Heather

Botanical

What is it

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) is a small evergreen shrub common in European moorlands, used in folk medicine as a mild diuretic, antiseptic for urinary tract complaints, and a sedative tea.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Urinary support (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Long traditional use; no modern controlled clinical evidence.

How it works

Heather contains tannins, flavonoids (quercetin glycosides), and arbutin, the latter of which is metabolized to hydroquinone and may have mild urinary antiseptic action. Traditional use targets urinary complaints, mild insomnia, and digestive issues. Modern clinical evidence for heather as an isolated herb is essentially absent.

Dosage

No RDA. Traditional doses are 1-2 g of dried herb as a tea, up to three times daily.

When and how to take it

No timing baseline established.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried flowers/leaves

Most common form.

Traditional tea preparation.

Tincture

Used in herbalism.

Concentrated alcoholic extract.

Safety

Generally well tolerated at traditional doses. Long-term use of arbutin-containing herbs may carry theoretical concerns regarding hydroquinone exposure; short-term use is considered safe.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy: avoid due to lack of safety data and traditional uterine-stimulant categorization. Children: avoid long-term use due to arbutin metabolism.

Interactions

No significant interactions documented.

Frequently asked questions

Is heather safe to drink?⌄

At traditional tea doses for short periods, yes. Avoid prolonged daily use due to arbutin metabolism.

Does heather help with urinary tract infections?⌄

There is no clinical evidence supporting this; established UTI treatment is more reliable.

References

Heather on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Heather (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.