Bilberry Leaf

What is a bilberry leaf?

For hundreds of years, people have used bilberries as medicine and as food in jams and pies. It originates from Northern Europe and shares a relationship with the blueberry. Bilberry fruit contains plant pigments known as anthocyanosides. They are very good antioxidants. They get rid of free radicals, which are harmful particles in the body. This helps prevent or fix damage to cells.

Antioxidants have been shown to help prevent heart disease, cancer, and a condition called macular degeneration that affects the eyes. Bilberries also contain Vitamin C, another antioxidant.  Few studies have looked at bilberry in particular. Humans have been the subject of even fewer studies. Recommendations about bilberry come from studies on antioxidants that are similar to it or from studies on test tubes or animals.

How do I use a bilberry leaf?

Adults have most often taken 160–240 mg of bilberry fruit orally every day for up to six months. Typically, bilberry extracts are standardized to include a certain quantity of compounds known as anthocyanins. Products that contain 120–160 mg of these substances per day have been in use for as long as six months.

Bilberry leaf benefits:

Tannins are chemicals found in bilberry that can help treat diarrhea and mouth and throat irritation by reducing swelling (inflammation). There is some evidence that the chemicals in bilberry leaves can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Researchers believe that flavonoids, present in bilberry leaves, could potentially enhance blood flow in individuals with diabetes. When circulation is bad, the retina of the eye can get hurt.

◉ Diabetes: People with diabetes have used bilberry leaves for a long time to keep their blood sugar levels in check. Researchers have found that all berries help lower the amount of glucose the body makes after eating a meal with a lot of sugar. Studies indicate that bilberry may help control blood sugar levels, especially when it is taken with oatmeal. We need to do more research. At this time, bilberry is not suggested as a way to help control diabetes.

◉ Atherosclerosis: Studies indicate that anthocyanosides may make blood vessels stronger, improve circulation, and stop the "bad" LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, which is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis (plaque that blocks blood vessels, leading to heart attack and stroke). We need to do more research.

◉ Diarrhea and wounds: European medicine has used bilberry for almost a thousand years, mostly to treat diarrhea. Tannins, which are found in the fruit, work as both an anti-inflammatory and an astringent (constricting and tightening tissues). People think that bilberry can help people with diarrhea by reducing inflammation in the intestines. But no studies have looked into the use of bilberry for diarrhea.

◉ Vision: Anthocyanosides, which are found in bilberry fruits, may also help people who have trouble seeing. During World War II, British fighter pilots said that eating bilberry jam helped them see better at night. Studies, on the other hand, have shown mixed results. Anthocyanosides, which are found in bilberry, seem to help protect the retina and have made it a possible treatment for retinopathy, which is damage to the retina. Bilberry has also been shown to protect against cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. However, studies are lacking.

Where can I buy bilberry leaves?

Buy bilberry leaf from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Bilberry leaf information (at a glance):