Uva Ursi Leaf Powder (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) 1 lb: K

This is Frontier's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Some Frontier packs are double wall wax-lined paper. Used as an infusion, decoction, extract, tincture and douche. Kinnikinnick, Bearberry. Traditionally smoked by many Northwest Indians as an inebriant. Bearberry is also traditionally used as a medicinal tea, to treat inflammations of the urinary tract, especially cystitis. Uva ursi contains arbutin, an effective urinary antiseptic. The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Uva ursi leaf for 'Inflammatory disorders of the efferent urinary tract.' 'Preparations made from bearberries act antibacterially in vitro against Proteus vulgaris, E. coli, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aerginosa, Friedländer's pneumonia, Enterococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus strains, as well as against Candida albicans. The antimicrobial effect is associated with the aglycone hydroquinone released from arbutin (transport form) or arbutin waste products in the alkaline urine. A methanol extract of the drug (50 percent) is said to have an inhibiting effect on tyrosinase activity. The forming of melanin from DOPA using tyrosinase as well as from DOPA-CHROM through auto-oxidation is also said to be inhibited by the drug.' Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation, children under 12. Side Effects: Nausea and vomiting may occur in persons with sensitive stomachs. The occurrence of arbutin/hydroquinone in the breast milk has not been researched. The drug, therefore, should not be administered during lactation. 'Single dose: 3 g drug to 150 ml water as an infusion or cold maceration or 100 - 210 mg hydroquinone derivatives, calculated as water-free arbutin. Daily dose: 3 g drug to 150 ml water as an infusion or cold maceration up to 4 times a day or 400 - 840 mg hydroquinone derivatives calculated as water-free arbutin. Mode of Administration: Crushed drug. Drug powder for infusions or cold macerations; extracts and solid forms for oral administration. Medication containing arbutin should not be taken for longer than a week or more than five times a year without consulting a physician.' In Germany, uva ursi leaf is licensed as a standard medicinal tea, used as a single herb and a component of many bladder and kidney teas. The German Standard License for uva ursi medicinal tea indicates its use as support in the therapy of mild infections of the urinary tract, as does the British Herbal Compendium and the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy. Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'In consequence of the powerful astringency of the leaves, Uva-Ursi has a place not only in all the old herbals, but also in the modern Pharmacopoeias. There are records that it was used in the thirteenth century by the Welsh 'Physicians of Myddfai.' It was described by Clusius in 1601, and recommended for medicinal use in 1763 by Ger