Uva ursi is a plant with red berries. The leaves have been used to ease symptoms of urinary tract infection and to help control blood glucose. Uva ursi can be taken as a pill, powder, or extract. It can also be made into a tea.
There are no advised doses for uva ursi.
There is not enough data to support that uva ursi is helpful in treating health problems. We will review future studies as they are published.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
It may be safe for most adults to take uva ursi in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children should not take uva ursi.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
Safety
Wang L, Del Priore LV. Bull's-eye maculopathy secondary to herbal toxicity from uva ursi. Am J Ophthalmol. 2004 Jun;137(6):1135-1137.
de Arriba SG, Naser B, et al. Risk assessment of free hydroquinone derived from Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi folium herbal preparations. Int J Toxicol. 2013 Nov-Dec;32(6):442-453.
Last reviewed July 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.