It grows in sandy areas and woods in the northern United States and in Europe, especially northern and central Europe. Bilberry is a shrub that grows to about 16 inches high.
It has oval, pointed leaves and small pink and white flowers. It is smaller and blue throughout the pulp, a visible sign that it is even richer in anthocyanins, pigments that are high in health promoting antioxidants.
In the late summer, its dark purple berries are ripe to pick.
It has a long history of being used as a treatment for diabetes. Bilberry extract may play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma via its effect on collagen structures in the eye.
Bilberry extracts also can help protect the stomach against ulcers, it stimulates production of stomach mucus, which protects against digestive acids.
Researchers have long known that the pharmacologically active constituents in bilberries are flavonoids known as anthocyanosides.
During World War II, British fighter pilots reported improved nighttime vision after eating bilberry jam.
Fruit of bilberry
