| |  | | Oolong Tea and Uva Ursi
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Sean
Posted on: September 23, 1998
Is Oolong Tea considered an Herbal tea or is it grouped with caffeinated teas like black tea, etc.? Also, what is the fundamental benefit of Uva Ursi leaf.
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented type of tea, so it does belong to the "caffeinated teas". All varieties of tea – green tea, black tea, and oolong – are made from the same species of plant, the tea shrub, Camellia sinensis. Medicinally, Camellia sinensis is useful against diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis and gastroenteritis according to Deni Bown in her book, "Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses" (available from Richters).
Uva ursi (Bearberry) is diuretic and a urinary astringent and antiseptic. It is used to astringe and cleanse the bladder and urinary tubules in inflammations such as cystitis and urethritis. It is a relative of cranberry and blueberry, containing diuretic and antibiotic arbutin. It is not to be used in pregnancy or in kidney disease, in which cases it will stress the kidney at a time when the kidney needs rest.
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