Does uva ursi work for UTIs?

Current evidence suggests that supplementing with uva ursi does not reduce UTI symptoms, and it does not work better than antibiotics. There is also no good evidence that uva ursi cures UTIs or promotes more rapid resolution than no treatment. In one randomized controlled trial that included 382 women with UTI symptoms, taking 3,600 mg of uva ursi extract in 3 divided doses (standardized to 720 mg of arbutin) daily for 3–5 days did not improve symptoms or reduce the need for antibiotics (as determined by the patients themselves) compared to a placebo.^[1] This study is limited due to missing data.^[2] Also, the participants’ urine was not tested for the presence of white blood cells or nitrates to confirm the presence of UTI at baseline.^[1] In another randomized controlled trial in 398 women with UTI symptoms (confirmed with a urine dipstick test in most), compared to taking the antibiotic fosfomycin, taking 6 tablets of uva ursi in 2 divided doses (containing a total of 105 mg of arbutin) daily for 5 days resulted in more bothersome symptoms. Also, the uva ursi group had 8 cases of UTI complications (pyelonephritis) while there were only 2 cases in the fosfomycin group.^[3]