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Bilberry Products
Bilberry is a perennial shrub, commonly found in damp woodlands and moorlands,
that produces sweet, blue berries. Known also as huckleberries, bilberries have
been used for medicinal purposes since the 16th century when they were mixed
with honey to create syrup. The active component of bilberry, anthocyanosides,
are flavonoids that have powerful antioxidant properties, providing up to ten
times the antioxidant protection of vitamin C. Bilberry leaves and berries are
commonly used to treat a wide variety of eye disorders.
Bilberry’s fruit contains anthocyanin, a natural antioxidant that lowers blood
pressure, reduces clotting, and improves blood supply to the nervous system.
Anthocyanosides also support and protect collagen structures in the blood vessels
of the eyes to ensure healthy capillaries so that vital nutrients can be transported
to the eye muscles and nerves. The bilberry herb contains vitamins A and C,
which are also antioxidants, preventing free radical damage to the eyes. Vitamin
A is necessary for maintaining sharp vision and vitamin C forms collagen and
is needed for growth and repair of tissue cells and blood vessels. Bilberry
also has the compound glucoquinine in the leaves, which lowers blood sugar and
helps manage diabetes.
Bilberry has long been known as a remedy for poor vision and night blindness
and works by improving with the circulation and regeneration of a substance
required for good eyesight, retinal purple. Studies confirm that when given
orally, bilberry improves vision in healthy people and can help with certain
eye conditions like pigmentosa, retinitis, glaucoma, and myopia.
Bilberry can also help to prevent plaque deposits from forming on the lining
of the arteries, protect veins and arteries, prevent intestinal upset, and prevent
bacteria from adhering to the lining of the bladder and the intestines, which
can cause conditions like prostatitis.
Bilberry tea can be used to treat diarrhea, nausea, other forms of digestive
upset, and to reduce mild inflammation of the oral mucous membranes.
There are no known side effects of bilberry, so it is definitely worth trying
for its many vision-related benefits, and for treating eye conditions. Bilberries
are used for making jams, preserves, liqueurs, and wines. Bilberry supplement
dosage ranges from 20 mg to 160 mg, depending on the health of the eyes and
severity of the condition, and is best taken in small, frequent doses as opposed
to large, less frequent doses, as the bilberry breaks down quickly in the body.
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