Pyrola, also known as wintergreen or shinleaf, has been used historically in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Europe and Asia, for urinary tract and kidney-related issues. Ethnobotanical records indicate that various species of Pyrola were prepared as herbal infusions or decoctions to support urinary health and to address symptoms related to kidney infections, such as pain or inflammation. The rationale for its use likely stemmed from its perceived diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as its mild astringency, which traditional practitioners believed could help soothe mucous membranes of the urinary tract.

However, modern scientific research on Pyrola’s efficacy for kidney infections is extremely limited. There are a few phytochemical studies that have identified phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and arbutin in Pyrola species, which are compounds also found in other plants used for urinary tract health (like bearberry). Arbutin, for example, is hydrolyzed to hydroquinone, which can have mild antimicrobial properties in the urinary tract, but the amount present in Pyrola and its bioavailability are not well studied. No clinical trials or robust pharmacological studies have specifically validated Pyrola for treating kidney infections. Its use for this condition, therefore, remains grounded in tradition rather than science, and evidence quality is low (rated 1/5).