Cowberry

(Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., Ericaceae)

Also Called: Red Whortleberry.

Description: Small evergreen shrub, partly woody, 10-25cm (4-10in) high with subterranean rhizomes by means of which the plants spread over large areas in Alpine regions.
Leaves oval, dark green, leathery, margins somewhat revolute; lower surface with brown glandular dots (distinction from bearberry, which is free from such dots).
Flowers, about 5mm (0.2in), white or pink, bell-shaped with 5 lobes; arranged in small racemes of 2-6 flowers.
Fruit, a red berry containing several seeds.

Parts Used: Dried leaves; the fresh berry is seldom used medicinally.

Habitat and Collection: In the mountains and forests of central Europe, extending above the tree line up to about 3,000m (9,800ft). Not abundant in the plains.
Native in Britain on moors and in upland woods on acid soils, common in Scotland.
Leaves are collected 'hroughout the summer and are dried in the shade or in sunlight.

Constituents and Action: The leaves contain the same active principles as bearberry; antiseptic for kidneys and bladder.
The fruits are rich in acids and are slightly purgative.

Usage: Leaves are used as a tisane (0.5 litre (1 pt) of cold water on 1-2 tablespoonfuls of finely chopped leaves and allow to stand) for inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
For this use they may entirely replace bearberry leaves.