Uva Ursi for Prostate Health

Common herb uva ursi might help ward off bacterial prostatitis, but clinical studies are lacking.

• Helping with prostatitis. Uva ursi’s antibacterial and astringent activities can help ward off bacterial prostatitis and associated urinary infections.

Overview

Uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a shrub widespread in colder northern climates that produces red berries. Also known as bearberry because bears like to eat its fruit, uva ursi (Latin for “bear’s grape”) has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. Native Americans, for example, used its leathery leaves as a remedy for urinary conditions and a diuretic, a practice that remained popular prior to the arrival of antibiotics.

Today, uva ursi leaf products—including teas, extracts, and tinctures—are used for urinary tract infections and bladder inflammation (cystitis). Meanwhile, in terms of prostate health, uva ursi is sometimes used to protect against bacterial prostatitis.

Although early research confirms that uva ursi contains compounds with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and other useful properties, there are few human studies on its effects.

How Uva Ursi Might Help With Prostate Health

Antibacterial activity

Uva ursi contains the active ingredient arbutin, which is broken down by the body into another compound called hydroquinone. Studies show that hydroquinone acts as an antibacterial in the urinary tract, countering the growth of multiple uropathogenic bacteria, including E. coli, S. aureus, and E. faecalis. Many of these bacteria—most notably S. aureus—can cause bacterial prostatitis.¹

Astringent properties

In addition, uva ursi also contains tannins, which are classified as astringents – compounds that shrink and tighten body tissue. This effect is useful for fighting infection and reducing inflammation.

Uva Ursi Uses & Potential Benefits for Prostate Health

As a prostate supplement uva ursi is typically used to help with bacterial prostatitis, which is often associated with urinary tract infections.

On the one hand, cell culture research suggests that uva ursi possesses antibacterial & astringent properties, and is particularly effective against the types of bacteria that cause prostatitis and urinary infections. But on the other, there are currently no human studies confirming that it works for prostatitis. As such, its prostate benefits remain hypothetical.

In addition, some people also take uva ursi for prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia), but this use is unsupported by research.

Research

Animal Research

Uva ursi preparations may help fight prostatitis-causing bacteria

In this investigation, researchers tested the ability of 14 different over-the-counter plant preparations to protect against Staphylococus saprophyticus, a bacteria that often causes bacterial prostatitis and urinary tract infections. They found that only uva ursi and green tea preparations were effective, reducing the activity of urease—an enzyme that plays a key role in S. saprophyticus infection— by over 75%.

• The researchers concluded that “…only a few of the commercially available over-the-counter plant preparations commonly used for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) can inhibit the urease activity from S. saprophyticus.” ²

Dosage for Prostate Health

• There is currently no research-supported dosage of uva ursi for prostate health
• Standalone uva ursi supplements typically come in 450-500 mg capsules taken 1-3 times daily
• The general dosage for uva ursi is 10-12 g crushed leaf or powder infused in boiling water (tea)

Available Forms

• Dry leaf, typically used to brew tea.
• Powdered leaf. Sold in capsules, this is the most common form sold in dietary supplements.
• Standardized extract. Some supplements use uva ursi extract that is standardized to ~20% of bioactive arbutin.
• Tincture. A liquid extract of uva ursi.