Bilberry is any of several species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae), bearing edible berries. The species most often referred to is Vaccinium myrtillus L., but there are several other closely related species. Bilberries are distinct from blueberries but closely related to them.
Bilberries are found in very acidic, nutrient-poor soils throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the world. They are closely related to North American wild and cultivated blueberries and huckleberries in the genus Vaccinium. One characteristic of bilberries is that they produce single or paired berries on the bush instead of clusters, as the blueberry does. Blueberries have more evergreen leaves.
The fruit is smaller than that of the blueberry but with a fuller taste. Bilberries are darker in colour, and usually appear near black with a slight shade of purple. While the blueberry's fruit pulp is light green, the bilberry's is red or purple, heavily staining the fingers and lips of consumers eating the raw fruit. The red juice is used by European dentists to show children how to brush their teeth correctly, as any improperly brushed areas will be heavily stained.
Bilberries are extremely difficult to grow and are thus seldom cultivated. Fruits are mostly collected from wild plants growing on publicly accessible lands throughout northern and central Europe. Note that in Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, it is an everyman's right to collect bilberries, irrespective of land ownership, with the exception of private gardens and nature reserves. Bilberries can be picked by a berry-picking rake like lingonberries, but are more susceptible to damage. Bilberries are softer and juicier than blueberries, making them difficult to transport. Because of these factors, the bilberry is only available fresh on markets and in gourmet stores, where in the latter they can cost up to 11 Euros per kilogram. Frozen bilberries however are available all year round in most of Europe.
In Finland, bilberries are collected from forests. They are eaten fresh or can be made in different jams and dishes. The famous one is the bilberry pie (Finnish: mustikkapiirakka, Swedish blåbärspaj).
In Ireland, the fruit is known as fraughan, from the Irish fraochán, and is traditionally gathered on the last Sunday in July, known as "Fraughan Sunday".
Bilberries were also collected at Lughnasadh in August, the first traditional harvest festival of the year, as celebrated by Gaelic people. The crop of bilberries was said to indicate how well the rest of the crops would fare in their harvests later in the year.
In Poland, the fruit are known as jagody. They are gathered in forests. They are hugely popular in Poland, either eaten fresh (mixed with sugar), put into sweet buns as a filling (such a bun is called a jagodzianka and is one of the most popular bakery products during summer in Poland), they are also used to make jams (known for their health benefits when treating someone with diarrhoea).
The fruits can be eaten fresh or made into jams, fools, juices or pies. In France and Italy they are used as a base for liqueurs and are a popular flavoring for sorbets and other desserts. In Brittany, they are often used as a flavoring for crêpes, and in the Vosges and the Massif Central bilberry tart (tarte aux myrtilles) is a traditional dessert. In Romania they are used as a base for a liquer called afinată - the name of the fruit in Romanian is afină. There is a North Korean Bog Bilberry Brandy (Paektusan Tuljjuksul) reportedly available at the DMZ.
Advantage of Bill Berry
Herbalists in Europe have been using bilberry extract for many years to treat various complaints such as urinary tract infections, kidneys stones, and diarrhoea. Bilberries are also known to be powerful antioxidants and can be used for protecting the cells in the eyes and other parts of the body from free radicals and toxins. Bilberry supplements are fast becoming increasingly popular in today's medicine culture especially for the treatment of vision disorders including cataracts and poor night vision.
Scientists have studied the claims of RAF pilots from the world war two who reported improved night vision after eating bilberries. Through scientific research they have discovered that bilberries contain two compounds; anthocyanosides and tannins. Anthocyanosides improve the blood flow to the tiny vessels that keep the eyes healthy, as well as maintaining good blood circulation throughout the body. This can also help with varicose vein and haemorrhoids. Tannins have been found to help treat diarrhoea, sore throats, and mouth inflammations. Bilberry is one of the most frequently suggested herbal remedies in Italy. Bilberry possesses of various potential health benefits. Moderate consumption of bilberry extract may have the benefits of lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease or improving visual functions. Bilberry is best known as a specific for the eyes. In World War II, British Royal Air Force noticed that their night vision was sharper when they ate bilberry.
Bilberry fruits have been traditionally used as an astringent, and a remedy for diarrhoea, discharges, dysentery, scurvy and urinary issues. A decoction of bilberry leaves or bark of its root is traditionally used for ulcers in the mouth and throat. Bilberry extracts have been thought to have benefits of capillaries strengthening. Some people even call bilberry - a circulatory micro-plumber. Anyway, their primary use is for eye health and vision, microcirculation, spider veins and varicose veins.
Anti-oxidative Activities
Bilberry anthocyanins are antioxidants, these antioxidants contribute the health benefits of bilberry. Bilberry anthocyanins protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Bilberry anthocyanins are believed to have specific effects on both the blood vessels and on the blood cells. Through bilberry action, the capillaries become better for stretching. Blood flow increases and red blood cells can deform easily into a shape to pass through very narrow capillaries.
The antioxidant protection toward lipid oxidation was best provided by lingonberry and bilberry phenolics followed by black currant and raspberry phenolics. Bilberry phenolics exhibited very good overall antioxidant activity toward protein oxidation. In bilberries, anthocyanins contributed the most to the antioxidant effect by inhibiting the formation of both hexanal and protein carbonyls. Twelve major bilberry anthocyanins have been identified that could react with nitric oxide (N)) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) using capillary zone electrophoresis.
Atherosclesis
Anthocyanosides may strengthen blood vessels, improve circulation, and prevent the oxidation of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, cholesterol is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis may lead to heart attack and stroke.
Cancers
Bilberry extract contains anthocyanins and these chemicals allows bilberry possess of anticancer activity. Three mechanisms for bilberry's anti-tumor activities: (1) antioxidation (2) anticarcinogensis and (3) apoptosis induction of tumor cells may be involved. In vitro study, bilberry extract was effective to inhibit the growth of HL60 human leukemia cells and HCT116 colon carcinoma cells. Bilberry extract contains a large amount of anthocyanins. Pure delphinidin and malvidin (isolated from the bilberry) induced apoptosis in HL60 cells while delphinidon and the glycoside (isolated from the bilberry extract) inhibited the growth of HCT116 cells. Some other studies also demonstrated the anti-cancer activities of bilberry. [5]. Bilberry extracts were shown to inhibit the growth of colon-cancer-derived HT-29 cells. Bilberry was shown to sinhibit both H2O2 as well as TNF alpha induced VEGF expression by the human keratinocytes.
Chronic venous insufficiency
This condition occurs when valves in veins in the legs that carry blood to the heart are damaged. Researchers have studied the potential benefits of bilberry extracts on circulatory insufficiency. Clinical trials have shown bilberry's effectiveness on venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Bilberry induced increase both in flexibility of the capillaries, bilberry restored normal blood flow. Another study demonstrated bilberry extract was able to treat varicose veins in the legs. Subjects treated with bilberry test demonstrated improvement in varicose syndrome such as cramps, heaviness, swelling of the calf and ankle etc.
Chronic allergic contact dermatitis
In a study, BALB/c mice with chronic allergic contact dermatitis induced by 3 weeks of repeated application of 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB) were administered Bilberon-25 (a bilberry extract) orally for 3 weeks after sensitization with TNCB. TNCB is a chemical causing pruritus and
inflammation. Treatment with the bilberry extract significantly attenuated the TNCB-induced increase in scratching behaviour, but dexamethasone did not. In contrast, ear swelling was ameliorated by dexamethasone treatment, and significantly decreased by the bilberry extract. Thus,
anthocyanins from bilberry may have health benefits of treating chronic pruritus which can occur in patients suffered from inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. It is nice to see the bilberry extract worked better than dexamethasone in the study, but more studies are
needed to support the health claim.
Diabetes Mellitus
Blberry may benefit diabetic patients, by preventing the complications of diabetes mellitus. Animal studies suggest bilberry may have benefits for managing blood sugar levels. However, more research is needed. Infections Bilberry fruits contain antimicrobial compounds, eg phenolics and organic acids, intake of bilberry may benefit people at risk of certain infections. Bilberry possesses activities against Salmonella and Staphylococcus. Bilberry extract may have inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori growth in in vitro studies.
How to use Bill Berry
If you choose to take a bilberry supplement, there are various measures available to treat different ailments. For cataracts and other eye problems it is recommended to take 160mg of a standardised extract two to three times a day. For varicose veins take 80 - 160mg of a standardised extract three times a day. There is no limitations on the length of time you may use these supplements.
The dried fruits of the bilberry plant have been deemed safe to use, but it is probably best to avoid using the leaves until further studies into their safety have been carried out. You can take bilberry extract with or without food.
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