CranBarrierT by Melaleuca

Bandolier is a journal available in print and on the internet. It provides evidence-based advice to both health care professionals and consumers alike. Their conclusion on cranberry and blueberry juice is that they are definitely effective. This is their report.

This Finnish study published in the British Medical Journal claims that up to 60% of women will experience a urinary tract infection during their lifetime. The actual study involved 150 women with documented E.coli urinary tract infections. When split into three groups, 50 of the women were given 50ml cranberry-lingonberry juice (Vaccinium spp.), every day for 6 months. The next 50 were given100ml of lactobacillus for 5 days per week for one year and the final 50 had no treatment. The results showed that cranberry juice, taken regularly, reduced the reoccurrence of urinary tract infections, while the lactobacillus and the non treatment had little or no effect.

This paper shows that there is growing peer-reviewed evidence on the use of Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections.

Dr. Joe Glickman, Jr., M.D. believes in the natural properties of cranberries and blueberries to flush harmful bacteria from the urinary tract. Here's his report.

The fact that cranberry and blueberry juices have a role in preventing urinary tract infections is well known, but there is a problem with most juices containing a high proportion of sugar and water, which raises the caloric value so that they may cause more health problems than they cure. Added to this, when the sugar is removed, the acidic taste of the juices makes them unpalatable.

Blueberries, like cranberries, are from the Vaccinium spp. Their mode of action is similar to that of cranberries and many studies note this. Used together they synergistically enhance each other’s health-giving properties.

In the following two studies, 7 fruit juices including cranberry, blueberry, grapefruit, guava, mango, orange and pineapple were tested for positive results in urinary tract infections. It is noted that Cranberry and Blueberry were the only two fruits to have a positive effect.

There are no abstracts available for these two studies. You must be a paying subscriber to access the following studies:

Anti-Escherichia coli adhesin activity of cranberry and blueberry juices. 1996 Ofek I, Goldhar J, Sharon N.

Anti-Escherichia coli adhesin activity of cranberry and blueberry juices. 1991 Ofek I, Goldhar J, Zafriri D, Lis H, Adar R, Sharon N.

Bastyr University in Seattle aims to teach students all aspects of the natural health sciences, this is what they say about uva ursi.

Many people, including myself, are concerned by the continued overuse of antibiotics. Doctors are still prescribing prophylaxis antibiotics (low dose, long term) to guard against reoccurring UTI's. There is increasing evidence that antibiotics are becoming less effective in treating urinary tract infections. And, unfortunately, the more we use the worse it is going to get.

Increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Enterobacteriaceae uropathogens in Dakar, Senegal: a multicenter study.

Conventional and molecular epidemiology of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance among urinary Escherichia coli isolates.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens in uncomplicated cystitis in Europe.

Proper medical diagnosis is important at the onset of any illness. Prescribed medication, especially antibiotics, should not be stopped without medical advice. This report is for information purposes only.

I would love to know what you think about this report. You may contact us with any suggestions or comments about this report.

Karen MacKenzie
March 2004