Trailing Arbutus: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions

Other Name(s):

Epigaea repens, Épigée Rampante, Fleur de Mai, Gravel Plant, Ground Laurel, Mountain Pink, Water Pink, Winter Pink.

Overview

Trailing arbutus is an herb. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.

People take trailing arbutus to treat urinary tract conditions and fluid retention. They also take it as a drying agent (astringent).

Trailing arbutus is sometimes called gravel plant. Be careful not to confuse it with another plant called gravel root.

How does work?

Trailing arbutus contains ingredients that are thought to help kill germs in the urine.

Uses

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

Urinary tract conditions.
Fluid retention.
As a drying agent (astringent).
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of trailing arbutus for these uses.

Side Effects

Trailing arbutus seems to be safe when used short-term. However, long-term use can lead to poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning include ringing in the ears, vomiting, confusion, convulsions, and collapse. Trailing arbutus may also cause liver damage, weight loss, weakness, loss of hair color, bloody urine, difficulty with urination, and painful urination.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Precautions

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of trailing arbutus during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of trailing arbutus depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for trailing arbutus. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine. Terry C. Telger, transl. 3rd ed. Berlin, GER: Springer, 1998.