BENEFICIALThe major American use for bilberry fruit is to treat ocular disorders; it is used to aid night vision, prevent the development and progression of cataracts, treat diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, and prevent glaucoma. European herbalists also rely on bilberry to treat mild diarrhea and mild oral irritation. Its constituents include tannins, anthocyanosides and flavonoids.
Common names: bilberry, blaeberry, heidelberry, huckleberry, hurtleberry, whortleberry
Bilberry enjoys a long medical history. Hildegard of Bingen, the famous Fifteenth Century nun, musician and herbalist, recommended bilberry to induce menses. It has been used historically as a treatment for fevers, coughs, renal stones and urinary tract infections intestinal and liver disorders, hemorrhoids, and infections of the skin and mucus membranes. It was also used to treat a variety of eye disorders including myopia, eyestrain, impaired night vision and cataracts. It is akin to the blueberry, one of the fruits highest in anti-oxidant properties.