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bearberry
Indications:
- used as a diuretic & in treatment of disease of the kidney & urinary bladder
Epidemiology:
- 3 species of dwarf shrubs in the genus Arctostaphylos (manzanita) adapted to Arctic & subarctic climates
- distributed throughout Canada & the United States as far south as New Jersey & Wisconsin
- the edible fruit is a favorite food of bears
- dried leaves are the only part of the plant used in medicine [2]
Pharmacokinetics:
- arbutin is excreted unchanged by the kidney
Adverse effects:
- in large doses may cause nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, back pain & tinnitus
Mechanism of action:
- contains arbutin, ursolic acid, tannic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, hydroquinones (up to 17%), tannins (up to 15%), phenolic glycosides & flavonoids
- diuretic effect due to arbutin, the major hydroquinone
- has soothing & astringent effects
- imparts tone to urinary passages [2]
Interactions
drug adverse effects of diuretics
General
pharmaceutical herb; medicinal herb; herbal supplement; botanical
diuretic
References
- Wikiberry: Bearberry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearberry
- Bearberry
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bearbe22.html