Bilberries are any of several primarily Eurasian species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium, bearing edible, nearly black berries. Bilberry is a plant. The dried, ripe fruit and leaves are used to make medicine.
Bilberry is used for improving eyesight, including night vision. In fact, during World War II, British pilots in the Royal Air Force ate bilberry jam to improve their night vision, but later research showed it probably didn’t help. Bilberry is also used for treating eye conditions such as cataracts and disorders of the retina. There is some evidence that bilberry may help retinal disorders.
Some people use bilberry for conditions of the heart and blood vessels including hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), varicose veins, decreased blood flow in the veins, and chest pain.
Bilberry is also used for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hemorrhoids, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gout, skin infections, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
It is sometimes applied directly to the inside of the mouth for mild mouth and throat soreness.
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All the pictures I've snooped look like blueberries, so I don't trust the pictures. But when you think about it - the majority of our current medicine comes from plants. The American Indians knew that and have continued to pass on their knowledge. Modern pharmaceutical companies have just taken that information and synthesized it into pill or potion form.
@ Legend - Excellent - Blackberry is the last answer. Who will raise her?....(Sorry for the deletions and reinstatements. Trying to get rid of the extra spacing in these comments!!! aaarg)
