Article Most Wanted: bladder

Cranberry for Bladder Infections

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<span class="dropcaps">R</span>uby red and 
exceedingly tart, the American cranberry is native to the swamps and 
bogs of northeastern North America. It can still be found growing wild 
in parts of its native range, which extends from eastern Canada south to
 the mountains of Georgia and west as far as Minnesota. Most of the 
cranberries that now find their way into foods and drinks—and grace 
millions of Thanksgiving tables—are cultivated on large commercial 
farms. Cranberry shares the genus <i>Vaccinium</i> with a number of other popular berries, including blueberry, huckleberry, and bilberry. The word <i>cranberry</i> is probably derived from <i>crane berry</i>,
 a term coined by Dutch and German colonists either because the flowers 
looked to them like the head and neck of a crane or because cranes 
flocked to cranberry bogs when the fruit was ripe.</div>
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<b>Therapeutic Uses</b></h2>
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<i>Bladder infections (prevention)</i></div>
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The herbal remedy most associated with maintaining a 
healthy urinary tract is the delicious, native North American cranberry.
 Originally it was thought that cranberry prevented urinary tract 
infections by acidifying the urine; however, scientists have shown that 
compounds known as proanthocyanidins prevent harmful bacteria such as <i>Escherichia coli</i> from adhering to the cells that line the bladder and urethra. This is good news, given that <i>E. coli</i> is responsible for 90 percent of all urinary tract infections.</div>
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In 2008, researchers reviewed 7 studies of cranberry 
juice along with 4 studies of cranberry extract tablets. They concluded 
that both modes of delivery reduced the risk of a 
urinary tract infection by 35 percent in people who had a history of 
frequent infections compared with control groups. This research is 
significant, especially given the statistic that roughly 25 percent of 
all women will have a recurrent urinary tract infection in their 
lifetimes.</div>
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While the evidence is very strong for the use of 
cranberry to prevent urinary tract infections, there is, on the other 
hand, very little evidence that it is an effective treatment once a 
urinary tractinfection is contracted. The best treatment for an 
acute bladder infection is antibiotics. Cranberry juice or tablets can 
also be a very effective urinary deodorant for those who are 
incontinent.
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<b>How to Use</b></h2>
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<i>Juice:</i> Cranberry juice is an easy and 
tasty way to prevent urinary tract infections. One well-designed study 
used 10 ounces per day of Ocean Spray cranberry juice.</div>
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<i>Extract:</i> Cranberry extract in tablet form 
has been shown to be as effective, better tolerated, less expensive, and
 lower in calories when compared with the juice. The dose of 
concentrated juice extract is 300 to 500 mg, taken twice a day.</div>
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<b>Precautions</b></h2>
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Given the widespread use of cranberry by the 
general public, it is safe to say that there are virtually no adverse 
effects associated with its use. Cranberry is safe during pregnancy and 
lactation, and it is safe for children. Although several case reports 
have indicated a concern for a potential interaction between cranberry 
juice and warfarin, used to prevent blood clots, studies in humans have 
documented no adverse interactions.</div>