Bilberry/Wild Blueberry

Bilberry is a short, shrubby perennial plant that inhabits the woods and forest meadows of Europe, western Asia, and the Rocky Mountains of North America. The bilberry is a member of the Ericaceae family. The European species vaccinium myrtillus is known as bilberry, whereas the North American variety, called Vaccinium corymbosum, is known as blueberry.

Bilberry is a shrub that grows to about 16 inches in height. It has oval, pointed leaves and small pink and white flowers, which bloom from April through June. As with many other plants that belong to the same plant family (Vaccinium), bilberry bears edible fruits similar to those found on the American blueberry bush. The fruits are eaten fresh, or are usually made into jams, juices or pies. They have therapeutic uses in herbal medicine. This herb is commonly used to fight eye fatigue and eyestrain by supporting and strengthen the capillaries that feed the eye nerves and muscles.
 
Bilberry is included in the treatments for many types of retinopathy and is also used for eye fatigue, poor night vision, and  
nearsightedness. Bilberry improves the circulation and helps improve night vision and helps fight blurred vision, improve blurred vision, and nearsightedness. Bilberry helps the body to produce rhodopsin more quickly. Rhodopsin is a pigment found in a part of the eye called the retina. Bilberry may also help slow the progression of cataracts, a clouding in the eye's lens that is common in older people.

The dried berries and leaves of bilberry have been recommended for a wide variety of conditions, including scurvy, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and diabetes. Bilberry has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants may decrease free radicals which cause oxidation in the body. Bilberry may help manage disorders associated with poor circulation and damaged capillaries such as Raynaud's syndrome, varicose veins, spider veins, nosebleed and bleeding gums. Bilberry is an antiseptic and astringent. It is used successfully as a mouthwash, for treating diarrhea, and for reducing varicose veins. It also strengthens connective tissue. Its use can interfere with iron absorption. Other uses of bilberries include treating cystitis, enteritis and spasmodic colitis, possibly due to its ability to inhibit the adhesion of E. coli in the bladder and intestine.