Bilberry

STRENGTH: 300 mg
FORM: 60 Capsules

There are few disabilities that are feared as much as failing vision. About 3.4% of Americans today aged 40 and over have some type of visual impairment. And as with most age-related health conditions rates are expected to double over the next 30 years. Pathologies such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration are the leading causes of irreversible blindness according to governmental sources. And according to the National Eye Institute approximately 1.7 million Americans have a specific form of eye problem called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is characterized by the degradation of the eye's macula which causes blurred vision with progressive loss of vision. The incidence can vary by age, sex and race. Additional pathologies like cataracts also affect more than half of those over age 65. This condition manifests as opaque areas in the eye lens where proteins deform and distort light, clouding vision.

So what do you do? The medical profession has not made any significant advances in the area of treating this disease since it became known. And as it is with most answers in life, they are most times right in front of us and we don’t even know they are there! Again when we look for answers to help us maintain our health, there she is again, Mother Nature. It has been known in certain circles for many years that certain herbs provide the relief that we hope and prey for. And unless you have dealt with eye problems in the past, you may never have heard of an herb called bilberry, it is a relative to the blueberry and the cranberry.

Bilberry (V. myrtillus) grows abundantly in mountainous regions in the UK, Siberia and other countries in the EC. It is a natural mixture of the glycosides Cyanidin, Delphinidin and Malvidin. Bilberry is best known as a specific for the eyes because of its antioxidant qualities and its general effects on the circulatory system. Bilberry has been used since the middle ages when the fruit was used for its astringent, tonic, antiseptic properties and in the management of diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal inflammations and various other infections. Nowadays, bilberry (fruit) extract is most commonly used to treat the kinds of eye disorders as described above and to promote general capillary health. The leaves of the plant are also used as a remedy for diabetes due to their hypoglycemic properties. Their infusion or decoctions (teas, or liquid extracts) are used in the topical treatment of eyes and mouth inflammation, skin infections and burns. Today because of the volume of research that has been done, and the positive feedback received as a result of thousands of people using bilberry it has become very popular. This research suggests that the way bilberry extract may improve the functionality of the eyes and other organs, is by increasing the ability of fluids and nourishment to pass through veins to the capillaries to their end destination. Because of its natural abilities bilberry also has also been shown to help prevent and treat bruising, general subcutaneous bleeding, and may relieve inflammations such as those that occur in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and even gum disease.

The main benefit derived from bilberry, and what it is a ‘specific’ for is its ability to improve circulation, blood vessel health and in the treatment of the eyes. Even the United States military also used bilberry extract back in World War II to improve the night vision of soldiers, especially for pilots. Research relative to its use in treating blood vessel integrity and eyesight is extensive. Studies conducted in Italy have shown that bilberry can improve circulation to the eyes thereby mitigating such conditions as diabetes-caused glaucoma, day blindness, near sightedness and cataract formation. One such study showed that bilberry, along with vitamin E, stopped cataract formation in 97 percent of the people who took it. The specific flavonoids in bilberry, which are called anthocyanosides (as described above), not only provide eye tissue support but help to limit calcium deposits and blood clots inside of the arteries. Because of the direct benefit upon the vascular system, bilberry is also very useful in such conditions as leg swelling, varicose veins and even postpartum hemorrhoids.

Most importantly, bilberry helps diminish inflammation, a helpful effect in such conditions as arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. Since bilberry is helpful in improving circulation, it would stand to make sense that it is very good for wound healing. Wounds heal faster and with less infection. So you can see that bilberry is effective in treating many different pathological states, they all have a common thread in how they present in the body, and the trail ultimately leads back to what the body needs and isn’t getting to stay healthy. Give the body a standing chance with bilberry, and it will do the rest.†

REFERENCES:

1. Sala D, Rolando M, Rossi PL, et al. Effect of anthocyanosides on visual performance at low illumination. Minerva Oftalmol 1979;21:283–5.
2. Perossini M, Guidi G, Chiellini S, Siravo D. Diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy therapy with Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides (Tegens): Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann Ottalmol Clin Ocul 1987;12:1173–90 [in Italian
3. Salvayre R, Braquet P, Perruchot T, DousteBlazy L. Comparison of the scavenger effect of bilberry anthocyanosides with various flavonoids. Proceed Intl Bioflavonoids Symposium, Munich, 1981, 437–42.