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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Uva Ursi


A-Z Challenge
My theme is Herbs
U is for Uva Ursi

Kubla Khan learned
the merrits of this
herb during his
invasions. Uva
Ursi is of the
Manzanita
family and
grows in upper
elevations in
long trailing
stems running just below ground level.

Medicinal use:  for kidney and bladder stones and disinfecting
the urinary tract. As a good astringent, a tea of the leaves is
great for skin irritations, heat rash and hives.

Used for nephritis, cystitis as well as for kidney and bladder
stones.

29 comments:

  1. bearberry! good for the kidneys as you've said. I know this one, but not as a herbal remedy. A wiccan friend mentioned it once, I think she said the dried and powdered plant could be used in spells as a substitute for graveyard dust. I could be wrong on that. It was a long time ago.

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    1. River
      oowww Witchraft and graveyards and spells. I like it.

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  2. My youngest gets a rash on his elbows all of the time. I've never thought to try a natural remedy for it. Lotions/creams work very temporarily. You've got me thinking now...

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    Replies
    1. Rosey
      When I was doing a lot of ranch work outside I got a rash on the top of my foot that was runny and ozzey and itchy and I was getting desparate trying to get rid of it. I went to 3 skin doctors and it kept getting worse. Someone said try Fels Naptha bar soap...... you know, that old laundry soap that you can hardly get anymore. I did and within a week it was gone and never came back. Go figure.

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    2. Well I'm going to look for it! The pediatrician said it was Polaris Keratosis, but I never agreed. It doesn't look or act like anything you read about PK. I do think it's harmless though and if the soap works I'm going to be dancing a jig (and you know as much as I love music and watching other people dancing, I can't dance a lick). I don't like my baby having rashy elbows.

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  3. Love the name of this one - sounds like a pretty neat herb!!

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    1. Keith
      You're back. I'll have to check to see if you've posted.

      Delete
  4. Sure could have used it for the last case of hives I had.

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    1. Patti
      Have you ever tried the old bar Fels Naptha Soa on skin problems? I swear by it. I just wrote about it to Rosey, up a coupld comments.

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  5. Replies
    1. Adam
      I haven't tried it but I got this on very good authority.

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  6. I don't expect to find any growing here naturally... not exactly in an "upper elevation." I read your endorsement of the Fels Napth Soap and am thinking it would be a good idea to keep a bar of that stuff on hand so that you have it when you need it!

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    Replies
    1. Robin
      I don't know what the ingredient in the old Fels Naptha is that heals the skin but it just does. I have around 10 bars on hand after I got rid of 2 of my houses. I think I saw it on Amazon and I know Vermont country Store has it. I hope they don't ever change the formula.

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  7. Replies
    1. C lee
      I certainly could as you have elevated spots and that is where it grows.

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  8. So it helps you pee? Works for me. The name sounds like the bad guy from the little mermaid haha

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    1. Pat
      I like the name but don't know names inf the little mermaid as that is generations away from me. Ha

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  9. I never heard of this herb. hope interesting. I had an awful dose of hives in my youth. Wish I had known about this then.

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    1. Ann
      I've never used this on my skin but I've heard good reports. I use the old bar laundry soap that has some ingredient in it tha reals many skin problems. I just rub the wet bar over the problem skin area and let it dry on the skin.

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  10. I'm so glad medicinal herbs is your theme. I did a quick search of this herb and saw that it may be helpful in healing eczema.

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    1. Susiee
      As I said below to Holy Ghost. ...... it's worth a try and also did you read about the laundry bar of the old fashioned Fels Naptha. I mentioned it to several people above.

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    2. Fels Naptha... I'm on it. Thank you, m'am. :-)

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  11. This could help with eczema, may have to try it

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    1. Holy ghost
      It's worth a try.

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    2. Holy Ghost
      I also mentioned to a few people above the old fashioned laundry bar soap of Fels Naptha that I've had really wonderful results with on my skin problems plus bites and stings.

      Delete
  12. a useful herb indeed. Will look for Fels Naptha in our local natural foods store. My gr-daughters get bites so easily. I would love to hear about some plant that repel fleas and mosquitoes!

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  13. Yep, I did this before too. I don't even know what I was using it for but I used it. I should have made Dennis drink it when he used to get kidney stones.

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  14. I know several people who would benefit from this plant.

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  15. Never heard of this plant! It sounds interesting. Manzi, I enjoyed your little encycolpedia of herbs! Thanks a lot! Hugs!

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