Cranberry

What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names:

• Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry, trailing swamp cranberry)
• Vaccinium oxycoccos (small cranberry)
• Vaccinium erythrocarpum (southern mountain cranberry)
• Vaccinium vitis (lowbush cranberry)
• Vaccinium edule (highbush cranberry)

What is cranberry?

Cranberry plants grow as small, trailing evergreen shrubs. The berries are used as a remedy.

What is it used for?

Cranberries and their juice have been used to treat:

• cancer
• chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
• fever
• pleurisy
• scurvy
• type 2 diabetes
• urinary tract infections

Cranberry juice has also been used to control odor from loss of bladder control. It has also been used as a diuretic.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

Cranberries come fresh or frozen, and in juice and concentrate forms. Cranberry is also available in tablet or capsule form.

Follow the directions printed on the product label or given by your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

If you have a history of kidney stones, do not drink large amounts of cranberry juice.

Cranberries contain salicylic acid, a chemical that is similar to aspirin. Do not drink large amounts of cranberry juice if you are allergic to aspirin or if you have asthma.

Do not try to use cranberry instead of antibiotics for a severe urinary tract infection.

Some cranberry juice products are sweetened with sugar. If you have diabetes, look for sugar-free products.

Females of child bearing age: If your are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not use cranberry pills as dietary supplements. You may eat the fruit and drink cranberry juice in normal amounts.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may be contaminated. They may have different strengths and effects.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Drinking too much cranberry juice can cause diarrhea.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects:

• amitriptyline
• celecoxib (Celebrex)
• diabetes medicines such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and tolbutamide (Tolinase)
• diazepam (Valium)
• fluvastatin (Lescol)
• NSAIDs such as diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and piroxicam (Feldene)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

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