Uva Ursi: Traditional Uses, Benefits & Medicinal Properties

Uva-ursi is a short ground cover plant with short dark stems. White flowers with a reddish tint cluster at the ends of the branches. This herb produces small glossy red berries.

Healing Properties

• Uva-ursi's leaves and berries contain tannic acid and glycoside arbutin, which are astringent and antiseptic substances.

Medicinal

• Boil and crush uva-ursi plants to create a poultice for sore muscles, sprains and swellings. To keep poison ivy under control, wash the area with a tea made from uva-ursi.

Warning

• Do not drink uva-ursi tea. The high tannic acid in this herb makes it unsafe to ingest. It causes stomach aches and tannic acid poisoning.

Ornamental

• Uva-ursi does well as a ground cover on rocky hillsides and sandy cliffs. Its strong root system resists erosion and holds the soil in place.

Dye

• Uva-ursi leaves produce a camel color when dying wool. The whole plant produces a green color.