Evidence supporting the use of: Oregon grape
For the health condition: Bladder Infection

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American groups and early European settlers in North America. It was commonly used for a variety of infections, including those of the urinary tract, due to its perceived antimicrobial properties. The plant's root and bark contain berberine, an alkaloid known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and this has provided a rationale for its traditional use in treating bladder infections (cystitis) and other urinary tract issues. However, direct scientific studies specifically examining Oregon grape for bladder infections in humans are limited. Most of the available research focuses on berberine itself, which has demonstrated inhibitory effects against certain bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections (like E. coli) in laboratory studies. Despite this, clinical trials using Oregon grape specifically for bladder infections are lacking, so the evidence is mostly extrapolated from traditional use and in vitro research. Therefore, while there is a plausible basis for its use rooted in both tradition and the known effects of its constituents, robust scientific validation in the context of human bladder infections is currently insufficient.

More about oregon grape
More about Bladder Infection