Click To View Products

BILBERRY (Vaccinium myrtillus) mixed with honey served as a diarrhea remedy in Elizabethan England, and, according to this story, British bomber pilots ate bilberry jam in an effort to improve their night vision during World War II. A European cousin of the blueberry, bilberry is one of the top-selling herbal supplements in the United States today. The berry contains high levels of anthocyanidins, the strong antioxidants abundant in blueberries, and also acts as an astringent, or tissue-binding compound.

USES: Doctors in Germany sometimes recommend bilberry to treat diarrhea and mucous-membrane swelling in the mouth and throat. Here, extracts of the dried ripe berry are marketed to improve vascular health and treat eye conditions, such as retinopathy, cataracts, macular degeneration and night blindness. Bilberry leaf extract was used to treat diabetes before insulin treatment became common.

DOSE: About 150 to 500 milligrams a day taken in two or three doses. Dried bilberry fruit is available in pill form. Tea or mouthwashes can be made from the dried berries or leaves.

PRECAUTIONS: Very high doses taken over a long period of time may interact with warfarin or other blood-thinning drugs. Diabetics taking insulin should avoid bilberry leaf extracts.

RESEARCH: In animal studies, anthocyanidins have lowered blood sugar levels, reduced swelling and increased the eye pigment necessary for night vision. Most human studies on bilberry have shown that the herb has a positive effect on eye and vascular conditions, including night blindness, retinopathy, vascular weakness and poor blood circulation, but many of these studies have been small, and the most recent of them produced negative results.

Definition: Suited for intestinal upsets such as diarrhea and irritated intestinal mucus. Over long periods of time, bilberry helps to manage eye disorders caused by weak capillaries due to its anthocyanin content.

Applications: Blood sugar, bruising, diabetes, diarrhea, eyesight, gallstones, hemorrhoids, kidney stones, circulatory insufficiency, hypoglycemia, night blindness, urinary disorders and varicose veins.

Scientific Updates: Bilberry is considered an herbal antioxidant which helps to inhibit free radical damage in human tissue. Studies have found that bilberry extract can kill or inhibit the growth of certain fungi, yeast and bacteria. Bilberry is also effective in cases of diarrhea and intestinal upset.

Safety: Diabetics should check with their doctor before taking this herb.

Complementary Agents: Goldenseal, fenugreek, bilberry, gymnema, sylvestis, blueberry, vitamin C, Bioflavonoids, Proanthocyanidins, phytonutrients, vitamin E, vitamin A, B-complex, chromium, bee pollen, and bee propolis.

These statement have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.