Sarandrea

Vaccinium Vitis / idaea

Glycerine Macerate

CRANBERRY

Family: Ericaceae

Species: Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.

Habitat: Mountain forests of the Alps and the central-northern Apennines.

Part used: Leafy twigs with fruit / young shoots.

Harvest time: In spring the young shoots, leaves and fruits in late summer.

Small evergreen shrub with creeping rhizome, woody stems, cylindrical or slightly angular, erect or ascending, generally not very branched. Height 10 ÷ 30 cm. The pendulous flowers are often in groups of 2 to 6, have a 5 ÷ 8 mm campanulate corolla, white at times streaked with red. The fruits are first whitish berries, then bright red, forming small lateral clusters. The pulp is bitter, slightly floury, full of tiny seeds. The leaves are very similar to those of bearberry but glandular and slightly smaller. In addition to bearberry, cranberry can be confused with Polygala chamaebuxus.

Curiosity

The name of the genus "vaccinium" has the same origin as the bilberry while the specific name, "vitis-idaea", means "vine of Mount Ida", "sacred mountain" in the island of Crete, where Zeus saw the light and justifies other common names such as: grape of mountain, vine idea, vineyard of mountain.

The American species called "Cranberry" (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is widely used to make jams and its juice is a particularly effective remedy against cystitis both curative and preventive.

Active principles:

Arbutin and hydroquinone (up to 9%), flavonoids (hyperoside, isoquercitrin), ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, catechetical and pyrogallic tannins, organic acids.

Internal use (hydroalcoholic solution of the leaves and berries)

Disinfectant properties of the urinary tract, hypoglycemic and astringent

Indications : cystitis, urethritis, renal lithiasis, pyelonephritis, mild forms of diabetes.

Dosage : 40 drops in a little water three times a day between meals.

Synergistic drugs: ASPARAGUS, CORBEZZOLO, ESCOLZIA, BLACK MULBERRY, GRAMIGNA, RASPBERRY, PILOSELLA, URSINE GRAPE.

Herbal tea

Decoction of 1-2% dried leaves and berries to boil for 10 minutes.

Internal use (Bud extract of young shoots)

The preparations from meristematic tissues carry out regulatory activities of intestinal functions, anti-inflammatory of the urinary tract, against arteriosclerosis especially in the microcirculation.

Indications : disorders of the hive with symptoms of constipation or diarrhea, irritable colon, colibacillosis, urethritis, cystitis, arteriosclerosis, diabetic microangiopathy.

Dosage : 40 drops in a little water twice a day between meals.

The bud extract can be associated with other gemmotherapeutics such as Rubus idaeus (menopause due to estrogen deficiency), Quercus pedunculata (chronic constipation), Calluna vulgaris (recurrent cystitis), etc.

Warnings and Undesirable Effects: Not reported.