* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description: Bilberry is a common shrublet (up to 0.8 m) with small toothed leaves, white, bell-shaped flowers and purplish blue berries (8 mm diameter).
Origin: Cold temperate parts of the northern hemisphere (common in Europe, but also in Asia and North America). Berries and leaves are wild-harvested.
Parts Used: Dried, ripe berries (Myrtilli fructus) and to a lesser extent the leaves (Myrtilli folium).
Therapeutic Category: Anti-diarrhoeal.
Uses and Properties: Fruits and fruit extracts ate recommended for treating diarrhoea, especially in children. They are used locally to treat inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. Traditional uses include improvement of the cardiovascular system and vision. Leaves are traditionally used against diabetes, arthritis, gout, poor circulation, and complaints of the digestive system, kidneys and urinary tract and externally against mucosal inflammations, dermatitis, haemorrhoids and other skin conditions.
Preparation and Dosage: A daily dose of 20 - 60 g of dried berries is recommended. The leaves are no longer recommended because prolonged use seemed to have toxic side effects.
Active Ingredients: The main active ingredients are mostly catechol tannins (up to 12%) and proanthocyanidins. Also present are anthocyanins, flavonoids, iridoids glycosides (asperuloside, monotropein) and phenolic acids. Similar compounds are present in the leaves. Aerial parts contain a simple bicyclic quinolizidine alkaloid, epimyrtine. Arbutin and other hydroquinones are more or less absent.
Pharmacological Effects: The drug reduces the levels of blood lipids and glucose; it has antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-exudative and anti-ulcus activity, improves the permeability of capillaries and wound-healing and inhibits platelet aggregation. These properties can be partly explained by the secondary metabolites present; clinical studies are needed to substantiate the claims.
Notes: Bog bilberry (V. uliginosum) has similar phytochemicals and is used like bilberry. Cowberry (V. vitisidaea) is rich in tannins, proanthocyanins and arbutin. Leaves are a traditional antiseptic diuretic used to treat infections of the urinary tract.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.; Comm. E+ (fruit only).
User Group Forum
Share your questions and information with the ZooScape community!
Be the first to post!
Directions
Take 1 capsule, 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
Bilberry may interfere with iron absorption.
Additional Information
The TerraVita Premium Collection uses only the finest, purest and most potent plant extracts from around the world.
The TerraVita Premium Collection is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
The TerraVita Premium Collection is packed in child-proof, tamper-proof pharmaceutical-grade recyclable containers.
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
