Cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

The heather plant, also known regionally as “cranberry”, forms dwarf shrubs in our forests. We know the tart and sour fruit of the cranberry mainly as a garnish for game dishes. Our native cranberry must not be confused with the North American cranberry (see there).

In folk medicine, the leaves are used, which contain arbutin, a special glucoside, 5-8 percent tannins and flavonoids. The main area of application for the leaves of the cranberry is urinary tract infections, as the arbutin has a urinary disinfectant effect. It is also used for diarrhoea, flatulence and inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, throat and stomach.