Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
The bilberry is a small arbutus, with angular branches. The leafs are oval, denticulate and green on both faces. The flowers are green/reddish, placed 1 – 2, under the leafs. It blossoms in the months of May and June. The fruit is blue, round with violet juice. It grows in mountain regions, in coniferous forests, pastures, on rocks, on silicate soils up to 2500 m altitude.
Active principles:
The leafs contain: tannin, arbutin, hydroquinone, neomyrtline.
The fruits contain: tannin, pectin, myrtle, sugars, pro-vitamin A, vitamin C, organic acids (citric, malic, oxalic, succininc, lactic).
Pharmaceutical action:
Astringent, bacterial-static, hypoglycemic, anti diarrheic, diuretic, increases the visual acuity, anti-helmintic.
Therapeutic use:
Diabetes, rheumatism, gout, coloenteritis, intestinal parasitizes, urinary infections, uremia.
The hypoglycemic action of the bilberry leaf is controversial. The leafs are used for diet teas. The bilberry is indicated in the urinary infection, as minor antiseptic and diuretic, in rheumatism, gout and fermentation or putrefaction colitis.
The leafs have anti diabetes, astringent ant diarrheic, antiseptic, urinary, slightly diuretic effects and the fruits are used in alimentation for the treatment of complicated sugar diabetes, dermatological diseases, peripheral circulation disorders, urethritis, stomatitis, eczemas, bleeding chronic ulcerations.
Due to the myrtle, considered vegetal insulin, both the leafs and the fruits of the bilberry have hypoglycemic effects.
The leafs can be used for a sweet infusion, with honey or saccharine, drunk 1 – 1.5 liters a day. It is recommended in case of cystitis, sugar diabetes and as vascular protector. Also, the leaf decoction helps – used for gargle – in mouth and pharyngeal affections. In case of burns, leafs compresses should be applied on the affected area.