Bilberry Fruit

Scientific Name(S): Vaccinium Myrtillus, Myrtilli fructus

Common Name(S): Bilberries, bog bilberries, blueberries (variety of), whortleberries

Bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) is a short, shrubby perennial plant that inhabits the woods and forest meadows of Europe, western Asia, and the Rocky Mountains of North America. As with many other plants that belong to the same plant family ( Vaccinium ), bilberry bears edible fruits similar to those found on the American blueberry bush. Cranberries and huckleberry belong to this plant family too.

Botany: Bilberry fruit originates from Northern and Central Europe and has been imported from parts of south-eastern Europe. These black, coarsely wrinkled berries contain many small, shiny brownish-red seeds. They have a somewhat caustic and sweet taste.

History: The historical uses of dried bilberry fruit include being a supportive treatment of acute, non-specific diarrhea when administered as a tea and serving as a topical decoction for the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.

During World War II, British Royal Air Force pilots ate bilberry preserves before night missions in order to improve their vision. After the war, studies confirmed the folk beliefs that bilberry extracts could improve visual acuity and lead to faster visual adjustments between light (eg, glare) and darkness. Some European physicians went on to recommend bilberry extracts for other eye complaints (eg, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy). Clinical studies, however, have not confirmed these therapeutic applications.

Uses of Bilberry Fruit

Dried bilberry tea is used internally to treat nonspecific diarrhea and topically to treat inflamed mouth and throat mucosa. Bilberry extracts demonstrably improve visual acuity and ability to adjust to changing light. Derivatives demonstrate vasoprotective, antiedema and gastroprotective effects.

Side Effects of Bilberry Fruit

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, bilberry extracts and anthocyanidin preparations should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

Bilberry fruit and extract are considered generally safe, with no known side effects. Bilberry leaf is safe with appropriate usage, but should not be taken in large quantities over an extended period of time because it may become toxic.

Dosage and Administration

The recommended dose of standard commercial preparations ranges from 60 to 160 milligrams three times daily. Because potency may vary, always follow the manufacturer's instructions. The usual daily dose of the unprocessed berry is 20 to 60 grams (about 1 to 2 ounces).

Toxicology: The effects of ingesting large doses of bilberry are not known. There are no known side effects or interactions with other drugs.

It is important that the fruit has not been attacked by insects and that it is free of mold. The berries should be as soft as possible or the long-slored drug will become hard and brittle.

Summary: The bilberry fruit is administered as a tea to treat acute, non-specific diarrhea. It may also be used topically for mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. Studies have shown variouspossible effects such as vasoprotectivity, antiedemic effects, decreasing vascular permeability, gastroprotectivity, hepatoprotectivity and intensifying arteriolar rhythmicdiameter. However, further studies are need to prove these effects.