Any herbalists here? Is it true that UVA URSI (bearberry)is almost poisonous? See I have an UTI and I'm taking

Question

these Uva Ursi pills, but I found this article on the web:

Are there cautions on using bearberry?

Uva ursi, in any form, is not a daily supplement to be used for prevention. Rather, it is a reactive herbal treatment which should only be employed once a problem appears. Even most companies that sell bearberry do not recommend continuous use for more than one week because it is potent and can cause side effects like nausea or liver problems when taken in large doses. Bearberry is an herb that teeters on the boundary between stiff cure and potent poison, so it should not be taken by children, pregnant women, or anyone with existing liver problems. Bearberry is a treatment for a medical problem and not just a pro-health herbal supplement.

It says Uva Ursi should be taken in small quantities. The pills I'm taking contain 100,00 mg per portion (that's 100,00 mg per PILL right?). Would that be considered a small dose, or am I in trouble? I've been taking one a day for 17 days now

Answer 1

Yes, there are cautions on using bearberry. Not to be taken for more than 14 days. Not in pregnancy, kidney disorders or nursing.

I can't tell if you are taking 100,000mg (put the comma in the wrong place) or 10,000mg (left a zero off). That is per dose - look on the bottle to see if the directions say to take one or two. If it says take 2, then that is the mg. in ONE pill. Also makes a difference if it is powdered herb or herbal EXTRACT in powder form.

Either way, 17 days is long enough that if this herb were going to work for you, you should be completely well by now.

So, if it were me, I would STOP taking this herb and start instead with Cranberry Extract capsules or softgels, 2 or 3 daily and Goldenseal Root capsules, 500mg. each. Take 2 capsules 3x for 2 days. Then take 1 capsule 3x daily for additional 8 days. You should feel much better by the 2nd or 3rd day.

To feel better faster, drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day and stay away from anything tannic, like tea or coffee. NO SUGAR until you get well. Add Meadowsweet tea to your regime to ease the pain and sooth the urinary inflammation.

Answer 2

Uva Ursi are available with up to 20% arbutin. Arbutin is converted in the alkaline urine to hydroquinone, a potent disinfectant.

Most products containing Uva Ursi are intended for short-term use because of the strong properties of hydroquinone, and should be limited to 2 or 3 weeks' use.

Answer 3

no danger in taking highly dilute homeopathic medicines but they are curative only in homeo form.

                                                             but the dose you mentioned is extremely high and is really poisionus and even fatal.