Bilberry, or Vaccinium myrtillus, has been used medicinally for hundreds of years, and has the potential to benefit your eyesight. Native to Europe and the United Kingdom, both the leaves and the fruit of the plant can be made into extracts or medicinal teas. Recently, studies have taken place in an attempt to investigate bilberry's effectiveness in improving or preventing eye conditions. Talk to your doctor before taking any herb or supplement.
History
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's website, Nccam.nih.gov, bilberry was historically used to treat diarrhea and scurvy. The ancient Greek physicians, states Botanical.com, would also recommend the herb for these conditions. The website also states that a decoction of the leaves or bark was also used to alleviate ulcers in the mouth and throat. According to Chiro.org, bilberry was given to fighter pilots during World War II to improve their night vision.
Anthocyanins
Recently, studies have found this herb to contain antioxidants, which may be helpful in preventing or combating illnesses and conditions. Bilberries contain anthocyanins, states an April 2010 study in "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," which are antioxidant flavanoids derived from red or purple fruits. According to Chiro.org, anthocyanins have some of the strongest physiological effects of any plant compounds. Antioxidants, like anthocyanins, help to combat inflammation, reversing the effects of free radicals and oxidation, which can damage cells and tissues.
Eye Health
The eyes are an incredibly complex organ replete with nerves and a vascular system, or network of blood vessels. Preventive-health-guide.com states that the eye is particularly sensitive to oxidative damage. Because its cells cannot regenerate, the lens is particularly susceptible to free radical damage. When its epithelial cells are exposed to free radicals, the proteins in the lens can clump together, forming cataracts. The site also states that the retina is easily damaged by free radicals, as it uses more oxygen than any other tissue in the body.
Bilberry and Ocular Inflammation
In the above mentioned study in the "Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry," bilberry extracts were evaluated in rats with ocular, or eye, inflammation. With inflammation, levels of nitric oxide, NO, increased; however, the researchers at Jinan University in China discovered that introducing bilberry extracts reduced the levels of NO. Bilberry also increased oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) levels, glutathione levels, vitamin C levels, and other antioxidant levels. Bilberry effectively reduced inflammation of the eye in this study. Although this study shows potential, talk to your doctor before using bilberry for eye disorders.
Bilberry and Retinal Health
The retina is easily damaged by free radicals. Bilberry extracts, with their anthocyanins, have the potential to protect your retina. A study published in "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research" in July 2009, studied the effects of bilberry on retinal ganglion cells, which are the nerve cells of the retina. Researchers at Gifu Pharmaceutical University in Gifu, Japan tested bilberry on cells in a laboratory as well as live mice models. They discovered that bilberry's anthocyanins inhibited toxicity of the nerve cells, decreased free radical activation and inhibited retinal damage. If you have any disorder of the retina, talk to your doctor before using bilberry extracts.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Bilberry
- Botanical.com: Bilberry
- Chiro.org: Anthocyanins
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Protective effects of bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract against endotoxin-induced uveitis in mice; Yao N et al; April 2010
- Preventive-health-guide.com: Eye Information
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