A passage from Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest:
Manzanita is also a urinary tract astringent. The plant’s tannin complexes responsible for this tone lax urinary tract tissues by imparting a local tightening effect. Use it when there is dragging urinary pain in combination with dribbling of urine and mucus discharge.
A passage from Wild Edible plants of Arizona:
Most species of Manzanita have a very distinctive smooth, reddish–brown outward bark layer. The flowers are urn–shaped and form in hanging groups. Silk tassel (Garrya spp.) may be confused with Manzanita when not in season. Silk tassel’s fruit are purple–black and are non–edible. Manzanita is related to Madrone in edible/medicinal use. The two are of the same family.
A passage from Wild Edible plants of California:
They are eaten freely when encountered, but by far their best use is as a jelly base. Animals relish the fruit and they are a favorite of bears.
A passage from Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest:
In the presence of normal acidic urine (or Manzanita influenced urine), this bacterium finds attachment to cell walls difficult. Combining the use of Manzanita (or most other Heath family plants, such as Madrone or Cranberry) with diet changes that include more animal source proteins, along with limiting simple carbohydrates, often promptly resolves alkaline urinary tract infections.
A passage from Wild Edible Plants of Arizona:
Like the fruit of most (if not all) other Heath family plants, Manzanita is edible. Sweet (but mealy, semi–astringent, and seed–filled) the fruit has a distinct apple–like flavor (Manzanita is Spanish for ‘little apple’).
A passage from Wild Edible Plants of California (Vol 1):
Manzanita is found throughout most of California. In fact, the state is home to the largest number of species and is considered the genus’ epicenter. Look for this large shrub in scrub–chaparral zones of the interior and coastal mountain foothills.
A passage from Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States:
Another influence of Uva–ursi, apart from or at least only partly associated with hydroquinone, is its urine acidifying effect. This is important since the commonest urinary tract infection causing pathogen, Escherichia coli, is unable to successfully attach to cell walls and multiply in acidic urine.
Author, Researcher, Clinician. Latest titles: Wild Edible Plants of Oklahoma, 2nd ed., Wild Edible Plants of Arizona, 2nd ed., and Wild Edible Plants of Arkansas, 2nd. ed.
