People use the leaves of uva-ursi, also called bearberry, for short-term urinary relief. The body converts its active compound, arbutin, into hydroquinone. This substance exhibits antimicrobial activity in the urinary tract when the urine is alkaline.
You can take uva-ursi as a tea or standardized extract. The herb works best when urine is alkaline. Taking it with vitamin C, cranberry, or other acidifiers weakens its effect.
Do not use uva-ursi for more than one week at a time. Avoid it if you are pregnant, nursing, or have kidney or liver conditions. Long-term use can be toxic.