Bearberry: Benefits, Uses and Precautions

Dr. Boris Wydoff

Bearberry is a small evergreen shrub whose leaves are used in herbal medicine. Reference books describe arbutin, methylarbutin, tannins, and other compounds in the leaves. Bearberry, whose medicinal properties are associated primarily with the composition of its leaves, is used as an infusion or decoction for its diuretic and antiseptic effects, mainly for conditions affecting the bladder and urinary tract.

What Is Bearberry and How Can You Recognize It?

Bearberry (*Arctostaphylos uva-ursi*) is a small evergreen shrub belonging to the heather family. It is also commonly known as bear's ear or bearberry.

The plant has heavily branched stems that spread along the ground. They are covered with dark brown bark and can reach 100–120 cm in length. The leaves grow on short stalks. They are leathery, thick, glossy, obovate, and have smooth edges. The leaves remain on the plant through winter.

The flowers are small and pink. They grow at the ends of branches in short, drooping clusters. The corolla is pitcher-shaped. Bearberry blooms in May and June. The fruits ripen in September. They are round and red, with a mealy interior.

The plant grows in pine forests. Reference books specifically mention pine forests with pale reindeer lichen and areas where lingonberries grow. In suitable locations, bearberry can form dense patches.

Correct identification is important when harvesting the plant. Bearberry resembles lingonberry, which often grows nearby. Lingonberry has an upright stem. Its leaves are oval with rolled-under edges, and dark, dot-like glands are visible on the undersides. Lingonberries have juicy flesh, whereas bearberry fruits have mealy flesh.

According to herbal medicine reference books, the leaves are used for medicinal purposes and are known as *Folium Uvae-ursi*. They are the medicinal raw material obtained from the plant.

How Can You Tell Bearberry Apart from Similar Plants?

When collecting wild plants, it is important not only to know their general appearance but also to pay attention to the distinctive features of their leaves. Reference books specifically warn against confusing bearberry leaves with those of blueberry, lingonberry, and boxwood.

Blueberry leaves are thin and membranous. Their undersides are matte and bluish-green, with raised, net-like veins.

Lingonberry is the plant most likely to be confused with bearberry because the two can grow in the same locations. Lingonberry leaves have brown, dot-like glands and sparse, short hairs on their undersides. The leaf edges are rolled under and may sometimes be finely toothed or slightly serrated. Bearberry leaves are narrower near the stalk, and their veins are deeply sunken, giving the surface a wrinkled appearance.

Boxwood also has distinguishing features: its leaves narrow toward the tip, the tip has a notch, and the veins on the upper surface are raised. Reference books also describe boxwood leaves as having an unpleasant smell and an unpleasant, sweet-bitter taste.

These differences matter in practice because the leaves are the medicinal part of the plant and must be correctly identified before use.

What Are the Benefits of Bearberry, and Which Compounds Determine Its Properties?

Reference books focus primarily on the chemical composition of the leaves. They contain arbutin and methylarbutin, tannins, flavonoids, and organic acids.

One description lists gallic acid, tannins, fats, wax, resin, and mineral salts. The glycosides mentioned include arbutin, methylarbutin, and ericolin. The presence of urson is also described.

Another reference book lists arbutin, methylarbutin, hyperoside, pyrogallol tannins, ellagic acid, and other organic acids. A more detailed pharmacological description also lists flavonoids, including quercetin, isoquercitrin, myricitrin, hyperoside, and myricetin.

Arbutin plays a particularly important role in descriptions of the plant's effects. According to reference books, it breaks down to form hydroquinone and glucose. Methylarbutin can also release hydroquinone through hydrolysis.

Reference books associate these compounds with the antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of the leaves. Tannins are associated with anti-inflammatory effects. According to herbal medicine references, galenical preparations of bearberry have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This is why the plant is primarily associated with the urinary system.

Which Compounds Determine the Properties of the Leaves?

The amounts of individual components vary somewhat between reference books. One description reports an arbutin content of up to 3.5%, while another gives up to 8%. A content of up to 35% pyrogallol tannins is also reported.

The leaves contain organic acids, including malic, protocatechuic, and formic acids. Additional flavonoids mentioned include quercetin, isoquercitrin, myricitrin, hyperoside, and myricetin.

Reference books attribute the plant's effects primarily to arbutin and tannins. Under the action of the enzyme arbutase, arbutin breaks down into hydroquinone and glucose, while methylarbutin also releases hydroquinone through hydrolysis.

What Is Bearberry Used For?

Herbal medicine books describe the use of bearberry leaves for conditions affecting the bladder and urinary tract. The urethra and kidney stones are also mentioned. So, when people ask what bearberry is used for in herbal medicine, the main answer concerns the urinary system.

One reference book recommends the leaves as an astringent, antiseptic, and diuretic remedy for bladder catarrh and bleeding from the kidneys. Another describes decoctions and herbal mixtures as diuretic and disinfectant remedies for inflammatory conditions of the bladder and urinary tract.

The conditions listed in one reference book include pyelitis, cystitis, and urethritis. In some traditional herbal recipes, bearberry is included in water-based decoctions used for kidney or bladder conditions.

The plant also has broader traditional uses. Reference books mention using the leaves as a diuretic for kidney stones, rheumatism, and gout. However, these descriptions reflect reference material and traditional herbal medicine; they do not replace a diagnosis of the underlying cause of symptoms.

The urinary system is the main focus in descriptions of the plant. Its diuretic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory effects, as described in reference books, are all associated with this system. However, traditional use does not mean the plant is suitable for self-treating every kidney or bladder condition.

How Are Bearberry Leaves Used?

Herbal medicine reference books describe infusions and decoctions made from the leaves. Decoctions are mentioned particularly often.

One of the methods described gives an exact ratio: a decoction or infusion prepared at a ratio of 10:200. Another source specifies the same ratio as 10 g of plant material per 200 ml of water. The recommended amount in these references is 1 tablespoon 3–4 times a day.

An older reference book also notes that the leaves are preferably used as a decoction. It specifically warns that excessively large doses may cause nausea and vomiting. For this reason, you should not increase the amount of plant material on your own. In herbal medicine, it is important not only to choose the right plant but also to follow the specified preparation method.

Traditional recipes also include bearberry in water-based herbal mixtures. In these recipes, it is combined with other plants. For example, some mixtures contain lingonberry leaves, horsetail herb, and other ingredients. However, the composition and intended use of these mixtures vary, so one recipe should not be applied to every situation.

For straightforward use, reference books describe two main preparations in sufficient detail: infusions and decoctions. These are the primary ways to prepare the leaves.

How Do You Prepare Bearberry?

For a simple preparation, one reference book gives a ratio of 10 g of leaves to 200 ml of water. The resulting infusion or decoction is taken in amounts of 1 tablespoon 3–4 times a day.

Another reference book also explicitly states that the decoction or infusion is prepared at a ratio of 10:200 and taken in amounts of 1 tablespoon 3–4 times a day.

Do not make the drink more concentrated simply because you want to strengthen its effects. Medical descriptions of the plant specifically warn about adverse reactions from excessively large doses.

The leaves have a pronounced astringent, slightly bitter taste. Reference books attribute this to the tannins they contain.

When and How Is Bearberry Harvested?

Bearberry leaves are collected for medicinal purposes. According to one reference book, they are harvested before flowering begins or at the start of flowering, in May and the first half of June.

Another source describes two harvesting periods: overwintered leaves are collected before flowering, and a second harvest is possible in August, when the current year's leaves have grown. Thus, reference books mention both harvesting periods: May and the first half of June, as well as August for a later harvest.

The branches are cut during harvesting. Browned leaves are removed before drying. The plant material is dried outdoors.

A practical method is described for harvesting the small, leathery leaves: first, cut the branches, then dry them and separate the leaves from the twigs. This can be done by stripping the leaves off by hand, combing them off the branches, or threshing the dried material and then removing the stem fragments. Final cleaning is carried out using a sieve.

Good-quality dried material consists mainly of leaves. They are smooth, thick, and brittle. They have almost no smell. Their taste is strongly astringent and slightly bitter. The dried material should be stored in a cool place protected from light.

Quality Requirements for Medicinal Plant Material

Reference books specify requirements for the appearance and purity of harvested material. The leaves should retain their green color, have their characteristic thickness, and contain no large amounts of foreign plant material.

Standards for quality control are also described: the moisture content must not exceed 12%, and the ash content must not exceed 4%. Limited amounts of leaves that have lost their green color, small and broken fragments, and pieces of the plant's stems are permitted.

These requirements help assess the quality of the material before use and distinguish properly prepared leaves from material containing excessive impurities.

How to Find Bearberry Abroad

Bearberry is sold under different names in other countries:

• USA: Bearberry, Uva ursi, Kinnikinnick.
• Germany: Bärentraube, Bärentraubenblätter.
• France: Raisin d'ours, Busserole.
• Latin: *Arctostaphylos uva-ursi*.

The plant is sold in several forms:

• dried, cut leaves;
• tea bags;
• capsules and tablets;
• liquid extract or tincture.

You can look for it in the following places:

• USA: health food stores, specialty supplement shops, and online herb stores; it is rarely found in ordinary grocery stores.
• Germany: pharmacies (*Apotheke*), health food stores (*Reformhaus*), and online pharmacies.
• France: pharmacies (*Pharmacie*), herbal shops (*herboristeries*), specialty organic and health food stores (*magasins bio*), and online stores.

Check the packaging for the Latin name *Arctostaphylos uva-ursi* and the plant part used — leaves (*Folia uvae ursi*). Also check the product's intended use, its arbutin content if it is standardized for this compound, and whether it has organic certification.

In the USA, bearberry is sold as a dietary supplement, while in Germany it is often available as a registered medicinal tea (*Arzneitee*) subject to pharmaceutical quality control.

Bearberry: Contraindications and Precautions

Older reference books focus primarily on the amount of plant material used. Excessively large doses of the leaves may cause nausea and vomiting.

Modern reference descriptions also mention possible adverse reactions with prolonged use. These include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Prolonged effects on the urinary tract may be associated with increased inflammation and the appearance of kidney-related symptoms.

The concern about prolonged use is related to the plant's composition. Arbutin breaks down to form hydroquinone. One reference book notes that hydroquinone is excreted in the urine through the kidneys and has an irritating effect on kidney tissue.

For this reason, uncontrolled long-term use of the leaves cannot be considered safe. In herbal medicine references, bearberry used over an extended period is generally described as part of a combination with other plants that have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, in the form of herbal mixtures and teas.

Any symptoms affecting the urinary tract should be taken seriously. The fact that a plant appears in traditional recipes does not mean it should be used without identifying the cause of the symptoms.

If you experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or worsening urinary symptoms after using bearberry, stop taking it and seek medical advice.

When to See a Doctor

For conditions affecting the bladder, urinary tract, or kidneys, it is important to establish the cause of the symptoms first. Herbal medicine does not replace medical evaluation or treatment prescribed by a doctor. It is particularly important to consult a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if new symptoms appear or your condition deteriorates.

You should also seek advice if you experience an unusual reaction after using the plant, if you take medication regularly, or if you have a chronic condition. Extra caution is needed whenever a doctor must determine whether an herbal remedy is safe for a particular person.

If you have any doubts about using a bearberry infusion or decoction, it is best to discuss it with a healthcare professional before starting.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

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