Blueberry

Summary

Medicinal plant used due to its astringent effect in case of diarrhea and against heavy legs. It is available in capsule or juice form.

names

Portuguese
name: Myrtilo Binomial name: Vaccinum myrtillus
English name: bilberry, whortleberry
French name: myrtille (baies de myrtille)
German name: Heidelbeere
Italian name : mirtillo

Family

Ericaceae

Constituents

Tannins, vitamin A, C and group B, flavonoids, anthocyanosides.

parts used

dry ripe fruit

Effects

Antidiarrheal, antibacterial, astringent, anti-inflammatory.

Indications

Diarrhoea , viral gastroenteritis , heavy legs , varicose veins , hemorrhoids , colitis (pain and spasm), cystitis , possible improvement of brain functions (see below under Observations)

Secundary effects

we do not know

contraindications

we do not know

Interactions

we do not know

Blueberry-based preparations

– Blueberry capsules

– Blueberry pills

– Infusion (tea) of blueberry
The tea based on blueberry leaves is often used in traditional medicine against digestive disorders.

– Blueberry juice (in case of oral problems such as sore throat)

– Bilberry decoction

Where does the blueberry grow?

Bilberry grows in Europe and Asia, mainly in the mountains.
The blueberry is a plant native to the northern hemisphere.
As the blueberry grows easily in the wild, especially in Europe, there are few blueberry plantations.

When to harvest the blueberry?

Generally blueberry fruits are ripe, in the northern hemisphere, in mid-July to late August. Harvesting in Europe often takes place between late July and early August.

Comments

– Dried bilberry berries are generally used in the form of juice or capsules to treat diarrhea. Even if the most effective treatment against diarrhea (especially in the short term) is the use of the molecule loperamide (Imodium®), medicines (especially in juice) based on blueberries can be very useful, especially if the diarrhea is repetitive /or associated with colitis. Dried blueberry berries are also a popular fruit in the Swiss and French Alps in summer. They can generally be found in the month of August. Mixed with cream and sugar, they are delicious!

– In the Middle Ages the blueberry was already used due to its medicinal effects.

– Effect on the brain . A British study from the University of Exeter published in March 2017 showed that blueberry juice (blueberry in UK English) increased brain functions in the elderly. This English research paper highlighted the impact of this fruit on improving brain function. Blueberries have a high concentration of flavonoids that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some scientists estimate that the positive effects on the brain are precisely due to flavonoids. Previous studies have shown that a high consumption of fruits and vegetables would increase cognitive abilities and could act in the prevention of dementias, such as Alzheimer’s.
In this study, healthy subjects consumed 30 ml of concentrated blueberry juice daily (equivalent to 230 g of blueberries) for 12 weeks. Of the 26 participants, all healthy, 12 were given juice and 14 were given a placebo. The researchers observed among these participants an improvement in cerebral blood flow, brain activation and certain aspects of working memory ( working memory   in English). This study was published March 1, 2017 in the journal   Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism .

– A study published in 2013 showed that people who consumed blueberries were less likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes. People who ate at least two servings a week of some whole fruits – mainly blueberries, grapes and apples – reduced their risk of diabetes type 2 by 23% compared to those who ate less than one serving a month. It is believed that bilberry can provide a decrease in insulin resistance. This study, conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health , was published on August 29, 2017 in the scientific journal BMJ (DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f5001).

Jeanne Kenney
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I’m a stylist trainer, a content creator, and an entrepreneur passion. Virgo sign and Pisces ascendant, I move easily between my dreams, the crazy world I want, and my feet on the ground to carry out my projects.

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