Vaccinium myrtillus
(Bilberry)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Decreases blood-brain barrier permeability
• Decreases capillary fragility and permeability
• Inhibits enzymatic cleavage of collagen
• Inhibits platelet aggregation
• Increases endothelium barrier of membranes
• Increases gastric mucus
• Lowers blood glucose
• Prevents free radical damage
• Prevents release and synthesis of serine proteases, leukotrienes, histamine and prostaglandins that promote inflammation
• Promotes cross-linking of collagen fibers, reinforcing ground substance, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons
• Relaxes smooth muscles
• Stimulates vasodilatory prostaglandin production
• Vitamin P activity

Clinical Indications:

• Cataract prevention
• Diabetes mellitus
• Dysmenorrhea
• Gout
• Macular degeneration
• Peptic ulcer
• Schizophrenia
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Varicose veins

Contraindications:

• None known

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs should be monitored due to the hypoglycemic effect

Chemical Constituents:

• Anthocyanosides:
  
  Myrtillin (a component that lowers blood glucose)
• Citric acid
• Malic acid
• Vitamin C

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).