Bilberry (airelle, black whortles, burren myrtle, dyeberry, huckleberry, hurtleberry, myrtilli fructus, trackleberry, vaccinium myrtillus, whortleberry, wineberry)
Classes: Ear, Eye, Nose & Throat, Herbals
Suggested dosing of airelle, black whortles (bilberry)
Dried Ripe Berries
20-60 g/d PO
Extract
160 mg PO BID; contains 25% anthocyanosides
Tea
1 cup PO; 1 g dried leaf/150 ml water
Topical
Apply 10% decoction topically PRN; dried berries boiled in water for decoction
Suggested uses of airelle, black whortles (bilberry)
Angina, atherosclerosis, circulatory problems, degenerative retinal conditions, diarrhea, mouth/throat inflammation (topical), retinopathy, varicose veins
Efficacy
Clinical studies show bilberry effective for diarrhea & retinopathy
airelle, black whortles (bilberry) adverse (side) effects
Frequency not defined
Cachexia
Anemia
Icterus
Excitation at high doses (animal studies)
Warnings
Contraindications
None reported
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: N/A
Lactation: N/A
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of airelle, black whortles (bilberry)
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
Anthocyanosides are powerful antioxidants, with particular affinity for retina
