Description

Evergreen creeping shrub. The leaves are small, obovate, leathery, glossy, over-wintering. They are similar to the leaves of lingonberries, differ in non-bent edges, the absence of point pits from below and a developed network of depressed veins. The flowers are small, pinkish, collected in drooping apical brushes. Fruits — red mealy tasteless drupes with several dark red stones. Height 30 – 100 cm.

The time of flowering. May-June.

Distribution. It is found in the Northern and middle bands of Europe, in the Caucasus, in Western and Eastern Siberia, and in the far East.

Habitat. It grows in coniferous forests on sandy soil and between shrubs, in dry sandy tundras.

The part used. Leaves.

The time of collection. May-June.

Chemical composition

The leaves contain up to 35% of tannins, gallic, ellagic, ursolic, quinic, formic and other acids, quercetin, quercitrin, myricetin, myricitrin, various mineral salts, a small amount of essential oil and arbutin glucoside, which decomposes into sugar, glucose and hydroquinone, which has antimicrobial and diuretic effects.

Application

Bearberry is widely used in folk medicine in various countries. The leaves have a diuretic, bactericidal, excellent disinfectant,astringent and anti-inflammatory effect and a calming effect on the nervous system. Infusion of leaves is taken for various diseases of the kidneys and bladder, especially kidney stones and bladder, diseases caused by impaired metabolism. Bearberry infusion is also drunk for diarrhea, sluggish digestion, malaria, pulmonary tuberculosis, chest pain and nervous diseases. In folk medicine of Karachay-Cherkessia, a decoction of leaves is used for malaria and women's diseases. In German folk medicine, an infusion of leaves is used as a disinfectant for chronic inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract, urinary retention, involuntary urination, nocturnal incontinence, bloody urine, involuntary discharge of semen and kidney stones. Externally, the infusion or decoction of leaves is used in the form of local baths, washings and compresses for scrofula, ulcers and purulent wounds. In scientific medicine, decoction of leaves as a Diuretic and excellent disinfectant is used for inflammatory diseases of the bladder and urinary tract (cystitis, pyelitis, urethritis).

Method of application

1. 2 teaspoons of dry leaves infuse 2-3 hours in 2 cups of cold boiled water. Take 1/2 cup 2-4 times a day.

2. 10 g of leaves boil for 15 minutes in 1/2 liter of water, infuse 1 hour, drain. Take 1 tablespoon after 3 to 4 hours.

3. The powders of the leaves, take 1 g 2 times a day.