Bilberry has been used for centuries as a food and a medicinal herb. Bilberry contains substances called anthocyanosides and vitamin C, antioxidants that may help to prevent or reverse injury to cells and manage various illnesses, such as diabetes. However, scientific studies to date have not proved the effectiveness of bilberry for managing diabetes. If you have diabetes, consult your physician before using bilberry medicinally.
Treatment
Diabetes is characterized by the body's inability to handle glucose, which is a source of energy for your cells. Diabetes causes a variety of complications and increases the risk of various conditions, such as heart disease, eye disorders, infection, kidney problems and stroke. Various treatment approaches are used to manage diabetes including medications, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, holistic options such as acupuncture and herbal supplements such as bilberry.
How It Works
The ripe berries are most often used medicinally. The anthocyanosides in bilberry are powerful antioxidants that may act to support normal formation of connective tissue, which is the substance in your body that acts like a glue to support many of the body's parts, giving tissues their shape and helping keep them strong. Cartilage and tendons are examples of connective tissue. Anthocyanosides may also enhance blood flow in veins and in capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that pass blood from arterioles to venules.
Dosing
Bilberry is usually eaten as the fruit or taken in pill or tincture form. Usual doses of the fruit are 20 to 60 g daily. Pills contain bilberry extract that is standardized to 25 percent of anthocyanosides, providing the highest amount of anthocyanosides. Bilberry capsules or tablets are usually taken in doses of 240 to 600 mg daily. Bilberry tincture is typically taken in doses of 1 to 2 mL two times a day.
Effectiveness
Bilberry has been shown to possibly decrease the risk of some diabetic complications, such as diabetic cataracts and retinopathy. One small study showed that, although bilberry improved signs of retinal damage, such as decreased bleeding in the eye, and strengthened blood vessels, it did not improve vision. Another preliminary study showed similar improvement in signs of retinal damage but also showed some enhancement in vision. More research is needed before bilberry can be recommended for diabetes.
