Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (leaf)

Bearberry (uva ursi)

Bearberry leaf is a traditional herbal remedy for the burning and frequency of mild bladder infections in women, but the best trials do not show that it relieves symptoms. In one it did not help symptoms at all, and in another it cut antibiotic use but left women with more symptoms and a possible excess of kidney infections than a single antibiotic dose.

Its active compound turns into hydroquinone in the body, so the EU regulator limits use to one week, and advises against it in pregnancy, kidney disorders, men and anyone under 18.

Written by

Healthy and Herbal editorial team

Reviewed by

Healthy and Herbal editors

Updated

10 October 2026

A bearberry plant with red berries and small glossy leaves

At a glance

Last reviewed 10 October 2026

Evidence

Limited

Best for

Mild cystitis symptoms

Typical form & use

Leaf extract, 200–840 mg arbutin daily

Onset

2–3 days

Safety

Max one week; not in pregnancy, kidney disease, under 18. No interactions in our data.

Check with your medications →

What it's used for

Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.

Use	Evidence	What the research shows
Symptoms of uncomplicated cystitisCompare remedies for women’s health →Compare remedies for bladder & urinary →	Limited	In a placebo-controlled trial of 382 women with suspected bladder infection (ATAFUTI), uva ursi extract made no difference to frequency symptoms on days 2–4 (difference −0.06, 95% CI −0.33 to 0.21) and did not significantly reduce antibiotic use (39.9% vs 47.4%). In a German trial of 398 women, uva ursi led to 63.6% fewer antibiotic courses than fosfomycin, but symptom burden over the first week was 136.5% of the fosfomycin group's, failing the non-inferiority test, and 8 women developed kidney infection (pyelonephritis) against 2 on fosfomycin (p = 0.067). Both trials used women who could be prescribed antibiotics, so they say little about people who choose to avoid them.^1,2
Preventing recurrent cystitis	Limited	A German health technology assessment of herbal treatments for recurrent bladder infection found a 'hint of benefit' for one uva ursi and dandelion combination compared with placebo. It rested on a single study, of a mixed product, so it cannot separate the effect of bearberry itself. Cranberry had more consistent evidence in the same review. We did not open the underlying trial.³
Relief of mild recurrent lower urinary tract symptoms (EU traditional use)	Traditional	The EU herbal regulator registers bearberry leaf as a traditional herbal medicine for burning during urination and frequent urination in women, after a doctor has excluded serious conditions. It states the indication rests exclusively on long-standing use, not on trial evidence.⁴

Use

Evidence

What the research shows

Symptoms of uncomplicated cystitisCompare remedies for women’s health →Compare remedies for bladder & urinary →

Limited

In a placebo-controlled trial of 382 women with suspected bladder infection (ATAFUTI), uva ursi extract made no difference to frequency symptoms on days 2–4 (difference −0.06, 95% CI −0.33 to 0.21) and did not significantly reduce antibiotic use (39.9% vs 47.4%).

In a German trial of 398 women, uva ursi led to 63.6% fewer antibiotic courses than fosfomycin, but symptom burden over the first week was 136.5% of the fosfomycin group's, failing the non-inferiority test, and 8 women developed kidney infection (pyelonephritis) against 2 on fosfomycin (p = 0.067). Both trials used women who could be prescribed antibiotics, so they say little about people who choose to avoid them.^1,2

Preventing recurrent cystitis

Limited

A German health technology assessment of herbal treatments for recurrent bladder infection found a 'hint of benefit' for one uva ursi and dandelion combination compared with placebo. It rested on a single study, of a mixed product, so it cannot separate the effect of bearberry itself. Cranberry had more consistent evidence in the same review. We did not open the underlying trial.³

Relief of mild recurrent lower urinary tract symptoms (EU traditional use)

Traditional

The EU herbal regulator registers bearberry leaf as a traditional herbal medicine for burning during urination and frequent urination in women, after a doctor has excluded serious conditions. It states the indication rests exclusively on long-standing use, not on trial evidence.⁴

How much

Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.

EU monograph dose (dry extract)

100–210 mg arbutin per dose, 2–4 times daily⁴

Expressed as hydroquinone derivatives calculated as anhydrous arbutin, for adult women. Daily total 200–840 mg arbutin. Check the label for the arbutin content, not just the extract weight.

Trial dose

105 mg tablets, 2 tablets 3 times daily for 5 days²

The regimen in the German trial against fosfomycin. The abstract does not say what the 105 mg refers to.

Maximum duration

Not more than 1 week⁴

The EU monograph says to see a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms persist beyond 4 days of use, or if fever, spasms or blood in the urine appear.

Hydroquinone exposure

About 11 µg/kg body weight a day at 420 mg arbutin^5,6

Arbutin is converted to hydroquinone in the body: about 65% of a dose was recovered in urine as hydroquinone equivalents in 16 healthy volunteers. A manufacturer-employed author's review estimated free hydroquinone in urine at this level against a proposed permitted daily exposure of 100 µg/kg, so treat it as supportive rather than independent.

Timing · The EU monograph gives 2–4 doses a day for extracts and does not link doses to meals.With food? · Nausea, vomiting and stomach-ache have been reported, frequency unknown. No source we read gave food guidance.How long to trial · Judge it within 4 days. The EU monograph says to consult a doctor if symptoms persist beyond 4 days, and not to use it for more than a week. Fever, spasms or blood in the urine mean seeing a doctor sooner.

How people take it

Dry extract (tablet or capsule)100–210 mg arbutin per dose, 2–4 times dailyThe form used in the trials and the one to choose if you use it, because the arbutin content is standardised and stated.

Herbal tea or macerate1.5–4 g leaf in 150 ml water, 2–4 times dailyTraditional use only, maximum 8 g a day. The monograph says a macerate should be used immediately after preparation. Arbutin content varies more than in extracts.

Liquid extract (1:1, 25% ethanol)1.5–4 ml up to 3 times dailyMaximum 8 ml a day. Contains alcohol.

Safety

Who should avoid

Pregnancy and breastfeeding — safety not established, use not recommended
Kidney disorders — a contraindication in the EU monograph
Children and adolescents under 18 — not recommended
Men — not recommended without medical supervision
Use beyond one week — the EU maximum duration
Fever, blood in the urine or worsening symptoms — see a doctor
Known allergy to bearberry

Known interactions

No interactions in our data. Absence of a flag is not clearance.

Questions people ask

Does uva ursi work for a urinary tract infection?

Not reliably. In a placebo-controlled trial of 382 women it did not improve symptoms, and in a 398-woman trial against fosfomycin it left women with more symptoms and more kidney infections, though it reduced antibiotic use. Do not treat fever, back pain or blood in the urine yourself.

How long can I safely take uva ursi?

The EU monograph says not for more than one week, and to see a doctor if symptoms persist beyond 4 days. The active compound, arbutin, is converted to hydroquinone, and long-term use has not been shown to be safe.

Who should not take uva ursi?

The EU regulator advises against use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, kidney disorders, children and adolescents under 18, and men. Its monograph gives men and under-18s as needing medical supervision because of concerns about underlying causes.

Will uva ursi change the colour of my urine?

It may. The EU monograph notes a greenish-brown coloration of the urine can occur.

Sources (7)

Reader notes

Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.

Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence

Bearberry (uva ursi)

At a glance

What it's used for

How much

How people take it

Safety

Who should avoid

Known interactions

Questions people ask

Does uva ursi work for a urinary tract infection?

How long can I safely take uva ursi?

Who should not take uva ursi?

Will uva ursi change the colour of my urine?

Sources (7)

Reader notes

Used it? Share how it went, or ask a question.