Uva Ursi - Does it work?!
Question:
Uva Ursi - Does it work?
I am dealing with terrible water retention. I have heard that the herb, uva ursi, can help. Before I invest in a supplement, I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with this herb - specifically... does it work? Are there any side affects? What's the best form to take it? How long can I take it? Thanks so much!
Answers:
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is the species for the more common name Bearberry. The proposed active in Bearberry is the glycoside arbutin, a hydroquinone that has demonstrated antimicrobial properties in vitro and very mild diuretic properties in vivo. The Bearberry plant is processed through several dilutions of solvent to produce an aqueous extraction that can either be spray-dried and packed into gelatin- or vegetable-based capsules, or sold as a concentrated homoepathic remedy suspended in ethanol/water solution.
There is no known first party evidence (double-blind FDA-approved clinicals) that definitively conclude any significant effects nor any contraindicative side effects. Nor are there any ongoing clinical studies available that indicate any level of arbutin is bioavailable to have any significant diuretic effect in humans. But the anedotal data is available via USDA: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symb... and also NaturalStandard: http://www.naturalstandard.com/...
If you are willing to try it, brand name should not matter if there is only one or two sources supplying the Bearberry (this is usually the case with each herbal). Look out for easy-to-swallow carriers, like capsules, and read the label to see if arbutin is measured and assayed. You may or may not get the placebo effect, like all other herbals. But it is worth a try because the plant is not poisonous for humans. For dosage, read the label and follow it. Typically you may take 1-2 capsules per day, with a meal. Here's a link to a site that sells the capsules: http://www.herbalextractsplus.com/uva-ur...
You may also want to try other known diuretics that have some positive effect: Green tea, cranberry juice or tea, any supplement or herbal tea containing dandelion, nettle, or fennel.
Good luck!