather patterns in response. The same analogy holds true for humans ingesting so many chemicals and, as a result, sickness is rampant.

The Kiowa did use it for abscesses, while others used it as a dye.

Key Actions

• anitbacterial
• antifungal
• anti-inflammatory
• immune stimulant

Key Components

• lichen acids (including usnic, thamnolic or hirtellic, usnaric or salazinic, lobaric, stictinic, protocetraric, everminic, barbatinic or rhizonic, diffractaic or dirhiazonic, and barbatolic acids)
• mucilage

Medicinal Parts

 Entire lichen

It is active against tuberculosis, Pneumonococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., enterococcus, Trichomonas, Candida spp., and various fungal strains.

In studies of over fifty-two different lichens, including usnea, the results showed that all were able to inhibit bacterial growth; but it is generally more active against gram-positive strains and not as effective against gram-negative bacteria.

Traditional Uses

 Powdered or whole, dried or fresh, the herb can also be eaten or used in a tea. It is a major herb for the treatment of mucous membrane inflammations of the lungs, intestines, throat, sinuses, urinary, and reproductive tracts. It relieves many internal problems from tuberculosis to acute bacterial infections.

Infusions and decoctions are used to treat inflammations of the mouth and pharynx. Lozenges and solid forms are available commercially.

As a douche, it is effective against trichomonas and yeast infections.

Tinctures from the herb are not very successful because the herb is not easily soluble in alcohol unless first mechanically ground. The outer sheath will powder readily, but the inner white thread will remain a ball. However, both will give up their constituents to an alcohol/water combination.

The plant is traditionally used throughout the world for skin infections, abscesses, upper respiratory and lung infections, vaginal infections, and fungal infections.

The lichen, soaked in garlic juice or a strong garlic decoction, has long been used for treating large gaping wounds.

Powdered, it can be sprinkled on the site of any infection, except for impetigo.

Western herbalists reportedly use it for fungus infections, lupus, mastitis, varicose and tropic ulcers, second and third degree burns, plastic surgery, athlete’s foot, ringworm, UTIs (urinary tract infections), colds, flu, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, sinus infections, Staph and Strep infections, and dysentery.

Usnea has been very effective in treating TB by weakening the growth of the cells. Some equate its effectiveness as equal to that of streptomycin, which would be two to seven droppersful of tincture three times a day lasting at least six months.