Bilberry

Bilberries

The bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is a small, perennial shrub that belongs to the Ericaceae family. Although closely related to the blueberry, cranberry, and huckleberry, the bilberry stands out for its rich history in culinary and medicinal applications. It is renowned for its dark purple, nearly black fruit, which is both flavorful and packed with beneficial compounds.

History

The bilberry has a rich history dating back to ancient times. It has been a staple in European folk medicine and culinary practices for almost a millennium. Historically, it was used to treat various ailments and was even believed to improve night vision among World War II pilots, although this claim has since been contested.

Cultivation

The bilberry bush thrives in the temperate zones of North America, Europe, and northern Asia. Unlike cultivated blueberries, bilberries are typically found in the wild, growing in acidic, nutrient-poor soils in heathlands and open woodlands.

Medicinal Uses

Historically, bilberries were used for an array of health conditions:

• Treating diarrhea and other digestive disturbances.
• Preventing and treating scurvy, due to their vitamin C content.
• Enhancing vision and treating eye-related issues.
• Improving circulatory problems, including venous insufficiency and varicose veins.
• The leaves, distinct from the fruit, have been used as a potential remedy for diabetes and other metabolic conditions.

Bilberry Extract

Bilberry extracts are commonly derived from the fruit and, less frequently, from the leaves of the plant:

• Fruit Extract: Rich in anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant, these extracts are believed to offer various health benefits, especially for eye health and circulation.
• Leaf Extract: Used less commonly than fruit extracts, bilberry leaf extracts have been historically linked to blood sugar management.

Scientific Perspective

Although traditional anecdotes praise the bilberry for its health properties, modern scientific evidence offers mixed reviews:

• The claim about improved night vision has been studied extensively but has not been conclusively proven.
• Preliminary research suggests that bilberries may help improve retina conditions and overall eye health, although more research is required.
• The evidence on bilberries for circulatory health is still emerging.
• As of now, concrete scientific proof supporting the health benefits of bilberries remains limited.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Consuming bilberries or bilberry extracts in moderate amounts, akin to dietary consumption, is generally considered safe for most people.
• Long-term effects and potential side effects of bilberry supplementation have not been thoroughly investigated.
• Bilberry leaves, when consumed in high doses or over extended periods, could pose health risks. Extreme caution should be exercised with bilberry leaf or leaf extracts.
• As with any supplement, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting a bilberry regimen, especially for those on medications or with pre-existing health conditions.

See Also

• Blueberry
• Herbal Medicine
• Antioxidants in Foods
• Traditional European Medicine

Herbal and dietary supplements

• Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Bilberry, Black Cohosh, Butterbur, Cat's Claw, Cascara, Chaparral, Comfrey, Crofelemer, Echinacea, Ephedra, Fenugreek, Flavocoxid, Garcinia cambogia, Germander, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Greater Celandine, Green Tea, Hoodia, Hops, Horse Chestnut, Hyssop, Kava Kava, Kratom, Lavender, Maca, Margosa Oil, Melatonin, Milk Thistle, Noni, Passionflower, Pennyroyal Oil, Red Yeast Rice, Resveratrol, Saw Palmetto, Senna, Skullcap, Spirulina, St. John's Wort, Turmeric, Usnic Acid, Valerian, Yohimbine

Chinese and Other Asian Herbal Medicines

• Ba Jiao Lian, Bol Gol Zhee, Chi R Yun, Jin Bu Huan, Ma Huang, Sho Saiko To and Dai Saiko To, Shou Wu Pian

Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplements

• Herbalife, Hydroxycut, Move Free, OxyELITE Pro, SLIMQUICK

See also Nutritional supplements

Comprehensive list of common dietary supplements with detailed product information including brand name, how it is supplied, net contents, product ID etc, sorted alphabetically.

List of dietary supplements sorted alphabetically

A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z – W – 0-9

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Dietary supplements

A Acai Aloe Vera Anabolic Steroids Astragalus Vitamin A B Bilberry Bitter Orange Black Cohosh Botanical Dietary Supplements Butterbur Vitamin B12 Vitamin B6 C Calcium Carnitine Cartilage Cat's Claw Chamomile Chasteberry Chondroitin Chromium Cinnamon Coenzyme Q10 Colloidal Silver Cranberry Vitamin C

D Dandelion Dietary Supplements Vitamin D E Echinacea Ephedra Essiac/Flor-Essence European Elder Evening Primrose Oil Vitamin E F Fenugreek Feverfew Fish Oil Flaxseed Folate G Garlic Ginger Ginkgo Ginseng Glucosamine Goldenseal Grape Seed Extract Green Tea

H Hawthorn Herbal Dietary Supplements Hoodia Horse Chestnut I Iodine Iron K Kava Vitamin K L Lavender Licorice Root M Magnesium Melatonin Milk Thistle Mistletoe Multivitamin/mineral Supplements N Noni O Omega-3 Fatty Acids

P PC-SPES Peppermint Oil R Red Clover S Sage SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine) Saw Palmetto Selenium Soy St. John's Wort T Tea Thunder God Vine Turmeric V Valerian Vitamin A Vitamin B12 Vitamin B6 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Y Yohimbe Z Zinc

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