Vaccinium myrtillus

Latest Edit: Hector 2014-03-18 (EDT)

See Also	Botanical Monographs

Bilberry (Vaccinum myrtillus) is best known as a herb for eye health. To explore the characteristics, medicinal uses and prescribing considerations of this herb in more detail, check out the references indicated. ,

Characteristics

• Common Names: Bilberry (Europe), Huckleberry (western North America), Blueberry (North America), Whortleberry
• Family: Ericaceae
• Habitat: Native to England, Europe, Asia in mountainous areas; a circumpolar genus meaning that it is found in the vicinity of the polar regions.
• Parts Used: Berry, leaf
• Constituents: Leaf: Flavonoids (flavones), hydroquinine, tannic acid; Berry: Ascorbic acid, tannic acid, quinic acid, flavonoids, anthocyanidin pigments (found mostly in the skin)
• Medicinal Actions: antidiarrheal, laxative, nutrient, alterative, astringent, anti-inflammatory gastrointestinal, antioedematous, antioxidant, cardiac tonic,

Uses

Medicinal Uses:

Leaf

• Eye Health

• Early myopia; retinopathies due to hypertension or diabetes, especially age-related (dry) macular degeneration; night vision deficiencies

• Other Uses

• Acute or chronic dysentery/summer diarrhea due to ingestion of contaminated water
• Mouth or throat ulcers, aphthous ulcers (gargle, take internally)
• Cystitis with urgency and anuria or oliguria (better efficacy in alkaline pH)
• Diabetes mellitus, glucose in the urine, hyperglycemia (as tea three times daily or a tincture)

Fresh Berry

• Constipation (Europe: puree with milk and sugar)
• Scurvy
• Treatment of Skin conditions such as bruises and black eyes.

Dried Berry

• Diarrhea in infants and adults (dried or made into a decoction, Sig. 1 Tbsp every 1-3 hours); also take for acute emesis (vomiting)
• Stomatitis, gingivitis, chronic pharyngitis, glossitis, periodontitis, smoker's cough (infusion form the dried better, gargle, or consume internally)
• Degenerative retinal disease, atherosclerosis

Juice

• Antidiarrheal agent for summer diarrhea/dysentery

Prescribing Considerations

The information provided is intended to augment the treatment from a naturopathic doctor or other trained medical professional. Although most herbs are generally safe, it is recommended that you avoid self-prescribing especially when there is an underlying ongoing medical condition, if you are on any prescription medications or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Formulations and Preparation

• Tincture - Leaf 30 drops three times daily
• Dried berry - 20-60g once daily (~1/4 cup)
• Berry - 15g, boil 3 Tbsp in 500mL of water for 10 minutes, drink 1 glass daily; also beneficial to buy and freeze blueberries, can consume juice from berries
• Decoction - Leaf, 1-3 Tbsp/0.5L of water, boil for 10 minutes, let leaves steep for a few minutes as they are quite leathery, strain, drink three times daily
• Standardized extract - 25% anthocyanidin content, 160-250mg daily
• Topical - 10% decoction of berry

Safety

The safety and prescribing considerations for Bilberry include: ,

• Generally regarded as safe.
• Side-effects are generally not seen.
• Drug-Herb Interactions.

• Antiplatelet Thromboprophylactics (e.g., Aspirin) - Potential or theoretical adverse interaction of uncertain severity, improbable interaction; Vaccinum potentially interacts with antiplatelets causing an additive pharmacodynamic increase in antiplatelet activity. This may theoretically increase the likelihood of bleeding disorders related to disturbances in primary hemostasis.