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Bilberry
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
Aloe Vera •
Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
Ephedra •
European Elder Tree •
Evening Primrose •
Fenugreek •
Feverfew •
Flaxseed •
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Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
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Hoodia •
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Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
accept the bitter to get better
 Billbery Fruits | |||
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Bilberry
The medicinal herb Bilberry as an alternative herbal remedy for scurvy, diarrhea, menstrual cramps - Bilberry is a relative of the blueberry, and its fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams. Bilberry grows in North America, Europe, and northern Asia.Common Names--European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry Latin Names--Vaccinium myrtillus
- Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) has several active constituents which have been isolated from the berries and leaves of the bilberry plant, including anthocyanoside flavonoids (anthocyanins), vitamins and pectins, which are found in the berries, and quercetin, catechins, tannins, iridoids, and acids, which are found in the leaves. It is traditionally recommended to promote healthy blood sugar levels as well as healthy insulin production. Bilberry also has excellent anti-oxidant properties due to high levels of anthocyanosides, further increasing the supportive health benefits of this remarkable herb. Regular use of Bilberry helps to support healthy vision as well as the health of the tiny blood capillaries which carry oxygen to the eyes (Bone K. "Bilberry-The vision herb". MediHerb Prof Rev . 1997;59:1-4).
Bilberries are distinct from blueberries but closely related to them.
Bilberries are found in very acidic, nutrient-poor soils throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the world. They are closely related to North American wild and cultivated blueberries and huckleberries in the genus Vaccinium. One characteristic of bilberries is that they produce single or paired berries on the bush instead of clusters, as the blueberry does. Blueberries have more evergreen leaves.
The fruit is smaller than that of the blueberry but with a fuller taste. Bilberries are darker in colour, and usually appear near black with a slight shade of purple. While the blueberry's fruit pulp is light green, the bilberry's are red or purple, heavily staining the fingers, lips, and tongue of consumers eating the raw fruit.
What Bilberry Is Used For
Herbal remedy for scurvy. Bilberry has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine.
Historically, bilberry fruit was used to treat diarrhea, scurvy, and other conditions. Today, the fruit is used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems, varicose veins, venous insufficiency (poor blood flow to the heart), and other circulatory problems. Bilberry leaf is used for entirely different conditions, including diabetes. How Bilberry Is Used The fruit of the bilberry plant can be eaten or made into extracts. Similarly, the leaves of the bilberry plant can be made into extracts or used to make teas.
Herbal Remedy Products with Bilberry as part of the ingredients
- Insulate Plus™ - Natural remedy to balance blood sugar levels and improve pancreatic health
- Balances blood sugar levels to reduce the need for hypoglycemic medication
- Enlarges the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
- Improves circulation & blood flow to the extremeties, thereby improving wound healing
- Improves oxygen-rich blood flow to optical fibers
- Reduces the craving for sweet foods
- Fuels the breakdown of fats and balances cholesterol levels
- Helps reduce the risk of heart disease
What the Science Says about Bilberry
Some claim that bilberry fruit improves night vision, but clinical studies have not shown this to be true. There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of bilberry fruit or leaf for any other health conditions. NCCAM has not yet funded any research on bilberry.
Side Effects and Cautions about Bilberry
Bilberry fruit is considered safe. However, high doses of bilberry leaf or leaf extract are considered unsafe; animal studies have shown high doses to be toxic. Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including bilberry. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.
Bilberry, a close relative of blueberry, has a long history of medicinal use. The dried fruit has been popular for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea, for topical relief of minor mucus membrane inflammation, and for a variety of eye disorders, including poor night vision, eyestrain, and myopia.
Bilberry fruit and its extracts contain a number of biologically active components, including a class of compounds called anthocyanosides. These have been the focus of recent research in Europe.
Bilberry extract has been evaluated for efficacy as an antioxidant, mucostimulant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, "vasoprotectant," and lipid-lowering agent. Although pre-clinical studies have been promising, human data are limited and largely of poor quality. At this time, there is not sufficient evidence in support of (or against) the use of bilberry for most indications. Notably, the evidence suggests a lack of benefit of bilberry for the improvement of night vision.
Bilberry is commonly used to make jams, pies, cobblers, syrups, and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages. Fruit extracts are used as a coloring agent in wines.
News About Bilberry
6 Little-Known Nutrients that Build Better Vision
- By Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook (PhD, DNM)
An old adage says that eyes are the windows of the soul, but we also rely on them for just about everything we do in life. It’s important to take good care of our eyes and vision through a largely or entirely plant-based diet.
While there are many vitamins and minerals needed for healthy eyes and vision, it’s also important to get enough of the lesser-known nutrients that help in this area.
Here are some of critical vision nutrients and the foods in which they are found: Alpha carotene—This type of carotenoid, which is in the group of about 700 different yellow-orange-red pigments found in many fruits and vegetables, tends to take a back seat to beta carotene, but is equally important to eye health. This nutrient is found in apricots, broccoli, carrots, collards, leafy greens, kale, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes.
Beta carotene—Okay, most people have heard of beta carotene, but no article on nutrients for better vision would be complete without mentioning this essential eyesight-protecting nutrient. It’s found in many of the same foods as alpha carotene, including: apricots, broccoli, carrots, collards, leafy greens, kale, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes.
Lutein—This fat-soluble nutrient is normally present in healthy eyes, but can become depleted over time. It acts as an antioxidant within the eyes to protect them from free radical damage. Lutein is a yellow-colored pigment found in many foods, including: apricots, avocados, broccoli, carrots, collards, eggs, leafy greens, kale, leeks, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes.
Naringin—If you’ve ever bit into a grapefruit and tasted their signature bitter-sour flavor, you’ve tasted naringin. This bitter-tasting plant nutrient is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the retina in the eyes. It is mainly found in grapefruit.
Rutin—Without rutin, your body cannot properly absorb vitamin C. Rutin is a powerful nutrient that improves overall eye health and strengthens blood vessels, especially the small capillaries. Because it also improves circulation and acts as an antioxidant against free radical damage, it’s especially helpful for diabetic retinopathy. It is found in citrus fruits, red apples, apricots, bilberry fruit, blackberries, broccoli, buckwheat, cherries, black currants, grapes, nuts, onions, peppers, plums, prunes, rose hips and tea.
Zeaxanthin—This nutrient shares some of the same effects of lutein. It helps prevent against age-related macular degeneration of the eyes, which is a cause of blindness in the elderly. This important eye-protecting agent is found in apricots, broccoli, carrots, collards, eggs, leafy greens, kale, leeks, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes.
When it comes to nutrients for eye health, seeing is believing. The best way to see well for life is to see a wide range of yellow, orange, red, and green foods on your plate every day.
VTT: Bilberries to increase our dietary fiber intake
- (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland)
Bilberries -- a unique part of the Nordic diet -- could be utilised in higher amounts in food products to increase our dietary fibre intake. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd took an interest in bilberry press cake and developed methods to use it as a dietary fibre source in tasty snacks.
VTT studied the dietary fibre content, carbohydrate composition, and non-carbohydrate fibre content of Finnish bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and bilberry press cake -- a side product from juice processing. The results indicate that bilberries contain plenty of dietary fibre: fresh bilberries 3%, freeze-dried bilberries 24% and dry bilberry press cake 59%. The content can be explained by the high relative proportion of peels and seeds in the berries due to their small size. The dietary fibre was mostly insoluble, which means it has excellent bulking effects and therefore increases intestinal mobility and removal of digestion residue from the body.
- Press cake in snacks and muffins
The berry juice industry produces large amounts of press cake, which is currently under-utilised. It is a low-cost raw material with a healthy status and it can be used to substitute all or part of whole berries in health-promoting products.
Bilberry press cake can be used as a substitute for whole berries in berry-striped muffins when it is milled according to VTT's patented wet milling method. Thanks to bilberry press cake, a fibre content of over 6% in the muffins can be easily achieved without compromising the sensory quality.
It is possible to add bilberry press cake also to extruded snacks. Extrusion processing is a high temperature short time process, where both expanded puffs and flakes can be produced. A nice flavour and crispy texture can be obtained by adding dried and milled press cake of up to 30% to the flour mix used during the extruded snack production.
- High content of anthocyanins
Bilberries and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are known for their high content of anthocyanins. In contrast to cultivated blueberries, the anthocyanin content in wild bilberries is also high in the flesh part and is therefore more bioavailable than in blueberries or their peels. Anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activity, and they have the potential to reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Climb steps to keep yourself smart
- Source:http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/vA8wl7R7RJa5U0Azi95TPI/Climb-steps-to-keep-yourself-smart.html
- Compiled by Abhijit Ahaskar
Attitude of co-workers can affect a mother’s decision to breastfeed her child and adding bilberries to daily diet improves fibre intake of body—studies and research tips for a healthier you
- Taking stairs can keep brain young
Using stairs more often not just makes body strong but improves brain’s health too, a Canadian study suggests. Researchers from Concordia University enlisted 331 healthy people in the age group of 19 to 79 years. They used MRI to measure the volume of grey matter found in their brains because its decline is a sign of aging. When they compared the brain volume of the participants with the number of flight of stairs climbed, they found that brain age decreases by 0.58 years for every daily flight of stairs climbed. The study was published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. Read more here.
- Indian parents worry more about their child’s online safety
Indian parents worry more compared to their global counterparts when their children spend more time online. According to Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report, 57% of Indian parents worried that their children would end up being bullied by cyber predators. The report found that more than 50% of parents believe that their children are safer from bullies on a playground than on the internet and that what a child posts will come back to haunt the whole family sometime later.
- Workplace environment linked to working mother’s decision to breastfeed
Attitude of co-workers, superiors and comments at work place can affect a mother’s decision to breastfeed her child, a US study suggests. Researchers from University of Houston did a survey involving 859 women who went to work soon after conceiving their child. Only 300 women continued to breastfeed for a year while only seven continued breastfeeding exclusively for six months. The researchers found that women with supportive co-workers and bosses were eight times more likely to continue exclusive breastfeeding than women with non-supportive co-workers. The study was published in the Journal of Organizational Behaviour.
- Yoga can help but it is not enough
Yoga intervention can be beneficial in depression but it alone can’t be relied upon to treat trauma, a study claims. Researchers from North Carolina examined 13 previous reviews and found that yoga can help in anxiety, depression and trauma but only in the short term. “As a stand-alone treatment right now, Yoga alone is just not viable. However, I think with more education, more research, and more experienced instructors, it will be,” said co-author and Yoga instructor Leslie Roach. Researches feel yoga intervention should be recommended but only with scientifically verified treatments such as psychotherapy and medication.
- Bilberries can improve fibre intake
Adding bilberries to daily diet can increase fibre intake which increases intestinal mobility and improves the digestive process, a Finnish study claims. Researchers from VTT Technical Research Centre examined the amount of fibre and carbohydrate composition content in bilberries. They found that fresh bilberries contain 3% fibre, freeze-dried bilberries 24% and dry bilberry press cake 59%. They also found that bilberries contain anthocyanins, a water soluble flavonid with anti-carcinogenic capabilities. It can also reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
In the News: Bilberry for Healthy Eyes
- By Lindsay Cleek
If you have a family history of vision problems or just want to maintain good eyesight as you age, there could be an herbal aid to go along with your routine of regular visits to the eye doctor. A recent study found that a combination of bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Pycnogenol® (French maritime pine bark extract) helped improved blood flow to the eye and reduced intraocular pressure associated with disorders such as glaucoma.
The study was conducted at Italy’s University of Chieti-Pescara in San Valentino, Italy. Approximately 80 subjects in their late 40s, all void of prior vision problems, completed the clinical trial. Participants took the supplement Mirtogenol®, 80 mg of bilberry extract and 40 mg of Pycnogel, in varied combination with latanoprost, a topical eye medication used to reduce eye pressure. Intraocular pressure and retinal blood flow were measured periodically throughout the 24-week trial. Researchers concluded that Mirtogenol® lowers intraocular pressure in those with previously elevated pressure. They also found that it could be helpful in reducing the risk of glaucoma because it prevents an increase in ocular hypertension.
Bilberry aids in this process by modifying the capillaries in the ciliary body, which releases fluid within the eye. Bilberry has long been thought to be beneficial for eye health, with World War II British Royal Air Force pilots eating bilberry jam to sharpen their vision for night missions. However, a recent study disproved a link between bilberry and improved night vision.
Bilberry extract is taken from dried, ripe bilberry fruit and leaves and is used by herbalists to treat a variety of other health conditions as well. Bilberry plants contain tannins, which are most commonly used to treat diarrhea, and can reduce inflammation due to mouth and throat irritation. Flavonoids in bilberry leaf have been studied to improve circulation, which leads it to be used to treat conditions like diabetes and varicose veins as well.
Always consult your physician before starting any new health supplements to avoid possible medication interactions.
Bilberries can be utilised in food products to boost dietary fibre intake
- (News Medical, VTT)
Bilberries - a unique part of the Nordic diet - could be utilised in higher amounts in food products to increase our dietary fibre intake. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd took an interest in bilberry press cake and developed methods to use it as a dietary fibre source in tasty snacks.
VTT studied the dietary fibre content, carbohydrate composition, and non-carbohydrate fibre content of Finnish bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and bilberry press cake - a side product from juice processing. The results indicate that bilberries contain plenty of dietary fibre: fresh bilberries 3%, freeze-dried bilberries 24% and dry bilberry press cake 59%. The content can be explained by the high relative proportion of peels and seeds in the berries due to their small size. The dietary fibre was mostly insoluble, which means it has excellent bulking effects and therefore increases intestinal mobility and removal of digestion residue from the body.
- Press cake in snacks and muffins
The berry juice industry produces large amounts of press cake, which is currently under-utilised. It is a low-cost raw material with a healthy status and it can be used to substitute all or part of whole berries in health-promoting products.
Bilberry press cake can be used as a substitute for whole berries in berry-striped muffins when it is milled according to VTT's patented wet milling method. Thanks to bilberry press cake, a fibre content of over 6% in the muffins can be easily achieved without compromising the sensory quality.
It is possible to add bilberry press cake also to extruded snacks. Extrusion processing is a high temperature short time process, where both expanded puffs and flakes can be produced. A nice flavour and crispy texture can be obtained by adding dried and milled press cake of up to 30% to the flour mix used during the extruded snack production.
- High content of anthocyanins
Bilberries and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are known for their high content of anthocyanins. In contrast to cultivated blueberries, the anthocyanin content in wild bilberries is also high in the flesh part and is therefore more bioavailable than in blueberries or their peels. Anthocyanins have anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activity, and they have the potential to reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Bilberries And Obesity: How Wild Blueberries Offset Negative Effects Of A High-Fat Diet
- By Lecia Bushak
Various studies have pointed to the huge health benefits of eating blueberries, from reducing the risk of heart disease, to improving your metabolism and providing you with plenty of antioxidants to fight cancer, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. A new study just adds one more benefit to that already lengthy list: Eating wild blueberries in particular, known as “bilberries,” can help reduce the negative effects of a high-fat diet and fight obesity.The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, and found that bilberries were beneficial for improving blood pressure and nutrition-derived inflammatory responses. Low-grade inflammation as well as high blood pressure are often linked to obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes. “Low-grade metabolic inflammation and hypertension are primary mechanisms involved in obesity-associated adverse health effects,” the authors wrote in the abstract. “Berries, especially Nordic wild blueberries (bilberries), represent an important source of dietary anthocyanins, a group of polyphenols with potential beneficial effects to combat obesity-associated metabolic disturbances.”
For the study, the researchers fed mice a high-fat diet for three months. Different groups of mice had diets containing either five percent or 10 percent of freeze-dried bilberries, and the researchers examined the effects, focusing particularly on inflammatory cell and cytokine levels, systolic blood pressure, glucose tolerance, insulin, and weight gain. They found that the mice placed on a high-fat diet gained more weight, and experienced negative changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as higher blood pressure — of course. But the bilberries actually lowered the inflammation associated with a high-fat diet and improved their outlooks.“Bilberries constitute an integral part of the Nordic diet and they could be better utilized also elsewhere in the world,” the University of Eastern Finland press release said. “Bilberries are associated with several beneficial health effects and their use involves plenty of traditional wisdom.”Bilberries aren’t quite the same as blueberries. They’re native to Northern Europe and are relatives of blueberries. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, bilberries have been used for hundreds of years in both jams and pies, and in medicine. Because they contain plant pigments called anthocyanosides, which serve as antioxidants, bilberries offset free radicals in the body and prevent damage to cells.
While the study doesn’t give you a green light to go ahead and eat a fatty diet filled with mac and cheese and hamburgers, just to devour several cups of bilberries right after, it’s comforting to know that eating certain fruits can help you out after a night of cheating on your diet.Source: Mykkänen OT, Huotari A, Herzig K-H, et al. Wild Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) Alleviate Inflammation and Hypertension Associated with Developing Obesity in Mice Fed with a High-Fat Diet. PLOS One. 2014.
Bilberries can help those with varicose veins
- Source:http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/bilberries-can-help-those-with-varicose-veins-1.1268454
- (The Irish Times)
DOES IT WORK? Bilberry extract is said to improve eyesight, but this has not been proven
THE BILBERRY fruit is also called the European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). The bush is commonly found in northern and central Europe, where the fruit has been a popular food.
More recently, bilberry extracts have become popular in treating a variety of eye problems. This reputation developed among RAF pilots during the second World War. Some pilots appeared to be able to see better when flying night bombing raids.
The only thing that seemed to explain the differences was that those with better night vision used bilberry jam. Soon, bilberries had a reputation for curing all sorts of eye problems, along with heart disease, varicose veins and several other conditions.
- Evidence from studies
Bilberries contain a group of potent antioxidants called anthocyanins. Antioxidants are important nutrients that everyone needs.
The body normally produces waste compounds that need to be neutralised by antioxidants. Reduced intake of antioxidants is associated with an increased risk of several illnesses.
The best source is the recommended daily intake of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Nonetheless, supplementation with additional antioxidants is commonly advocated.
In the case of bilberry, animal studies have found that the extracts positively affect blood flow in various tissues. They also make blood vessels less porous, which could reduce swelling and help with varicose veins. But such uses have not been confirmed in human studies.
The use of bilberry for night vision was supported by some studies carried out in the 1960s. However, since then, several larger and better-designed trials have found no benefit from bilberry.
A review of these and subsequent studies found that only one of the five high-quality trials found bilberry better than placebo for night vision.
Some benefit was found for people taking bilberry for retinopathy. This eye problem can develop in people with diabetes or high blood pressure. Further research is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
- Problematic aspects
Adverse reactions have not been reported in the studies of bilberry extracts. Given that the extracts may affect blood flow, anyone taking blood-thinning medications should be alert to possible bleeding problems.
Toxic reactions have been noted when people eat large amounts of the berries or consume them for long periods.
Up to 500mg of extract are recommended daily. Most studies used extracts containing 25 per cent anthocyanins, although the commercially available products vary in strength and quality.
- Recommendations
Reports of bilberry helping with night vision point to the limitations of anecdotal reports and testimonials. The differences in night vision among the pilots could have been due to any number of factors.
Although the bilberry jam got the credit, controlled trials have shown that something else must have been the cause of any benefits.
However, by initiating research into bilberries, some potential uses for the extracts have been identified.
One of the most interesting of these is as a treatment for varicose veins. However, further studies are needed to verify whether such uses are valid.
Meanwhile, we know that bilberries are a good source of antioxidants, and can, therefore, be useful for general health as part of a balanced diet that is rich in plant foods.
Problems with vision or circulation can be due to even more serious underlying conditions. Therefore, anyone with symptoms of these problems should seek a medical evaluation and not try to self-medicate with bilberry.
Effective treatments for many of these conditions are readily available.
Bilberries May Help Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
- By Deborah Mitchell G
If you have inflammatory bowel disease and you are not familiar with bilberries, it may be time to make their acquaintance. Researchers in Europe report that animal models of colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease, responded well to bilberry extract. Bilberries are rich in anthocyanins
A number of natural substances and supplements have been proposed to help inflammatory bowel disease; among them, olive oil, probiotics, resveratrol, curcumin, and even marijuana compounds. Now a new study suggests that bilberries may be an addition to this growing list.
Bilberries, which are a close relative to blueberries, contain anthocyanins, pigments that have antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies show bilberries are effective in the management of diarrhea, which is one of the main characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease.
The new study involved a mouse model of colitis, one of the two primary types of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns disease is the other). The mice were exposed to a chemical to induce colitis and then divided into three groups: one group was given a diet in which 20% of their food was bilberry supplement; the other two were given either 1% or 10% anthocyanins as part of their normal diet.
In the mice that received the bilberry supplement, the symptoms of colitis improved; specifically, intestinal inflammation and disease severity were reduced. The bilberry extract and anthocyanins both prevented self-destruction (apoptosis) colonic epithelial cells induced by inflammation in the other groups of mice. Overall, the results indicate that a clinical trial of the effects of bilberries on patients who have inflammatory bowel disease is warranted.
Inflammatory bowel disease affects more than 1 million individuals in the United States. While both ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease are characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract, abdominal cramps, fever, and bloody diarrhea, the main difference between is that ulcerative colitis can be cured by surgery, while Crohns disease cannot.
Experts are still searching for the causes of inflammatory bowel disease, although environmental and genetic factors are involved. On the environmental side, bacteria, diet, or stress are believed to be triggers for inflammation and an abnormal dysfunctional immune response.
Bilberries, which are also known as huckleberries and whortleberries, traditionally have been used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems varicose veins, and circulatory problems. The anthocyanins are credited with improving circulation, preventing blood clots, and building strong blood vessels, while the tannins found in the berries have anti-inflammatory properties and may help control diarrhea.
Overall, the investigators concluded that dried bilberries improved chronic colitis, and that their results “justify a clinical study on the therapeutic effect in inflammatory bowel disease patients.”
Herbs Help Treat Diabetes: Bilberry, Gymnema, Ginkgo and Salt Bush
- By Melanie Grimes
(NaturalNews) Many herbal remedies are used to treat symptoms of diabetes and have shown results in naturally lowering blood sugar levels. Scientific research is now shedding new light on the mechanisms used since ancient times to treat diabetes with herbs and nutrition.
Diabetes was noted as far back as Ancient Greece. The name comes from two Greek words meaning the siphon and to run through, which describes the diabetic symptom of excess urine. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, where over twenty three million, almost eight percent of the population, have been diagnosed with the disorder. The number of cases of diabetes doubled from 1990 to 2005 and is expected to double again by 2050. Side effects of diabetes include kidney disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, blindness and hearing loss.
The cause of diabetes is not known but 90% of those with Type 2 diabetes are obese. Most consider that diabetes is triggered by numerous factors, including inheritance, nutrition, obesity, infection, hormonal imbalances, and stress.
- Bilberry
One of the commonly used herbs to treat diabetes is Bilberry, or European Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). The leaves of this plant have been shown to lower blood sugar. Traditional usage was a few handfuls of leaves in three to four cups of water simmered for a half hour. A few cups of Bilberry tea lower blood sugar. Extracts of Bilberry are now available and a dosage is between 80 to 160 mg three times a day to treat diabetes.
- Gymnema sylvestre
The Indian plant, Gymnema is part of the milkweed family. It is known as Gurmar in Hindi, meaning "Sugar Destroyer," and has been used in Ayurvedic, or Indian, Medicine for centuries. Research has shown that 400 mg a day of Gymnema will help glucose to be reabsorbed into the blood, thereby lowering blood sugar.
- Salt Bush
Israeli research on the Salt Bush plant, or Atriplex halim, has demonstrated its ability to improve blood sugar regulation. The study used 3 grams a day of the herb to treat diabetes.
- Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo biloba is used by herbalists to treat the side effects of diabetes, particularly by increasing blood flow to the limbs and the eyes. Because of Ginkgo's effect on blood vessels, it is used to prevent diabetic retinopathy. Research has also confirmed Ginkgo's effect on depression in diabetes and non-diabetes sufferers. The active ingredient is called ginkgo flavoglycoside, and the daily dosage is 0 to 80 mg three times a day to treat diabetes symptoms.
Diabetes symptoms can be treated with herbs, as has been shown since ancient times and by modern research. Using plants as integrative medicine, diabetics can enjoy the symptom-reducing effects of botanical medicine.
Photo Gallery of Bilberry Plants, Bushes and fruits
Blueberry Bilberry fruit
Blueberry Bilberry fruit and flowers
Blueberry flowers in Sunset
Blueberry leaves in Autumn
Fresh Blueberries
couple of blueberries
Blueberry Bush
Blueberry Bush
Blueberry Bush
Blueberry Flower
BlueBerry Bush
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