Bilberry is a plant. The dried, ripe fruit and leaves are used to make medicine.

 

Bilberry is used for improving eyesight, including night vision. In fact, during World War II, British pilots in the Royal Air Force ate bilberry jam to improve their night vision, but later research showed it probably didn’t help. Bilberry is also used for treating eye conditions such as cataracts and disorders of the retina. There is some evidence that bilberry may help retinal disorders.

 

Some people use bilberry for conditions of the heart and blood vessels including hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), varicose veins, decreased blood flow in the veins, and chest pain.

 

Bilberry is also used for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hemorrhoids, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gout, skin infections, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

 

It is sometimes applied directly to the inside of the mouth for mild mouth and throat soreness.

 

How does it work?

 

Bilberry contains chemicals called tannins that can help improve diarrhea, as well as mouth and throat irritation, by reducing swelling (inflammation). There is some evidence that the chemicals found in bilberry leaves can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Some researchers think that chemicals called flavonoids in bilberry leaf might also improve circulation in people with diabetes. Circulation problems can harm the retina of the eye.

 

Bilberry, which are rich in vitamin C, are also a source of iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. Biberry are recognised above all for their effect on microcirculation. They apparently strengthen the capillaries by protecting them against oxidation and stimulate the regeneration of the rods on the retina. It was for that reason that British pilots in the Second World War ate large quantities of bilberry before night flights to improve their nocturnal vision.Lastly, bilberry have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health and on cell ageing. 

 

References

 

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