Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry or Common Bearberry or Bear’s Arctostafilo (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.), Is a shrub species belonging to the family of the ericaceae.

Systematics –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to the Domain Eukaryota, Kingdom Plantae, Division Magnoliophyta, Class Magnoliopsida, Order Ericales, Family Ericaceae and therefore to the Genus Arctostaphylos and to the Species A. uva-ursi.
The term Arbutus uva-ursi L is synonymous with ..

Etymology –
The term Arctostaphylos comes from the Greek ἄρκτοσ árktos, bear and from σταφυλή staphylé, bunch of grapes: bearberry. The specific epithet grape-ursi derives from grape bunches, in particular grapes, and from the genus of Ursus. bear: bear grapes.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a species typical of the arctic areas of Eurasia and North America and high mountains in the temperate zone. Eurosiberian species of the cold and temperate-cold areas of Eurasia. In Italy it is present on the central-northern slopes up to Campania. Its habitat is that of the mountain and subalpine pine forests, rhododendron bushes, rocks and pastures, from 600 to 2500 m.

Description –
Uva ursina is a small shrub, about 30-35 cm tall, with a woody creeping stem and with 10-20 cm tall erect branches and dark bark. The leaves are evergreen, coriaceous, with cross-veined ribs, with 4-6 mm petiole and oblanceolate lamina-glossy spatula on the two sides, not slightly clearer below, without glands. The margin is whole with a fringe of short eyelashes. The leaves regenerate every three years. The flowers are 3-12 in apical racemes more or less curved, with a calyx of 1 mm and white corolla or more or less reddened by 5-6 mm; the stamens are 10, included.
The fruit is a drupe with the 5 welded carpels, red and acid taste, semi-globose measuring (5) 7 x 10 (14) mm, with 5- (6) wrinkled seeds, of 4-5 x 2 mm, with two flat and one convex surfaces.
The antesis is between June and August.

Cultivation –
The Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a plant that prefers bright and sunny places but in places that are too hot it is better to put them in semi-shaded places. It tolerates the cold of winter but can not stand the heat. It also grows well in rocky soils, rich in organic matter, well drained and with acidic pH. The bearberry bred in calcareous soils is subject to leaf chlorosis and in a short time the photosynthesis slows down and the plant dries completely. Cultivated in the ground is generally satisfied with the rains and should be watered only during periods of prolonged drought. For the cultivation technique, the following sheet can be consulted.

Customs and Traditions –
The bearberry is a medicinal and officinal herb, in fact, thanks to its antibacterial and diuretic properties, it is widely used as a remedy against cystitis, urethritis and inflammation or mild infections of the urinary tract and in prostatitis. With the Decree of 9 July 2012, the Ministry of Health regulates the use of plant substances and preparations in food supplements; defines the physiological effect of Arctostaplhylus Uva Ursi: Drainage of body fluids. Functionality of the urinary tract.
This plant is used as an antiseptic of the urinary tract since hydroquinone, the active ingredient, fights the adhesion of bacteria to the urothelial walls and facilitates their removal by urine. It has also given excellent results in prostatic hypertrophy and urinary retention.
The main constituent of the drug is arbutin, a glycoside of hydroquinone; other active ingredients are: methylarbutin, hydroquinone and other hydroquinone derivatives. The most represented phenolic acid is gallic acid, which, together with galloylarbutin, constitutes the main fraction of gallotannins. Other constituents are flavonoids and triterpenes such as ursolic acid and uvaol.
The Arctostaphylos uva-ursi can be confused with other similar species; among these A. alpinus (L.) Spreng. which is distinguished by having black fruit when ripe and membranous leaves, notched on the edge and not evergreen. Possible confusion can be made with non-flowering specimens of Polygala Chamaebuxus L. and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. which grow in the same environments and have almost identical leaves, which however do not have the characteristic eyelashes on the edge and have pinnate, non-reticulated veins.
This plant was commonly used by many native North American Indian tribes to treat a wide variety of ailments and has also been used in conventional herbal medicine for hundreds of years; it is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics.
According to one report, some North American native Indian tribes used an infusion of the stems, combined with blueberry stems (Vaccinium spp) to prevent miscarriage without causing harm to the baby and to hasten a woman’s recovery after childbirth.
However, the plant should be used with caution, as hydroquinones are also toxic.
The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, lithotripic, hypnotic and tonic.
The dried leaves are used in the treatment of a variety of ailments.
A tea made from the dried leaves is widely used for kidney and bladder ailments and inflammation of the urinary tract such as acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis, but should be used with caution and preferably only under the supervision of a doctor .
Tea is most effective if your urine is alkaline, so it’s best used in conjunction with a plant-based diet.
Externally, a poultice of leaves infused with oil has been used as a balm to treat rashes, skin sores, etc., and as a head wash for children.
An infusion of the leaves has been used as an eye drop, a mouthwash for cancers and sore gums, and as a poultice for back pain, rheumatism, burns, etc.
The dried leaves have been used for smoking as an alternative to tobacco.
This herb should not be prescribed to children, pregnant women or patients with kidney disease.

Method of Preparation –
The leaves should be harvested in early autumn, selecting only the green ones, and then dried.
The fruit of the bearberry is considered edible even if it has an acidic and unpleasant taste, therefore ingestion is not recommended. In Scandinavia it seems to be used for syrups. In Abruzzo, and in other regions, the leaves are used in decoction in gastric pains and in inflammation of the urinary tract. Bearberry is also an excellent antiseptic and astringent; if used as a herbal product, the use of the leaves in herbal tea and decoction is recommended, especially if associated with weed and thyme. A prescription from a doctor is always advisable since there have been cases of gastralgia and even intoxication.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Pharmacy of the Lord, Advice and experience with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Publisher
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.

Attention: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.