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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Uva-Ursi

aka Arctostaphylos uva-ursi · Bearberry

Antibacterial herb for acute uncomplicated UTI; alkaline urine required.

Kidney HealthWomen's Health

Overview

Antibacterial herb for acute uncomplicated UTI; alkaline urine required.

Natural sources
  • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Common forms
  • Standardized arbutin

Mechanism of action

Arbutin converts to hydroquinone in alkaline urine, with antibacterial activity.

Pathways
  • · Urinary antibacterial

Effects on the body

Decreases
Bacterial growth (urinary)

Organ system effects

Kidneys

Short-term use for acute UTI.

Evidence-based benefits

Limited but supportive evidence in acute UTI

Limited evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · GI upset
Rare
    Serious
    • · Hepatotoxicity with chronic use

    Drug interactions

    Urine acidifiers (vit C high dose)
    Reduces efficacy.
    moderate

    Safety & non-supplemental interactions

    Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

    Avoid if you are
    • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
    • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

    Supplement interactions

    Pairs well with

    None listed.

    Avoid combining with
    • Pregnancy
      Possible oxytocic.
    • Long-term use
      Hepatotoxicity.

    Dosing & bioavailability

    Typical dose
    400–800 mg standardized × 3/d for ≤7 days

    Where to buy

    Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

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    Wide selection · fast shipping
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    Thorne
    Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

    Scientific evidence (8)

    RCTBMJ · 2019

    Uva-ursi for recurrent UTI (ATAFUTI)

    Moore M, et al.

    RCT of uva-ursi for UTI symptoms in adult women.

    Key findings

    Did not reduce symptom duration or antibiotic use.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Uva-Ursi — Limited but supportive evidence in acute UTI

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Uva-Ursi Limited but supportive evidence in acute UTI" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Uva-Ursi and "Limited but supportive evidence in acute UTI". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Uva-Ursi — randomized controlled trial

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Uva-Ursi randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Uva-Ursi and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Uva-Ursi — meta-analysis

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Uva-Ursi meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Uva-Ursi and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Uva-Ursi — pharmacokinetics

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Uva-Ursi pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Uva-Ursi and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Uva-Ursi — safety adverse events

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Uva-Ursi safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Uva-Ursi and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

    PubMed: Uva-Ursi — dose response

    Live PubMed search

    Live results for "Uva-Ursi dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

    Key findings

    Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Uva-Ursi and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

    Open study
    Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

    Google Scholar: Uva-Ursi — clinical evidence

    Live Scholar search

    Cross-database citation index for Uva-Ursi as it relates to "clinical evidence".

    Key findings

    Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

    Open study
    Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.