Collection and preparation of bearberry. Medicinal plants Bearberry leaf Latin name

Description of bearberry (Bear's ear) .

Literary names of the plant: Bearberry;
Latin (botanical) name of the plant: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi;
Plant generic name: Arctostaphylos;
Popular names of the plant: Bear grapes, Bear's ear, Bear ears, Bear berry, Tormentor, Pork lingonberry, Pork berry, Toloknitsa, Tolokonka borovaya.

Only the main, most common names among the population are listed. The names came to us from, as well as because of the appearance and habitats. Bearberry is a plant of swamps, where it can form thickets. Due to its use in official and folk medicine. In culture in very small quantities, since the plant is quite whimsical and susceptible to external conditions and it is extremely difficult to endure harvesting periods, thickets can die if harvested carelessly. On various, you can consider various features of the structure of the plant and appreciate its beauty. It should be noted that despite the apparent strength, the plant is extremely susceptible to invasion of its territory, careless harvesting can lead to the complete extermination of the plant, it recovers for a very long time.

The plant belongs to the heather family, it is an evergreen, terrestrial, creeping shrub reaching 1.5 m in length. Due to its useful healing properties, it belongs to medicinal plants.

Stem. The bearberry stem is woody, creeping, up to 1.5 m long with a yellowish bark, strongly branching. Young branches of the plant are slightly pubescent, green or gray-green in color, old branches with exfoliating red-gray bark.

Leaves. Bearberry leaves are dark green above, green below, wrinkled from depressed veins. By location, alternate, obovate, oblong, small, thick, entire edges, rounded tops, leathery in appearance with a characteristic sheen. Young foliage dies off for 3 years.

flowers. Bearberry blooms in May-June. The flowers are small on short stalks, of a delicate pale pink color, the flowers are collected in inclined brushes. In the brushes there can be up to 10 magnificent flowers.

Fruit. Bearberry fruits are a spherical, mealy drupe, red in color, with five seeds. The fruits ripen by August.

root system. The root system of Bearberry is underdeveloped and highly susceptible to external influences.

plant propagates mainly vegetatively, by seeds Bearberry reproduces extremely difficult.

Bearberry is a photophilous plant that grows in lighted areas, on dry, sandy soils, in pine forests or clearings, does not tolerate plant competition.

The bear's ear is a medicinal plant, it is used in medicine, in rare cases it is grown on plots as an ornamental plant. Incorrect use can cause gag reflexes and other side effects, which requires caution when using, in its pure form only after consulting a doctor.

Places of distribution of Bearberry (Bear's ear).

The medicinal plant has found a very large distribution in the territories of European countries, Western and Eastern Siberia, and the Far East. Grows in open, well-lit areas, open swamps, pine forests, sandy clearings.

Bearberry (Bear's ear) is listed in the Red Books.

In the case of tearing out or careless harvesting, it can degenerate in this place, as it does not tolerate competition with other plants. Due to poor germination and long recovery, the medicinal plant Bearberry (Bear's ear) was brought into its:
- Republic of Bashkortostan;
- The Republic of Kazakhstan;
- Bryansk region, Ivanovo region, Kaliningrad region, Kaluga region, Lipetsk region, Moscow region, Novgorod region, Penza region, Ryazan region, Samara region, Tver region, Tula region, Yaroslavl region;
- Ukraine: Zhytomyr region, Lvov region, Rivne region, Sumy region;
- The Republic of Mordovia;
- Republic of Tatarstan;
- Udmurt republic.

Bearberry (Bear's ear) is often confused with lingonberries, as they are similar in appearance and grow in the same area, but lingonberries have the edges turned down and matte leaves from the bottom.

In the article we discuss the bearberry, its botanical description and geography of distribution. You will learn about the medicinal properties and contraindications of bearberry, how to properly collect and dry bearberry, instructions for using bearberry leaves in the treatment of cystitis, edema and gout.

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a low evergreen shrub of the genus Bearberry of the Heather family (Ericaceae).

Common bearberry synonyms are bear's ear, bear's grapes, bear's berry, bear's ears, martyr, drupe-bearberry, bearberry, tolokonko, bearberry, pork berry, pork lingonberry.

What does it look like

Appearance (photo) of bearberry Bearberry is a strongly branched evergreen shrub up to 30 cm high. The stem of the plant is soft, thin and always lies on the ground. A large number of stems on one bush create a low, light cushion.

Bearberry leaves are elongated, dark green above and light green below, similar to cranberry and blueberry leaves. Their color is preserved even in winter. Despite the fact that bearberry is often confused with lingonberries, it can be easily distinguished by its leaves. There are almost always dark dots on the lower surface of lingonberry leaves, but never on the leaves of a bear's eye.

Small pale pink bearberry flowers appear in early May. During the flowering period, a rosette of four to five drooping buds on short pedicels forms on each branch. Flower formula * H (5) L (5) T5 + 5P (5).

In August - September bearberry fruits ripen - bright red berries with a diameter of 6-8 mm. Each berry contains 5 seeds of 1.5-2 mm.

Where does it grow

Bearberry herb is widespread in Siberia, Canada, the Far East and northern Europe, and is found in Central Russia and the USA.

Bear ears grow in deciduous and pine forests, on sandy screes, rocky wastelands, clearings and burnt areas. The plant prefers well-lit and heated glades and does not tolerate competition with other plants.

Leaves and shoots of bearberry

In official and folk medicine, shoots and leaves of bearberry are used as medicinal raw materials.

Chemical composition

The medicinal properties of bearberry are explained by its chemical composition:

tannins;
arbutin, ericolin;
gallic acid;
hydroquinone;
flavonoids;
ursolic acid;
vitamin C;
essential oils;
quercetin;
micro and macro elements.

Medicinal properties

The main pharmacological action of bearberry leaves:

diuretic;
anti-inflammatory;
antimicrobial.

For this reason, the bear's ear is used in the treatment of acute and chronic cystitis, when blood is found in the urine, to relieve the symptoms of urethritis. Bearberry helps well against kidney stones, with prostatitis, pyelocystitis, pyelitis and pyelonephritis, but only after consultation with a urologist.

Bear ears are also added to fees for the treatment of the following diseases:

gout, rheumatism;
diarrhea, gastritis, heartburn;
clean and festering wounds and ulcers;
skin hyperpigmentation.

Bearberry for women is effective for painful or absent menstruation, bleeding after childbirth, inflammation of the vagina, atony of the uterus.

How to collect

Bearberry leaves are used for medicinal purposes. If you want to prepare bearberry leaves yourself, the instructions include a few tips for collecting and drying the plant:

Collect raw materials either in the spring, before flowering, or in the fall, when the bearberry fruits are fully ripe.
Harvest in dry weather before frost sets in.
Trim a few shoots from each bush, but not all stems.
Spread the shoots in a thin layer on a table in a covered porch, attic, or in a well-ventilated area.
Cover with gauze to protect raw materials from insects.
After 2-3 weeks, collect the dried shoots and remove the leaves.
Store bearberry in cloth bags in a dark place.

How to apply

After reading reviews about bearberry, you can see that bear ears are popular in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, prostate and bladder, that is, organs that are associated with the removal of fluid from the body. In this case, accompany the use of bearberry leaves with a special diet - mainly plant foods and the absence of protein foods in the diet.

In folk medicine, there are often recipes for decoctions and infusions from bearberry for gout, edema of various origins and a nervous condition. Some herbalists practice bearberry treatment for alcoholism. In this case, the plant acts as a sedative and only complements the main therapy.

Raw materials for the preparation of medicines can be found in any pharmacy. If you bought raw materials on the market, before drinking bearberry, check its authenticity:

Mix 5 g of leaves and 250 ml of boiling water.
Wait about 1 hour.
Add a crystal of iron sulfate to the infusion.
A solution of genuine bearberry will turn red and then purple.
At the end of the reaction, a dark purple precipitate will form at the bottom of the vessel.

Therapeutic collection for cystitis

Decoctions, infusions, tinctures are made from bearberry. Treatment of bearberry with cystitis is most effective if combined with hernia, celandine and parsley. Such a collection has a positive effect on the inflamed organ and does not poison the body like some antibiotics.

Ingredients:

Bearberry ordinary - 20 g.
Gryzhnik - 20 g.
Dried parsley - 20 g.
Celandine - 20 g.
Water (boiling water) - 1 cup.

How to cook: Mix the ingredients, grind in a mortar or coffee grinder and add boiling water. Infuse the treatment fee for 60 minutes.

How to use: Take 50 ml 30 minutes after meals 3 times a day.

Result: Bearberry with cystitis has a diuretic, antibacterial and disinfectant effect and quickly relieves pain and inflammation.

Infusion for pyelonephritis

Infusion of bearberry with pyelonephritis is not recommended for use in the acute course of the disease. Irritation of severely inflamed kidneys causes blood flow and increases the inflammatory process. Consult your doctor and he will prescribe another herbal tea with a small amount of bearberry.

Ingredients:

Bearberry ordinary - 10 g.
Cold water - 2 cups.

How to cook: Pour the raw materials into the dishes, fill with water and leave for 12 hours. Pour the infusion into a saucepan, put on low heat and heat for 5 minutes, without boiling. Remove from heat and strain. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 days.

How to use: Drink infusion 3 times a day, 2 tbsp. 30 minutes after eating.

Result: Bearberry in pyelonephritis increases the amount of urine excreted, relieves inflammation, destroys pathogens and increases urination, so that the work of the kidneys gradually returns to normal.

Decoction for edema

Ingredients:

Bearberry ordinary - 25 g.
Birch leaves - 25 g.
Three-part series - 25 g.
Corn stigmas - 25 g.
Water (boiling water) - 1 l.

How to cook: Grind the medicinal collection in a mortar, pour into a ceramic or glass container and pour boiling water. Infuse in a dry, warm place for 24 hours, then strain through several layers of cheesecloth.

How to use: Take a decoction of bearberry for swelling ½ cup 1 hour after eating 3 times a day.

Result: Herbal decoction quickly removes excess fluid from tissues and organs and relieves swelling, including diabetes.

Alcohol tincture for prostatitis

Bearberry tincture restores urination in prostatitis and alleviates the condition in both acute and chronic forms of the disease.

Ingredients:

Bearberry ordinary - 2 tbsp.
Alcohol 40% - 100 ml.

How to cook: Pour bearberry leaves with alcohol, cover and infuse for 2 weeks in a dark room. Strain through cheesecloth or sieve.

How to use: Alcohol tincture of bearberry is usually prescribed in the amount of 10-15 drops three times a day.

Result: Alcohol tincture of bearberry with prostatitis has a powerful diuretic effect, removes inflammation and normalizes the urinary tract. With regular intake of tincture, the symptoms of prostatitis gradually disappear.

Decoction for gout

If you suffer from gouty arthritis, bearberry decoction will relieve pain and swelling.

Ingredients:

Bearberry ordinary - 3 tbsp.
Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour water into a saucepan, add bearberry leaves and put on high heat. When the liquid boils, reduce the heat and after 25 minutes remove the pan from the stove. Cover the broth with a lid and cool. Strain through cheesecloth.

How to use: Drink the remedy 2 times a day with meals. Also dip a gauze bandage into the decoction and apply a compress to the affected areas for 25 minutes. Continue treatment until the pain in the joints disappears.

Result: Decoction of bearberry normalizes metabolism and removes uric acid, as well as anesthetizes, removes swelling and stops the development of the inflammatory process.

Bearberry and motherwort for nerves

Treatment with bearberry leaves and motherwort herb is useful for depression, insomnia, headaches, irritability and weakened nerves.

Ingredients:

Bearberry ordinary - 1 tbsp.
Motherwort herb - 1 tbsp.
Water - 3 cups

How to cook: Mix motherwort with bearberry, pour into an enamel pan and cover with water. Place the saucepan over a water bath and boil until the liquid is reduced by ⅓. Remove the saucepan from the stove and strain.

How to use: Drink at bedtime 50 ml. If you have a severe nervous condition, drink a decoction of 50 ml 3 times a day before meals.

Result: A mixture of bearberry and motherwort has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, relaxes muscles, relieves spasms and soothes.

Contraindications

Bearberry has the following contraindications:

glomerulonephritis;
acute renal failure;
frequent convulsions;
intestinal disorders;
constipation.

Bearberry should not be taken during pregnancy, as it can cause uterine contractions and miscarriage. Also, it is not recommended to drink it during lactation, since the active substances of the leaves can penetrate into breast milk.

Bearberry is prohibited for children under 12 years of age. Bearberry is not recommended for weight loss - in combination with a low-calorie diet, it causes dehydration

With an overdose of bearberry leaves, nausea and chills occur, and body temperature rises. In this case, immediately stop taking the drug.

Classification

The plant Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) belongs to the genus Arctostaphylos of the family Heather (Ericaceae) of the order Ericales of the class Dicotyledones of the department Flowering (Magnoliophyta).

Varieties

Subspecies of bearberry are the following plants:

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. coactilis (California, USA).
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. uva-ursi (northern America and Eurasia).
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. adenotricha (Mountains of Nevada, USA).
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subsp. cratericola (Guatemala).

Bearberry infographics

Photo of bearberry, its useful properties and application:
Bearberry infographic

What to remember

Another name for bearberry is bear's ear.
Bearberry is similar to cranberries. The main difference is that bearberry never has black dots on the underside of the leaves.
What are the medicinal properties of bearberry - anti-inflammatory, diuretic, disinfectant, antimicrobial and analgesic.
Bearberry leaves are harvested either in spring before flowering, or in autumn after the final ripening of the fruit.
Indications for the use of the plant are cystitis, pyelonephritis, edema of various origins, gastrointestinal diseases, gynecological diseases, insomnia.
For the treatment of gout, use a decoction of a bear's ear.
From prostatitis, bearberry tincture on alcohol 40% helps.

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Classmates

Name: Bearberry.

Other names: Bear's ear, bear's berry, tormentor, bearberry.

Latin name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.

Family: Heather (Ericaceae)

Lifespan: Perennial. Lives for a long time, sometimes reaching 100 years of age.

plant type: Evergreen shrub with creeping shoots, from which erect shoots extend 10-15 cm high.

Roots: Bearberry on the roots has mycorrhiza, which prevents its introduction into the culture - for the development of bearberry, the presence of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil is necessary.

Trunk (stem): Stems procumbent, 0.3 - 1 (2) meters long, strongly branched, with ascending flower-bearing branches.

Leaves: Alternate, obovate, leathery, dark green slightly lighter underneath.

Flowers, inflorescences: The flowers are whitish-pink, small, collected in drooping, apical inflorescences of 3-7 flowers each.

flowering time: May June.

Fruit: Red berry-like drupes.

ripening time: July August.

collection time: The leaves are harvested before flowering plants and in autumn after fruit ripening.

Features of collection, drying and storage: Cut branches are tied into bundles and hung to dry under a canopy or in a ventilated room. After drying, the leaves are separated from the stems and stored in dry rooms with good ventilation. The shelf life of raw materials is 5 years.

Spreading: In Russia, bearberry is found in the European part, including the Arctic, (except for the Nizhne-Don and Nizhne-Volzhsky regions), in the Caucasus, in Western (Ob, Irtysh and Altai regions) and Eastern Siberia, in the Far East; in Ukraine - small islands in Polissya.

habitats: Grows in clearings, burnt areas, in deciduous and dry pine forests, in young pine plantations, on rubbly mountain slopes, sandy soils, forming clumps or thickets.
It grows next to lingonberries and is very similar to it. Only the leaves of the bearberry are even, while those of the lingonberry are slightly twisted down; bearberry does not have glands at the bottom of the leaf - in lingonberries, the entire leaf is dotted with them. The berries of lingonberries are juicy, while those of bearberry are mealy; lingonberries grow as a rising bush, and bearberry - creeping.

medicinal parts: Leaves.

Useful content: Leaves contain organic acids, essential oil, vitamin C, phenols and their derivatives, phenol carboxylic acids, coumarins, catechins, tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins.

Actions: The main active ingredients of bearberry leaves are phenols and their derivatives, flavonoids and tannins. Arbutin and methylarbutin are broken down to hydroquinone, which has irritating and antibacterial properties, resulting in increased urine output, and the urinary tract is cleared of bacteria. The antibacterial effect of bearberry is manifested only under the condition of an alkaline reaction of urine, since hydrolysis of glycosides does not occur with an acidic reaction of urine.
Bearberry tannins also show an antiseptic effect. It is due to their ability to form complex compounds with microbial proteins and does not depend on the reaction of urine. In addition, bearberry tannins have an anti-inflammatory effect.
The flavonoids contained in the plant have a saluretic effect (increased urine output with a simultaneous increase in the excretion of sodium and chlorine ions from the body).
The simultaneous presence of diuretic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties makes the plant a valuable tool for the treatment of inflammatory processes in the urinary tract and kidney failure with impaired water and mineral metabolism.
In folk medicine, in addition, bearberry preparations are taken for nephrolithiasis, hematuria, urinary retention, involuntary urination, spermatorrhea, malaria, pulmonary tuberculosis, diarrhea, intestinal atony and diabetes mellitus.
Use bearberry in the form of infusion, decoction or powder from the leaves. Bulgarian scientists believe that the best dosage form of bearberry is an infusion, explaining this by the fact that when boiled, a significant amount of tannins is extracted, which irritates the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Some authors recommend that when using bearberry, take 1 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate at the same time to create an alkaline urine reaction.
Externally, an infusion of the leaves of the plant is used to treat ulcers and purulent wounds.

Use restrictions: REMEMBER, DRUGS SHOULD NOT BE PRESCRIBED FOR ACUTE KIDNEY DISEASES AS THEY IRRITATE RENAL TISSUE! DO NOT TAKE HIGH DOSES OF THE PLANT, AS OVERDOSE AND LONG-TERM USE OF BEARBERRY CAN CAUSE NAUSE, VOMITING, DIARRH, IRRITATION OF THE KIDNEYS AND MISSION IN PREGNANT WOMEN! IN CASE OF THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM USE OF BEARBERRY, IT IS ADVANTAGED TO BE USED IN COMPLEX WITH OTHER MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH DIOREGENIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BOIL THE RAW MATERIAL OF BEARBERRY FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES AS THIS LEADS TO EXTRACTION OF EXCESS OF TANNIC SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE IRRITATION OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.

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Rice. 7.1. Bearberry - Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.

bearberry leaves—folia uvae ursi
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng.
Sem. heather– Ericaceae
Other names: bear's ears, bear's grapes, bearberry, tormentil, bearberry, drupe, bearberry

Strongly branched low-growing evergreen shrub with outstretched shoots up to 2 m long (Fig. 7.1).
Leaves alternate obovate, cuneate at the base, gradually turning into a short petiole, small, slightly shiny, leathery.
flowers whitish-pink, reminiscent of bells, collected in drooping short apical brushes.
Corolla pitcher-shaped, cleavage-shaped with a five-toothed limb. Stamens 10.
Pestle with an upper five-celled ovary.
Fetus- cenocarp inedible mealy drupe of red color, with 5 seeds.
blooms in May - June, the fruits ripen in July - August.

Spreading

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Spreading. The forest zone of the European part, Siberia and the Far East of Russia, as well as in the Caucasus and in the Carpathians. The main harvesting areas where productive thickets are found are Lithuania, Belarus, Pskov, Novgorod, Vologda, Leningrad and Tver regions of Russia. Recently, thickets have been identified in new areas: the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Irkutsk Region and Yakutia.

Habitat. Mainly in dry larch and pine forests (pine forests) with lichen cover (white mosses), as well as in open sandy places, coastal dunes, rocks, burnt areas and clearings. Light-loving plant. It occurs scattered, does not form large thickets.

Medicinal raw materials

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External signs

Rice. 7.2. Cowberry (A) and bearberry (B):
1 - escape; 2 - sheet (bottom view); 3 - sheet (top view).

Whole Raw Material

Leaves small, leathery, dense, brittle, entire, obovate or oblong-obovate, rounded at the apex, sometimes with a small notch, wedge-shaped narrowed towards the base, with a very short petiole (Fig. 7.2, B). Leaves are 1-2.2 cm long, 0.5-1.2 cm wide.
Venation is reticulate. The leaves on the upper side are dark green, shiny, with clearly visible depressed veins, on the lower side they are slightly lighter, matte, glabrous.
Smell absent. Taste strongly astringent, bitter.

Crushed raw materials

Pieces of leaves of various shapes from light green to dark green, passing through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 3 mm.
Smell absent. Taste strongly astringent, bitter.

Microscopy

When examining a leaf from the surface, polygonal epidermal cells with straight and rather thick walls are visible. Stomata are large, rounded, with a wide open stomatal fissure, surrounded by 8 (5-9) epidermal cells (encyclocytic type). Large veins are accompanied by a lining with calcium oxalate crystals in the form of prisms, their intergrowths and drusen. Slightly curved 2-3-celled hairs are often found at the base of the leaf (Fig. 7.3).

Rice. 7.3. Microscopy of a bearberry leaf:

epidermis of the upper (A) and lower (B) side of the leaf from the surface:
1 - epidermal cell;
2 - stomata;
B - hair;
(d) prismatic crystals along the vein (in sheath cells).

Numerical indicators.Whole raw material. Arbutin, determined by iodometric titration, not less than 6%; humidity not more than 12%; total ash no more than 4%; ash, insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid solution, not more than 2%; browned and darkened leaves on both sides - no more than 3%; other parts of the plant (twigs, fruits) no more than 4%; organic impurities not more than 0.5%; mineral impurity not more than 0.5%. crushed raw materials. Arbutin not less than 6%; humidity not more than 12%; total ash no more than 4%; ash, insoluble in 10% hydrochloric acid solution, not more than 2%; browned and darkened pieces of leaves no more than 3%; particles that do not pass through a sieve with holes with a diameter of 3 mm, not more than 5%; organic impurities not more than 0.5%; mineral impurity not more than 0.5%.

Procurement and storage of raw materials

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blank. The collection of leaves should be carried out in two periods: in spring - before flowering or at the very beginning of flowering (from late April to mid-June) and in autumn - from the moment the fruits ripen until they shed (from late August to mid-October). After flowering, the growth of young shoots begins; leaves collected at this time turn brown when dried and, in addition, contain a small amount of arbutin. When harvesting raw materials, leafy shoots (twigs) are cut off with a special knife or chopped off with a hoe. Severed branches are collected, shaken off sand and moss and transported to a drying place.

Apical shoots (Cormi Uvae ursi) 20-30 cm long are allowed for harvesting, which are cut with a knife or scissors, which increases the productivity of pickers. However, in pharmaceutical practice, this type of raw material is practically not found.

Security measures. Cutting off branches and pulling out plants by hand is not allowed. In order to preserve the thickets, it is necessary to alternate collection sites, using the same array no more than 1 time in 5 years. It is advisable to create reserves for bearberry.

Drying. In natural conditions: in attics or under a canopy. Raw materials are laid out loosely, in a thin layer, periodically stirred. Dried branches are threshed, selected, discarded stems, blackened leaves. The crushed raw materials and mineral admixture are screened out on a sieve. The yield of dry raw materials is 50% in relation to freshly harvested. Artificial drying is allowed at a temperature not exceeding 50 °C.

Standardization. GF XI, no. 2, art. 26 and Changes No. 1, 2.

Storage. In a dry, well-ventilated area, packed in bags. Shelf life 5 years.

Composition of bearberry

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Chemical composition. The active substance is the phenol glycoside arbutin, which is beta-D-glucopyranoside hydroquinone (8-16%). The leaves are rich in tannins of the hydrolysable group (from 7.2 to 41.6%). Smaller amounts contain methylarbutin, hydroquinone, galloylarbutin, as well as triterpenoids - ursolic acid (0.4-0.7%), flavonoids, catechins, phenolcarboxylic acids - gallic, ellagic. Bearberry leaves contain a lot of iodine (2.1-2.7 mcg/kg). Glycoside arbutin under the influence of the enzyme arbutase is hydrolyzed to hydroquinone and glucose.

quality reactions. An aqueous decoction of the leaves is used: a decoction (1:20), when shaken with a crystal of ferrous oxide sulfate, gradually forms a dark purple precipitate (arbutin); A decoction of bearberry leaves, when adding a solution of iron ammonium alum, gives a black-blue color (tannins of the hydrolysable group), and a decoction of lingonberry leaves gives a black-green color (tannins of the condensed group).

Properties and uses of bearberry

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Pharmacotherapeutic group. Diuretic, antiseptic.

pharmacological properties. The antiseptic effect of bearberry leaves is due to hydroquinone, which is formed in the body during the hydrolysis of arbutin and excreted in the urine. Urine turns green or dark green. The diuretic effect of bearberry preparations is also associated with hydroquinone. The tannins contained in bearberry decoction have an astringent effect in the gastrointestinal tract.

Application. A decoction of bearberry leaves is used for diseases of the urinary tract (urolithiasis, cystitis, urethritis) as a disinfectant and diuretic. When taking large doses, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and other side effects are possible. Bearberry leaves somewhat irritate the epithelium of the urinary system, so they are combined with plants that have anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and diuretic effects.

Medicines

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Bearberry leaves, crushed raw materials. Diuretic, antiseptic.
As part of diuretic collections (diuretic collections No. 1-2; urological collection (diuretic); collection "Brusniver-T"; collection "Gerbafol") and anti-alcohol collection "Stopal".
Uriflorin, 0.3 g tablets (bearberry leaf powder). Diuretic, antiseptic.

Protected.

Heather - Ericaceae.

Common name: bear ears.

Used parts: leaves.

Pharmacy name: bearberry leaf - Uvaeursi folium (formerly: Folia Uvae ursi).

Botanical description. Bearberry is a prostrate evergreen shrub, often forming a continuous turf. Outwardly, it is very reminiscent of lingonberries, although the latter does not spread and does not form turf. Bearberry leaves are thick, leathery, usually obovate, sometimes spatulate, with a distinct network of veins above. The edge of the sheet is often tucked up. Unlike lingonberries, there are never brown dots on the underside of the leaves (a characteristic feature of lingonberry leaves). Whoever remembers this will never confuse these plants. From small whitish-pink flowers of a pitcher shape (with a jagged edge), red berries of a sour-tart taste develop. Blooms from April to June. It occurs mainly in northern Europe on marshy soils and wastelands rich in humus, as well as in the coniferous forests of the Alps. Collecting is prohibited in Germany! Germany receives raw materials from Russia, the Balkan countries and from Italy.

Collection and preparation. Since the leaves do not wither, they can be harvested throughout the year, but it is better at the end of summer and autumn, when they contain the maximum amount of active ingredients. You can dry both in the shade and in the sun, as the dense skin of the leaves retains the active ingredients well. Active ingredients: arbutin, methylarbutin, free hydroquinone and tannins, flavonoids and some essential oil.

Healing action and application. The disinfecting effect of bearberry on the kidneys, and especially on the bladder and urinary tract, has long been known. Its effectiveness has been confirmed by modern research. The German National Health Service recognizes bearberry as a remedy for inflammatory processes in the urinary tract. True, the method of making tea from bearberry leaves is now somewhat different than in the old sources. Previously, it was believed that the hard leathery leaves should be boiled for a long time in order to extract as many active substances as possible. The result was an unappetizing tea that irritated the gastric mucosa, making it impossible to treat some patients, especially children. Moreover, with prolonged boiling, many tannins are extracted, which are just undesirable: after all, only arbutin is effective in diseases of the kidneys and bladder. It turned out that infusion in cold water for 12-24 hours extracts almost all the active ingredients from the leaves, but practically without tannins, so you get a tea that you can use without fear of side effects.

Tea from bearberry leaves: pour 1-2 teaspoons of leaves into 1/4 liter of cold water and, stirring occasionally, let it brew for 12-24 hours, then strain. Drink slightly warm 2-3 times a day for a cup.

This tea is especially effective in acute inflammation of the bladder, often resulting from hypothermia. If after a week the inflammation still continues, the doctor should prescribe another remedy. The fact is that bearberry arbutin releases the active substance (hydroquinone) only when the patient's urine is alkaline. Therefore, while being treated with bearberry, eat plant foods and avoid anything that leads to the formation of acidic urine. You may also be advised to add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to each cup of tea. Opinions differ on the diuretic effect of bearberry leaves. Bearberry leaf is effective both on its own and in mixtures with other herbs.

Application in folk medicine. Information about the medicinal use of bearberry came to us from the north. In England, it was already used in the 13th century, and in Germany it was recognized only in the 18th century. In folk medicine, it is used as a disinfectant for various diseases of the kidneys and bladder, as well as for coughs and especially for chronic diarrhea, which is not surprising, since bearberry leaves contain a lot of tannins, which “fix” the intestines.

Side effects. Overdose and improper preparation (hot extract) can lead to nausea and vomiting (stomach reaction to tannins). Long-term treatment should be carried out only under medical supervision.