Bilberry leaf & fruit contain a variety of antioxidant compounds that may prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.
Bilberries, like blueberries, are often consumed as a health food in order to help manage high blood pressure, improve heart health, boost the immune system & treat various diseases such as angina pectoris, indigestion & malnutrition.
Vitamin A in bilberries is required for sharp vision, while Vitamin C helps form collagen & is needed for growth & repair of tissue cells & blood vessels.
In addition to vitamin C, the berries contain plant chemicals known as anthocyanosides, among them quercetrin & hyperoside which prevent free radicals from causing oxidative damage in cells.
Anthocyanosides also help to strengthen the walls of blood vessels & because they promote the relaxation of vein & capillary smooth tissue, they increase the circulation of blood.
Anthocyanosides in bilberries are also potent antioxidants which stabilize collagen tissues such as tendons, ligaments & cartilage & has cholesterol lowering effects. In addition, the helps to maintain the flexibility of red blood cells. The herb has been shown to be a vasodilator that opens blood vessels & lowers blood pressure.
Bilberry is traditionally used to counter venous insufficiency, a condition characterized by a reduced volume of blood returning to the heart from the legs.
Bilberry anthocyanosides also prevent blood platelet aggregation, which can cause blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Anthocyanosides support & protect collagen structures in the blood vessels of the eyes, assuring strong, healthy capillaries that carry vital nutrients to eye muscles & nerves.
The berries, when extruded into a juice, are very useful for the treatment of urinary tract infections, kidney & liver disorders, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, osteoarthritis & chronic fatigue syndrome.
They also increase retinal pigments that allow the eye to tolerate light.
Since the eyes have a high concentration of capillaries, bilberry may be particularly helpful in improving eyesight.
The herb has been shown to improve night vision, slow macular degeneration, prevent cataracts & diabetic retinopathy.
Taken long-term, bilberry improves eye health, protecting against damage to the eye resulting from diabetes & high blood pressure.
It can sometimes help in short-sightedness.
Regular consumption of Bilberry tea can improve vision by strengthening the retina & blood vessels of the walls in the eyes.
Contains nutrients needed to protect eyes from eyestrain or fatigue & can improve circulation to the eyes.
It is also used to improve varicose veins & has anti-aging effects on collagen structures.
Foods containing fresh or dried berries can be given as a cure to diseases such as colds, flu, fever, cough & general malaise.
Taken in small amounts the dried berries can be use as an herbal remedy for diarrhea while intake of large quantities of the fresh berries can cause loose stools.
Bilberry is also recommended for nausea & indigestion.
Sometimes it will be used as a treatment for mild inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth & throat.
Other uses Bilberry helps to improve poor peripheral circulation & prevents fluid leakage from blood vessels.
Many circulatory problems can benefit from taking bilberry, including hemorrhoids & varicose veins, chilblains, Raynaud’s disease, intermittent claudication & Bilberry’s potent antioxidant activity makes it a useful supplement in many chronic health problems, especially where circulation is poor.
Reducing bruises from black eyes.
Often used with Hawthorn.
Bilberry is used traditionally as a natural remedy for kidney stones, scurvy & urinary infections.
Bilberries can be used as a supportive treatment for diabetes, both because the berries reduce blood sugar & because they can prevent eye diseases & blood vessel disorders that can accompany diabetes.
Bilberries, along with black cherries, blueberries & strawberries have proven their ability to reduce levels of uric acid.
Those suffering from gout should be getting at least two servings a day of these berry gout fighters. During the winter when fresh berries are not available, used dried bilberries in tea & frozen blueberries as desserts.
Bilberry leaf extract appears to provide some protection against the development of atherosclerosis by lowering levels of LDL cholesterol, which is largely responsible for the formation of arterial plaque.
The leaves of the plant can be decocted & given as a remedy for coughs & cold.
Stronger decoction of the leaf can be prescribed to help lower blood pressure & treat dizzy spells. A tisane made from bilberry leaf is helpful for lowering blood pressure & stabilizing erratic blood sugar levels.
Very mild decoction of the leaf is employed for curing stomach pains, while moderately strong decoction can be used to treat chest pains, circulatory problems & aches & pains brought about by arthritis.
When employed as a supplementary medicine, it can help to treat diabetes.
Like the fruits, a topical application of a very strong decoction of the leaves may help to cure various skin diseases & hasten the healing of wounds & if employed as a mouth rinse, can even be used to treat cold sores, canker sores & halitosis.
Bilberry leaves are a useful urinary antiseptic for conditions such as cystitis.
The plant can also help Crohn's disease.
PRECAUTIONS:
Bilberry side effects can be serious. Bilberry possesses anti-platelet activity, it may interact with NSAIDs, particularly aspirin.
Excessive drinking bilberry juice may cause diarrhea.
Bilberry side effects may include mild digestive distress, skin rashes & drowsiness.
High doses of bilberry leaf can be poisonous & should only be consumed as a supplement or medicine in minute doses, as it may compromise the ability of the body to properly synthesise sugar.
RECIPES:
The leaves & berries are used in the homeopathic treatment of diabetes & are used in making jams, preserves, liqueurs & wines.
When dried, it may be stored & consumed in much the same way as raisins.
Bilberries can also be juiced, with the extruding liquid being stored for future use.
Tea:
Use 1 tsp crushed, dried berries to each teaspoon of water.
Bilberry is a great tasting tea & blends well with spices like cinnamon, or with other berries.
Infusion: boil 2 - 3 tsp of dried leaves in 1 cup of water.
Take 1 cup per day.
For dried berries, simmer 1 cup of water & 1 tsp dried berries for 15 minutes.
Drink 1-2 cups per day, cold.
Fresh berries: 1 cup per day of fresh fruit.
Blueberries can be used if bilberries are not available.
Tea for diarrhea: Simmer 1 tbsp dried berries in 2 cups water for 20 minutes.
Strain.
Drink ½ cup every 3-4 hours.
For Stomach Pains:
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over
10 g of bilberries
Take 2 tbsp 3x per day.
Blueberry Soup:
4 cups blueberries
2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp cornflour
Place blueberries, sugar & water into a saucepan & bring to a boil.
Mix cornflour with ca 100 ml of cold water & stir into blueberry mixture.
Continue stirring over low heat until soup thickens.
Pour into a serving dish & serve immediately.
Alternatively, you can sprinkle soup with a bit of sugar, cool it in the fridge & serve chilled.
To fully benefit from the antioxidant powers of blueberries, it is best to eat blueberry dishes without dairy.
BEAUTY:
When crushed & applied topically, the berries help to treat excessive oiliness, dryness, or flaking & cure fungal & bacterial skin disorders like shingles, eczema, etc.
MAGIC:
Bilberries have long been considered as protective herbs.
The dried leaves & fruit of bilberry may be powdered & sprinkled around the household & placed around the entrances of home or burnt as an incense to protect the inhabitants from malign forces & to drive away negativity.
The leaves may be encased in a medicine pouch & carried upon one's person during traveling to protect one from harm.
When worn next to the skin, it will effectively nullify nearly all forms of psychical attacks.
Carrying a sachet with bilberry leaves will increase your luck, keep away evil & break hexes or curses. Eating the berries provide protection from within.
Bilberry can also be used in spells or rituals to attract love or success.
Bilberry is deeply linked to the Celtic Harvest Festival, which today is commonly known as Lammas or Lughnasadh.
The people of Cheshire are said to eat the berries picked on Lammas with cream & milk for good luck.
In Ireland, there are still numerous county festivals centered around the picking of the bilberries on Lughnasadh.
An incense of bilberry leaves will generate luck & facilitate in the acquisition of material desires or wealth.
Burn the leaves like incense in the bedroom directly before going to sleep. Do this for 7 days to make all your dreams come true.
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