Bilberry Fruit (25% Anthocyanidins)

History:

Bilberry is a shrubby perennial plant that is native to the northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America and may be found in damp, acidic soils throughout the temperate and subarctic regions of the world. The angular, green, branched stem grows from a creeping rootstock to a height of one to two feet, and the leaves are alternate, weakly serrate, dark green and shiny on top and approximately one inch long. The reddish pink or red and white, solitary, auxiliary flowers have a pitcher shaped corolla and appear in May and June. The fruit is usually blue-black; it may be red in some cases, and the berry is five-seeded. Bilberry is similar in appearance and closely related to the American Blueberry* and Huckleberry* but has a distinct anthocyanin profile and contains higher quantities of the constituents useful for eye health and circulatory support. The easiest way to distinguish the Bilberry is that it produces single or pairs of berries on the bush instead of clusters like the blueberry. Another way to distinguish them is that while Blueberry fruit meat is light green, Bilberry is red or purple. Bilberries are rarely cultivated but fruits are sometimes collected from wild plants growing on publicly accessible lands, notably in Scandinavian countries, Scotland, Ireland, England and Poland. Its name is derived from the Danish word, bollebar, meaning "dark berry," and its botanical genus, vaccinium, is derived from an ancient Greek word that comes from prehistoric Mediterranean languages, referring to berry-producing shrubs. In Ireland, Bilberry is known as fraughan (fraochán in Irish) and is traditionally gathered on Fraughan Sunday or the first traditional harvest festival of the year, Lughnassadh, as celebrated by all the Celtic people. The crop of Bilberries was said to indicate how well the rest of the crops would fare in their harvests later in the year. In Elizabethan times, English herbalists prescribed "Whortleberry" for stomach complaints and diarrhea. American herbalists later combined gin with whortleberries to make a diuretic. Bilberries are very soft, juicy and easily perishable, making them difficult to transport; thus, fresh Bilberries are usually available only in gourmet stores at very high prices (up to 25 euros per pound in Europe in 2009), and extracts are relatively expensive. They are delicious in liqueurs, preserves, deserts and juices, but their therapeutic use is invaluable in herbal therapy. Bilberry's anthocyanins, with their anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective and antioxidant properties, contribute to most of its pharmacological activities. Rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, tannins, bioflavonoids (astragalin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, quercetin, rutin), vanillin, geraniol, pectin, calcium, inositol, magnesium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, salicylic acid, selenium, silicon, sulfur, B-vitamins, vitamin C, glycosides, anthocyanosides, anthocyanins, anthocyanidin, beta-sitosterol, P-coumaric acids, protein, epicatechin, catechin, fruit acids and glucoquinone (and more), Bilberry has long been a well-known folk therapies for vision, and modern European medical journals are filled with studies confirming Bilberry's positive effect as a support for healthy vision. 

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) capsule, one (1) time each day with an early to midday mealtime.

Contraindications:
Currently, there are no warnings or contraindications with the use of Bilberry Herbal Supplement. However, coumarins in Bilberry may increase bloodthinning activity and inhibit platelet activity.

Capsule Information:
Our Bilberry Fruit (25% Anthocyanidins) supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.