Botanical Index No. 101

Bilberry

vaccinium myrtillus

Medicinal Actions

antiaggregant, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antiulcer activity, Antiaggregant, Anticapillary Fragility, Antiedemic, Antiexudative, Antiherpetic, Antiinflammatory, Antiischemic, Antioxidant, Antiplaque, Antipyretic, Antiretinohemorrhagic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antiulcer, Antiviral, Astringent, Circulostimulant, Collagen-Protectant, Diuretic, Fungicide, Immunostimulant, Lipolytic, Myorelaxant, Phagocytotic, Vasoprotective

Primary Conditions Treated

treating eye problems diarrhea reducing arterial deposits lowering blood sugar in diabetics preserve capillaries and collagen Bitter Vasodilator Vulnerary Angina Anorexia Aphtha Arthrosis Atherosclerosis Bleeding Bruise Burn Capillary Fragility Cardiopathy Cataract Catarrh Circulosis Colitis Conjunctivosis Constipation Cramp CVI Cystosis Debility Dermatosis Diabetes Diabetic Hypoglycemia Diabetic Retinopathy Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Eczema Edema Encephalosis Enterosis Epistaxis Esophagosis Fever Flu Fungus Gallstone Gastrosis Gingivosis Glaucoma Gonorrhea Gout Hemeralopia Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Herpes High Cholesterol Hyperglycemia Hyperlipidemia Immunodepression Impaired Vision Infection Inflammation Ischemia Laryngosis Leukoplakia Leukorrhea Maculosis Mucososis Mycosis Myopia Nephrosis Nyctalopia Odontosis Ophthalmia Pain Paraesthesia Periodontosis Peritonosis Pharyngosis Plaque Psoriasis Raynaud’s Respirosis Retinosis Sore Sore Throat Stomatosis Swelling Thick Blood Typhus Ulcer Urethrosis Varicosis Virus Vomiting Water Retention Wound

General Dosage

1–2 tbsp crushed fruit/cup water; or 3 tbsp dried berries; 20–60 g dry fruit; 12–24 g dry fruit; 20–60 g dry fruit/day; 1/2 –1 cup fresh fruit; 100–300 g fresh berry; 1–1.5 tsp fruit cold infusion; 2–8 ml liquid fruit extract; 3–6 ml/day fluid extract; 1 g leaf/cup tea; tablets with 50–120 mg; 2 capsules) 2 ×/day; 240–480 mg StX/day; 500 mg StX. Interpretations of Commission E approvals vary slightly: Blumenthal et al. approve 20–60 g fruit for nonspecific acute diarrhea and local therapy of mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of mouth and throat. Gruenwald et al. approve the fruits for diarrhea, pharyngosis, and stomatosis. Neither apparently approve for the indications for which I take bilberry, preventing further deterioration of the eyesight). Since bilberry is a healthy food pharmaceutical I’ll take the good old bilberry in spite of its disapproval by these scholastic tomes. It’s even richer in eye-preserving anthocyanosides than our native blueberries.

Safety & Contraindications

Fruits, Class 1; Leaf, Class 4. Leaves can be poisonous consumed over a long period of time. Commission E reports leaf not permitted for therapeutic use; higher doses or prolonged use can produce chronic poisoning; chronic administration of 1.5 g/kg/day is lethal in some animals. For fruits, none reported. “Bilberry does not interact with commonly prescribed drugs; no known contraindications in use during pregnancy or lactation; no known side effects with bilberry extracts”. Fresh berries may cause diarrhea. Fruits, Class 1; Leaf, Class 4. Leaves can be poisonous consumed over a long period of time. Com-

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