Bear ears: biological characteristics and application

Bear ears (bearberry bear , bearberry berry) is a fairly common evergreen shrub. Bearberry is characterized by thick, fluffy leaves, which are often obovate.

The bear's eye looks very much like cranberries, but the latter does not form sod and does not spread. On the underside of the leaves of lingonberry there are dark dots. You will not find them on the leaves of the bearberry. Who will remember this characteristic, will never confuse these two plants with each other.

Berry berries are characterized by an acid-tart taste. Bear ears blossom from April to mid-summer; Berries ripen in late summer. This plant can be found in the Nordic countries, coniferous forests of the Alpine mountains, the Far East, northern and Central America. Toloknyanka prefers humus-rich soils. Bear ears are a good honey plant. Honey, obtained from plants of the heather family, is considered particularly useful. Bearberry in the people is considered a symbol of vitality.

In medicine, plant leaves are used, from which hydroquinone is obtained. This organic compound is used in animal husbandry and food industry to prevent the development of oxidation processes in food products (fats, oils, milk powder, dairy products, meat and fish products, canned food, confectionery products) as antioxidants of phenolic nature.

Collection of leaves can be carried out throughout the year. However, it is best to harvest the pharmaceutical raw materials in summer or autumn. During this period, the leaves contain the greatest amount of active substances. Given the anatomical features of the structure of the leaves, they can be dried both in the shade and in the sun.

Bear ears: chemical composition

The leaves of the plant contain a significant concentration of tannins (about 30%), essential oils (0.1%), flavonoids, carboxylic acids (ursolic, callus, cinchona, ellagic, ant, etc.), glycosides (quercetin, methyarbutin, arbutin), wax , Hydroquinone, gum, ascorbic acid, B vitamins, minerals, as well as other biologically active compounds.

Grass bear ears shows a disinfectant effect mainly on the organs of the excretory system (kidneys, bladder, ureters). In some countries, bearberry is recognized as an anti-inflammatory drug in the genitourinary tract. In ancient times, bearberry leaves were used to make tea. The leaves were boiled for a long time to extract biologically active substances.

It should be noted that the glycoside arbutin is most effective for the treatment of diseases of the urinary bladder and kidneys. The modern technology of tea making is that the leaves of the bearberry should be filled with cold water for a day. During this time, all the active ingredients are extracted from the leaves. In this case, in this infusion, the minimum concentration of tannic compounds. Such tea can be consumed without fear of side effects. This tea is especially effective in cystitis, which often occurs against a background of hypothermia. In those cases when during a week a bearberry tea does not help, the doctor should prescribe another drug. The fact is that glucoside (arbutin) releases hydroquinone (active substance) only when the patient's urine is alkaline. Therefore, when treating bear ears, one should consume vegetable food and avoid eating those products that can shift urine pH to acid side.

The use of bearberry can provoke nausea and vomiting. Vomiting occurs due to the action of tannins on the gastric mucosa.