Bilberry Benefits | Eye Health, Antiinflammatory & Antioxidant
For centuries, whole bilberries have been consumed as food and valued for their flavour and high nutritional value. Due to their potent astringent & antioxidant properties, the Bilberry is used to treat mucous membrane inflammation, haemorrhoids, and diarrhoea and improve eye and cardiovascular health. It is believed that British Royal Air Force pilots in World War II noticed an improvement in their night vision after consuming bilberries or bilberry jam, which promoted interest in the therapeutic actions of Bilberry.
Bilberry Pharmacology
Botanical Name
Vaccinium myrtillus
Other Common Names
Bilberry Fruit, Bilberry Leaf, Black Whortles, Bleaberry, Dwarf Bilberry, Dyeberry, European Bilberry, Huckleberry, Swedish Bilberry, Trackleberry, Whortleberry and Wineberry.
Part Used
Fresh Fruit / Berries, occasionally the leaves.
Main Therapeutic Compounds
Anthocyanoside flavonoids (anthocyanins), vitamins, pectins, and quercetin, catechins, tannins & iridoids.
Herbal Actions
Antioxidant
Anti-inflammatory
Antiplatelet
Vasoprotective
Antiulcer
Antidiarrhoeal
Inducing apoptosis (cancer prevention)
Bilberry Herbal Benefits
Circulation || Eye Health || Glaucoma || Macular Degeneration || Cancer Prevention || Inflammation || Antioxidant Status || Diarrhoea
Cardiovascular Health
The antioxidant anthocyanin, which is found in high concentrations in bilberry, helps to reduce inflammation, protects blood vessels, and scavenges free radicals. It has also been demonstrated that bilberry can increase microcirculation. It does this by lowering vascular permeability while simultaneously increasing vascular tone and blood flow.
It is widely held that reactive oxygen species (ROS), a type of free radical that is capable of causing damage to cells, play a main role in the deterioration of vascular health and may be a contributing factor in the development of a variety of cardiovascular disorders. New research suggests that the vasoprotective effects of bilberry may shield coronary arteries from ROS, decrease platelet aggregation, and improve microcirculation.
Eye Disorders
Recent studies have shown that bilberry extract may help treat a variety of eye conditions, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. Despite the fact that the positive effects of bilberry on the eye are not entirely understood, the researches hypothesised on the processes behind these effects. The researchers came to the conclusion that bilberry increased the transport of oxygen and blood to the eye, as well as scavenged free radicals, which have the potential to alter collagen structures and contribute to macular degeneration and cataracts.
In a recent study conducted on animals, it was discovered that a bilberry extract that had been standardised to contain 25 percent anthocyanosides was effective in preventing macular degeneration, cataracts, and damage to the retina.
Anti-Inflammatory & Antioxidant
Numerous randomised controlled experiments have shown that bilberry extract has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (RCT). According to the findings of these investigations, the antioxidant anthocyanin found in Bilberry reduced vascular permeability and increased the health of the capillary wall. This impact was principally brought about by the enhancement of the endothelium barrier, the stabilisation of membrane phospholipids, and the restoration of blood vessel connective tissue.
A small randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 27 individuals with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease explored the effects of a diet enriched with bilberries on inflammatory markers. The participants were given 400 grammes of bilberries per day in their diet. A number of inflammatory indicators, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6, and lipopolysaccharide, were shown to have decreased levels during the course of the trial, in addition to an overall reduction in inflammatory symptoms.
Bilberry Typical Use
Fresh Fruit
Fresh whole Bilberries can be eaten straight, made into jam and added to most beverages such as juice or smoothies.
Dried Herb & Powder
Typical adult use of powdered or dried crushed Bilberry is 5mg - 10 grams daily in capsule, tablet or powder form.
Tincture & Liquid Extract
Typical adult use of bilberry tincture or liquid extract is approximately 5-10mls daily, or as directed by your practitioner.
Herbal Combinations
Bilberry combines well with Ginkgo, Gotu Kola, Butchers Broom, Turmeric & Hawthorn Berries.
Cautions & Safety
Due to a lack of research in this area, Bilberries are not recommended during pregnancy and lactation.
In theory, Bilberry may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with thinning blood medication due to the antiplatelet activity of Bilberries.
If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical medications, please consult your primary healthcare practitioner prior to use.
References
Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
Perossini M, Guidi G, Chiellini S, Siravo D. [Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy therapy with Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides (Tegens). Double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial]. Ann Ottalmol Clin Ocul 1987;113:1173-7.
Fraisse D, Carnat A, Lamaison JL. [Polyphenolic composition of the leaf of bilberry]. Ann Pharm Fr 1996;54:280-3.
Muth ER, Laurent JM, Jasper P.The effect of bilberry nutritional supplementation on night visual acuity andcontrast sensitivity. Altern Med Rev 2000;5:164-73.
Lietti A, Cristoni A, Picci M. Studies on Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides. I. Vasoprotective and antiinflammatory activity. Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26:829-32.
Canter PH, Ernst E. Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision--a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials. Surv Ophthalmol 2004;49:38-50.
Magistretti MJ, Conti M, Cristoni A. Antiulcer activity of an anthocyanidin from Vaccinium myrtillus. Arzneimittelforschung 1988;38:686-90.
Morazzoni P, Magistretti MJ. Activity of Myrtocyan, an anthosyanoside complex from Vaccinium myrtillus (VMA), on platelet aggregation and adhesiveness. Fitoterapia 1990;61:13-21.
Zhao, C., Giusti, M. M., Malik, M., Moyer, M. P., and Magnuson, B. A. Effects of commercial anthocyanin-rich extracts on colonic cancer and nontumorigenic colonic cell growth. J Agric.Food Chem. 10-6-2004;52(20):6122-6128.
Detre, Z., Jellinek, H., Miskulin, M., and Robert, A. M. Studies on vascular permeability in hypertension: action of anthocyanosides. Clin Physiol Biochem. 1986;4(2):143-149.
Gabor, M. Pharmacologic effects of flavonoids on blood vessels. Angiologica. 1972;9(3-6):355-374.
Lietti, A., Cristoni, A., and Picci, M. Studies on Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides. I. Vasoprotective and antiinflammatory activity. Arzneimittelforschung. 1976;26(5):829-832
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