Manzanita
(Arctostaphylos manzanita)
little apple

Description: There are many species, which vary in size, from a prostrate bush of 1-2 feet to 10 feet or taller, with a smooth, matte-finished red bark and twisted branches. The large oval, gray-green to blue-green leathery leaves are smooth or raspy, pointed-oval, on short petioles. White to pink flowers form little nodding clusters, urn shaped. They mature into tart, red, orange or red-brown berries with 4-10 seeds. Found in the Pacific West U.S, and most common in California, or in foothills and moderately dry mountains.

Edible, Medicinal: The berries, when just ripe and not mealy, make a pleasant, tart jelly or cider drink. The taste is similar to a green apple. It is a astringent, demulcent, tonic, and vasoconstrictor. A tea or tincture of the leaves is used for cystitis, urethritis after consuming large amounts of sugar, grain, starch, fruit or alcohol binges, and to alkalize over acid urine. Alternating it with cranberry juice is also helpful. Drink 1 cup, 3 times a day. Do not use internally for more than 3 days, nor during pregnancy. It is a good sitz bath, after 24 hours of birthing. Helps in yeast infection, genital herpes, venereal disease, warts, urinary infections, bladder gravel, kidney, and water retention.