Article Most Wanted: eye

Bilberry Benefits

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<b><span class="dropcaps">C</span>ousin of the blueberry, the bilberry is 
the sweet, dark purple fruit of a branching shrub that seldom grows more
 than knee high</b>. Ripe bilberries are a bonanza for birds and a heavenly 
treat for hikers to stumble upon in the forest. Most bilberries grow 
wild because the plants are difficult to cultivate. Given their 
wonderful flavor, it’s no surprise that bilberries have found their way 
into almost every imaginable culinary delight, from jams, pies, and 
tarts to sorbets, liqueurs, and wines. One Irish name for bilberry is <i>fraughan</i>, from the Gaelic word <i>fraocháin</i>.
 Traditionally, the berries are picked on the first Sunday in August, 
called Fraughan Sunday, which corresponds to an ancient Celtic harvest 
festival. According to legend, the more bilberries people collect on 
that day, the better the harvest will be. As it is a medicinal herb, 
bilberry has been used for centuries to control diarrhea and to improve circulation.
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<b>Therapeutic Uses</b></h2>
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<i>Eye health</i></div>
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<i>Antioxidant</i></div>
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<i>Diarrhea</i></div>
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Bilberry has long been consumed as both food and 
medicine. The fruit is enjoyed for its sweet-sour taste and eaten fresh 
or cooked. Bilberry fruit is also made into syrup and used to treat 
diarrhea and other digestive problems. This is likely due to the 
presence of tannins, which have astringent and anti-inflammatory 
activity. Germany’s health authorities still approve of the use of the 
dried, ripe fruit for the treatment of acute diarrhea. However, the 
majority of research today is focused on the potential use of bilberry fruit for the prevention of age-related diseases.</div>
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Bilberry fruit is rich in anthocyanosides, plant pigments that have been shown to act as powerful antioxidants in the body.<br />
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Researchers have found that these powerhouse compounds
 may help protect the body from heart disease, oxidative stress, and 
inflammation and help preserve brain function and eye health. A growing 
body of evidence is linking oxidative stress, a condition associated 
with an increased level of free radicals and other oxidation-promoting 
molecules, to a number of age-related and degenerative diseases. Many 
fruits and vegetables help reduce oxidative stress, but it is 
bilberry—along with its American cousin, the blueberry—that is getting a
 lot of press. This berry’s anthocyanosides seem to have a particular 
affinity for the eye. Animal studies show that bilberry extracts protect
 the retina from damage. Two small double-blind, placebo-controlled 
studies have shown improvement in patients with diabetes- and 
hypertension-related retinopathy, a group of serious retinal disorders 
that can lead to blindness.
Researchers are also looking at the potential 
protective effect that bilberry extract may have on colorectal cancer. 
In a study conducted at the University of Leicester in England, patients
 with colon cancer were given a bilberry extract for 7 days, and there 
was a 7 percent  decrease in cell growth in the tumors when they were 
surgically removed. This may be due to the ability of the 
anthocyanosides to prevent the growth of blood vessels in the tissue 
surrounding a solid tumor. The blood vessels are, in part, what allow 
the cancer to grow and spread.
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<b>How to Use</b></h2>
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<i>Fresh berries:</i> 1 cup per day of fresh fruit. American blueberries can be used if bilberries are not available.</div>
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<i>Tea:</i> Simmer 1 tablespoon dried berries in 2 cups water for 20 minutes. Strain. Drink ½ cup every 3 to 4 hours for diarrhea.</div>
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<i>Extracts:</i> Dosage range is usually 360 to 
600 mg per day of an extract standardized to contain 25 percent 
anthocyanosides (also written as anthocyanins).</div>
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<b>Precautions</b></h2>
There are no known adverse effects.<u><b> Bilberry benefits</b></u> may be used as support for the eyes, heart, and gastrointestinal system but should not replace appropriate medical care.