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Cranberry
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
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Cranberry •
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accept the bitter to get better
 Cranberry Berries | |||
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 Cranberry Bush | |||
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Cranberry
The medicinal herb Cranberry as an alternative herbal remedy for urinary disorders, diabetes - Cranberries are the fruit of a native plant of North America. These red berries are used in foods and in herbal products. American cranberry bush often develops fall colors of yellow, orange, red, and purple. In spring, it bears wide, flat flower clusters. These lacy flowers have an outer ring of large white florets with many smaller white florets in the center. The clusters of rounded fruit that follow turn from green to yellow-orange to brilliant red in the fall and often hang on the plant through the winter.Common Names--cranberry, American cranberry, bog cranberry
Latin Name--Vaccinium macrocarpon Picture of Cranberry berries Picture of Cranberry Bush
What Cranberry Is Used For
Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a variety of problems, such as wounds, urinary disorders, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems.
Recently, cranberry products have been used in the hope of preventing or treating urinary tract infections or Helicobacter pylori infections that can lead to stomach ulcers, or to prevent dental plaque. Cranberry has also been reported to have antioxidant and anticancer activity. Herbal remedy for urinary disorders.
How Cranberry Is Used
The berries are used to produce beverages and many other food products, as well as dietary supplements in the form of extracts, teas, and capsules or tablets.
What the Science Says about Cranberry
- Some studies testing cranberry products for their ability to prevent urinary tract infections have shown promise. These studies have generally been small in size, and some were not randomized or controlled; therefore, the results are not conclusive.
- Cranberry products have not been adequately tested to see if they can be used to help treat an existing urinary tract infection.
- Research shows that components found in cranberry may prevent bacteria, such as E. coli, from clinging to the cells along the walls of the urinary tract and causing infection. However, the mechanism of action of cranberry is not fully understood.
- NCCAM, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research are funding studies to understand whether and how cranberry might work to:
- Prevent urinary tract infection
- Prevent the formation of dental plaque
Side Effects and Cautions about Cranberry
- Eating cranberry products in food amounts appears to be safe, but drinking excessive amounts of juice could cause gastrointestinal upset or diarrhea.
- People who think they have a urinary tract infection should see a health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. Cranberry products should not be used to treat infection.
- It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including cranberry. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.
News About Cranberry
Cranberry Extract For Urinary Tract Infections In Infants Confirmed To Be Safe And Effective Treatment
- By Jaleesa Baulkman
Cranberry extract, which has already shown effectiveness in preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adults, can also fight the infection in breastfed infants under a year old, according to a recent study. Although cranberries are commonly used to treat UTIs in adults, many were still unclear about the optimal dosage, and its potential usefulness in young children. But new research published in Annals of Pediatrics suggests using cranberries to prevent UTIs in young children in lieu of antibiotics prevents the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance.
UTIs, which account for more than about 8.1 million visits to health care providers each year, are the second most common type of infection in the body, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It occurs when bacteria enter and infect the urinary tract. These infections can affect several parts of the urinary tract, but the most common type is a bladder infection.
“Current evidence supports the use of long-term low-dose antibiotic treatment to control recurrent urinary tract infections,” researchers wrote. “However, one of the main problems in prescribing long-term low-dose antibiotics is the increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and the effects of such treatment on the selection of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the flora.”
Researchers collected and analyzed data from 192 children between the ages of 1 month and 13 years. Eighty-five of the participants were under a year old and 107 children were older than 1. Of the infants younger than 1, 53 received trimethoprim, an antibiotic, and 32 received glucose syrup with 3 percent cranberry extract. Of those older than a year old, 64 received the antibiotic and 43 received the cranberry treatment. In all, 117 were administered a bacteriostatic antibiotic and 75 children received the cranberry extract.
They found that the cumulative rate of UTIs in infants who received trimethoprim was 28 percent, while this rate was 35 percent in infants who received cranberry. The overall cumulative rate of the infection in children older than 1-year-old was 35 percent in those who received trimethoprim and 26 percent in those who received cranberry.
The findings not only suggests the use of cranberries is safe in infants and children, it also suggests the efficacy of the fruit is not inferior to that of the antibiotic trimethoprim for the treatment of UTIs in children. “Its efficacy in infants less than 1 year of age can be considered inferior to that of trimethoprim at the doses we administered,” researchers said. However, they found that cranberry is not inferior to trimethoprim when the dose of proanthocyanidins was more than 18 milligrams.
Researchers hope to find if cranberries’ anti-inflammatory properties can improve kidney disease or infection.
Cranberries For Children May Help Ward Off Urinary Troubles
- By Jason Tetro
For many Canadians, no turkey dinner is complete without the addition of cranberry sauce. The tartness from the red berries offers a perfect complement to the rich meal. But beyond these special moments, cranberries have long been thought to be an excellent way to improve health, particularly in the urinary tract.
The effects of cranberries on overall health have been studied for over a century. Back in 1914, the berries were found to be a rich source of a chemical called benzoic acid. The name may seem familiar as it's used as a preservative in many foods. When the body ingests the chemical, it is transformed into hippuric acid, which helps to keep pathogenic species, such as Escherichia coli, from growing in areas where it doesn't belong, such as the urinary tract. But while the presence of benzoic acid was thought to be useful, in terms of quantities - the number of cranberries needed to improve health - there were no answers.
In 1923, the amount of hippuric acid formed after eating cranberries was finally determined. But to get to useful levels, a person had to eat quite a bit, as much as 350 grams. When lower amounts were ingested either as berries or juice, there was little to no impact. Interest in the benefit waned such that eventually, the use of cranberries to kill pathogens was considered little more than a tale.
That view changed in the 1980s when the focus on the antimicrobial effects of the juice shifted from antimicrobial activity to prevention of colonization. Instead of outright killing, cranberry juice was found to prevent bacteria from attaching to the inside urinary tract. But this activity wasn't due to hippuric acid, it was another chemical, proanthocyanidin. It's found in many different types of plants but in cranberries, the molecule seems to be perfectly designed to protect the lining of the urinary tract.
With this information in place, the door was opened for clinical trials. As the 21st century began, studies examining the effects of cranberry juice in humans led to the same protective effect seen in the lab. Not surprisingly, this helped to rejuvenate the original belief that cranberries could indeed improve health, just in a different manner. As studies were published, daily consumption could help to fight off infections and even keep them from happening in the first place.
With the positive results continuing to come in, the scope of trials extended to include a variety of different segments of the population. As expected, positive results came from studies with the elderly, those suffering from recurring infection, and pregnancy. The only negative outcome was an apparent interaction in those prescribed warfarin; they should not drink cranberry juice while taking blood thinners.
With almost every demographic covered, the only group remaining to be tested were children under one year of age. In light of their well-known issues with urinary tract infections, they had the most to gain from a well-developed study. But until recently, little had been done to determine the effect of cranberry supplementation. That recently changed when a group of Spanish researchers revealed a cranberry extract may help to prevent infections in these young individuals.
The team examined 192 children, 85 of which were under one year of age. All had suffered from at least three episodes in their short lives. The population was divided into two separate treatment groups; one received an antibiotic known to help fight urinary infections while the other received suspension of 3% cranberry extract in a glucose syrup. Each child received a single dose daily with regular follow ups every 2 months until the study ended. This was done to determine whether cranberries would be useful over the long term.
When the results came back, the results were just as expected. Children taking the cranberry had a lower rate of infection compared to the antibiotic although when compared statistically, infants did not fare as well as children over one year of age. Even so, the data clearly supported the daily use of cranberry to help a child fight off infection was safe at any age. Moreover, in comparison to an antibiotic, to which resistance can develop, bacteria cannot stop the activity of proanthocyanidin.
Although the study focused on young children with a history of urinary tract infections, the authors suggested the use of cranberries as a preventative measure may keep all children healthy. By taking in a small amount of extract per day, a child may be able avoid infection in the first year of life and beyond. This will not only help as she grows older, but will help to relieve parents who hope to minimize any pain and discomfort in their young ones.
7 reasons why cranberries are good for you all year round
- By Kate Whiting
Don't forget about cranberries once the Christmas condiments are cleared away. Here's seven reasons to keep them on the menu.
With their deep red hue and vibrant sheen, cranberries certainly look the festive part - and taste particularly delicious in sauce form slathered on turkey - but there's no reason why these juicy fruits should be forgotten about the rest of the year.
In fact, they are bursting with potential health benefits, not to mention being super-versatile too (ever tried baking dried ones into scones?).
Here, experts outline seven reasons to cram in more cranberries ...
1. Bladder health
"Cranberries have been used for centuries by Native Americans to treat urinary tract infections, and there's lots of research being done now to explain why these tart little berries are so bladder friendly," says nutritionist Marilyn Glenville (www.marilynglenville.com).
"The first study to scientifically confirm this health benefit was undertaken in 1994, where women given 300ml of cranberry juice a day were found to suffer less than half the incidence of urinary tract infections as the placebo-ingesting control group. It was originally believed that cranberry juice reduced the symptoms of cystitis by making the urine more acidic - obviously not a desirable effect, as it is the acidic urine that causes the burning sensation. advertisement
"We now know that cranberries work in a completely different way. It seems that certain substances in cranberries can stop bacteria, such as E. coli, from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. For bacteria to infect your urinary tract, they must first stick to the mucosal (mucous membrane lining) walls of the tract. If they are unable to do so, they cannot multiply and are flushed from the body when you urinate."
2. Immune health
They could help us keep coughs and colds at bay, too, according to Nature's Best nutritionist Keri Filtness (www.naturesbest.co.uk), as they contain nutrients that support immune function. "Cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, which can contribute to the normal function of the immune system," says Filtness.
3. Dental health
The same properties that stop bacteria from sticking to the wall of the urinary tract - thought to be antioxidant proanthocyanidins - have been shown to "inhibit the HSV-2 herpes virus, and the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that are increasingly recognised as a leading cause of peptic ulcers and the growth of oral bacteria," says Glenville.
4. Heart health
According to Glenville, "studies have also found that cranberries, which contain high levels of other antioxidant flavonoids and polyphenols, can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, which is caused by 'bad' LDL cholesterol silting up arteries, reducing blood flow and leading to angina, thrombosis and heart attacks".
5. Allergy busting
Filtness says: "These berries also contain a compound called quercetin, which is thought to reduce inflammation and may help with allergies."
6. Memory and mental health
"Research to come out of the Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging at Tufts University in the US, suggests that diets rich in foods with high levels of antioxidants and other phytonutrients, such as cranberries, could protect against chronic age-related afflictions," notes Glenville.
7. Skin health
"The antioxidant proanthocyanidins, which give cranberries their distinctive, bright red colour, are thought to support the production, and reduce the breakdown, of collagen, which may have an effect on skin elasticity and strength," says Filtness.
Pictures of Cranberries
Cranberry Mass Harvest
