Chomh glan leis an fhíoruisce.
As pure as spring water.

 

Is cranberry juice effective?

 

The answer seems to be a very definite yes!

 

It would appear that cranberry juice reaches parts that other juices can't reach, and that the components of the juice which affect bacterial adhesion to cells lining the urothelial tract are effective in vivo as well as in vitro. Only cranberry and blueberry juice seem to contain the large molecular weight component. What are the implications of this?

 

The effect of cranberry juice was more pronounced in converting urine samples out of a state of bacteria with pyuria as compared with preventing the conversion of non-infected urine samples to infection.

 

This does not imply that a regimen of cranberry juice should displace antibiotics as the therapy of choice when treatment is needed, but it could be a useful adjunct to treatment in high risk groups.

 

It is certain, though, that drinking cranberry juice does no harm.

 

Addition of cranberry juice to dietary regimens in circumstances where urinary tract infections have a high incidence would be sensible, and would probably reduce both the incidence of infection and the need for antibiotic treatments.

 

There are a whole series of further studies needed.

Source: http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band6/b6-3.html

Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections

Darren M. Lynch, M.D., Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Beth
Israel Medical Center, New York, New York

Traditionally, cranberry has been used for the treatment and prophylaxis of urinary tract infections. Research suggests that its mechanism of action is preventing bacterial adherence to host cell surface membranes.

 

Systematic reviews have concluded that no reliable evidence supports the use of cranberry in the treatment or prophylaxis of urinary tract infections; however, more recent, randomized controlled trials demonstrate evidence of cranberry's utility in urinary tract infection prophylaxis. Supporting studies in humans are lacking for other clinical uses of cranberry. /p>

 

Cranberry is a safe, well-tolerated herbal supplement that does not have significant drug interactions. (Am Fam Physician
2004;70:2175-77.)

 

 

American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is one of only three species of fruit native to North America. The other species are blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolia) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Cranberry typically grows in bogs and is a member of the same family as blueberry and bilberry.

 

Massachusetts and Wisconsin are the main areas of present-day commercial production of cranberry.1 The ripe fruit was used medicinally by Native Americans for the treatment of bladder and kidney ailments. Pilgrims called the fruit "craneberry" because the stem and flower resembled the head, neck, and beak of a crane.

 

Therapeutic applications of cranberries documented during the 17th century included the relief of blood disorders, stomach ailments, liver problems, vomiting, appetite loss, scurvy, and cancer. Before the advent of antibiotics, cranberry continued to be a popular treatment for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

 

Source:  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041201/2175.html