Botanical Overview
Vaccinium macrocarpon (fructus), commonly known as cranberry, large cranberry, or American cranberry, belongs to the Ericaceae family. The harvested part used medicinally is the fruit. It is native to North America. Cranberries are well-known for their distinctive sour taste and rich phytochemical profile.
Energetics
The fruit is generally considered cooling in nature and moistening to body fluids. It has a sour and astringent taste, contributing to its affinity for disorders involving fluids and inflammation. It is tonifying to bodily fluids but does not have widely documented directionality.
Primary Actions
- Urinary antiseptic
- Anti-adhesive (prevents bacterial adhesion in urinary tract)
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
Indications
Western
- Urinary tract infections
- Cystitis
- Bladder irritation
- Kidney stones prevention
- Inflammation
Syndromes
- Recurrent urinary tract infection
- Oxidative stress-related disorders
TCM
No well-established traditional Chinese medicine uses documented.
Ayurveda
No classical indications documented.
Unani
No classical indications documented.
Constituents & Mechanisms
The fruit contains proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, various phenolic acids, flavonoids, organic acids, and vitamin C. The proanthocyanidins are particularly notable for preventing bacterial adherence to urinary tract epithelium, thereby reducing infections.
Dosage & Preparations
- Juice: 240-300 mL daily
- Capsules standardized for proanthocyanidins: 36-72 mg daily
- Dried fruit: 40-80 g daily
Safety & Contraindications
Cranberry is generally safe when consumed as food or supplements. High doses can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and, rarely, increase risk of kidney stones due to oxalates. Use caution in patients on anticoagulants like warfarin due to potential interactions; monitoring is advised. Limited data exists on use in pregnancy and lactation, so healthcare advice is recommended.
Astrological Correspondences
No established planetary or elemental rulers documented with sufficient confidence for this plant.
Selected References
- European Medicines Agency HMPC assessment report (2015)
- Wang CC et al. Efficacy of cranberry for UTI prevention, PubMed (2017)
- Plants For A Future database
- Drugs.com Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (2022)