Beargrape’s Latinized name is Arctostaphylos uva ursi. The Beargrape herb is also referred to by a wide variety of common names including Arberry, Bearberry, Beargrape, Bear's Grape Coradille, Creeping Manzanita, Hogberry, Kinnikinnick, Mealberry, Mountain Box, Mountain Cranberry, Rockberry, Sagackhom, Sandberry, and Upland Cranberry.   Beargrape is an herb that can be safely used by adults and it is revered for its antibiotic properties and used to treat a number of nephritic ailments.

 

Beargrape is a shrub that returns every year in various regions of the northern hemisphere. Native to Europe, Asia and North America, Beargrape is located in the wild. Beargrape can also be found in Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy and Spain. Germany has Beargrape listed as a protected species and the herb has a rich history embedded in European herbal remedies, since the second century. Beargrape has been commonly used to treat nephritic disorders like Urinary Tract Infections, and bladder infections, and it is revered for its antibiotic properties. Finally, Beargrape is often used as a diuretic to rid one’s body of excess fluids.

 

 

Beargrape requires humus-enriched soil to thrive. Beargrape, or Uva Ursi, is an evergreen shrub that thrives in the wild, especially in the regions of the alpine forest. In fact, Beargrape can be found in abundance in mountainous regions including the Himalayas, Siberia, and the Iberian Peninsula, as well as all of the regions it is native to in the Northern Hemisphere. The Beargrape shrub is perennial, returning naturally in the wild every year; dressing the wild regions with pink and white bell blooms every spring. The Beargrape has earned its name because bears in the wild are found of the vibrant red berries that form on the plant when the blooms give way in autumn to the shrub’s acerbic fruit.

 

 

Beargrape berries are not used in herbal remedies; rather it is the leaves that provide the healing attributes in herbal treatments. Beargrape is excellent to fend off infections in the urinary tract, the kidneys, the bladder and some people use Beargrape to treat kidney stones. Arbutin is a hydroquinone derivative found in Beargrape that gives the plant its antimicrobial properties. Once Beargrape is digested, it cleanses the body and then passes out of the body through the urine. It is important the individuals using Beargrape refrain from drinking acidic drinks while using Beargrape because it defeats the purpose of the herb.

 

 

Beargrape is usually sold in crushed form. The leaves of the Beargrape are crushed into a power which is then inserted in gelatin capsules. Meanwhile, Beargrape leaves can be steeped to make a Tea and the Tea can then be ingested.

Adults can safely take Beargrape, but should consult a healthcare professional first before doing so. Meanwhile, children under the age of twelve should not be given Beargrape. Adults can safely take Beargrape as a dried herb three to four times each day to treat nephritic ailments. A Tea of Beargrape can also be ingested up to four times each day. Further, adults may prefer using Beargrape as a dried extract up to four times each day and the liquid extract can be used four times daily. Finally, Bearberry Tincture should not be used more than four times each day.

 

Healthcare professionals recommend that adults using Beargrape should only use the herb for one week. More than seven days can have adverse health affects. Again, if children over the age of 12 or adults plan on using Beargrape, it is advised that such individuals seek out professional healthcare advice and monitoring before doing so.

 

Despite the fact that herbal remedies have been used safely for centuries, it is still important to seek out the assistance of a professional physician or a professional in botanical medicine before using herbs. Professionals can help individuals rule out any drug interaction possibilities and also ensure that the individual is taking the correct dosage for their bodily needs. Further, a professional physician or a professional in botanical medicine can watch the individual closely for the symptoms that might arise from an adverse reaction to the herb being taken.

 

When taking Beargrape the user cannot drink acidic drinks: orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, tomato juice, and even some colas can neutralize the antibiotic properties in Beargrape. When Beargrape passes through the urine, it requires a certain level of alkaline to work affectively. acidic drinks neutralize the antimicrobial properties, thereby making the Beargrape ineffective on Urinary Tract Infections and the like. 

 

There are side effects associated with long term use of Beargrape, hence the reasoning for limiting its intake to one week intervals. Side effects include irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, rapid heart beat, and high Blood pressure. Further, pregnant women should refrain from using Beargrape, as well as many other herbal remedies until after the pregnancy. Additionally, Beargrape should not be taken by women who are lactating as the herb may affect the breast milk and be passed on to the baby during breast feeding. Finally, those individuals that suffer from high Blood pressure should avoid the use of Beargrape because it can worsen the existing condition.