Klyukva / Cranberry
Vaccinium oxycoccos
Edible plantPhoto credit: Christian Fischer
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: None-mild. Very acidic; large juice volumes -> GI upset; oxalate content a consideration for oxalate stone-formers.
Contraindications: Caution in those prone to calcium-oxalate kidney stones (oxalate); warfarin users.
Interactions: Cranberry may potentiate warfarin (raised INR/bleeding has been reported) — caution; large amounts theoretically affect drugs cleared by certain pathways.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
fresh berries; juice; mors; preserves · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: vitamin-C/cooling drink in fever and colds; folk for urinary-tract complaints (cystitis prevention) and 'for the kidneys'; febrifuge and appetite drink
Proposed mechanism: vitamin C, organic acids, anthocyanins, A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) linked to anti-adhesion of uropathogenic E. coli
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: Berries, raw (very tart) or as juice/mors/preserves.
Toxic lookalike warning
Tiny creeping bog plant with red berries — harvest from known cranberry bogs; avoid confusion with unrelated red bog berries.
Nutritional notes
High vitamin C, anthocyanins, PACs; a recognised functional fruit.
Healing traditions
Sources (2)
- cranberry-UTI clinical literature (Cochrane/meta-analyses)
- warfarin-interaction case reports