Vaccinium myrtillus L.

Bilberry, Blueberry

English name: Bilberry, Blueberry

Family: Ericaceae 

Botanical characteristic: Branched shrub 30 – 50 cm high. The leaves are small, egg-shaped, alternately arranged, with a serrated edge. Globular flowers are five-numbered, green-pink in color, growing from the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a bluish-purple round berry, with a small indented target in the middle and with a large number of seeds in the flesh.

Microscopic drawing:

On the surface of the cross-section of the bilberry you can observe the epidermis (a), which is very sparsely covered with short trichomes (b). Beneath the epidermis, there is a layer of palisade parenchyma (c), followed by spongy parenchyma (d). In the center of the preparation, collateral vascular bundles are situated (e). Vascular bundles are reinforced with sclerenchyma (f). Some parenchyma cells contain crystals of calcium oxalate (g).
Cross section of a leaf (magnified 100x)

Distribution: It occurs on acidic soils, in deciduous and coniferous forests and on bogs.

Drug: Myrtilli folium, Myrtilli fructus

Harvesting method: The leaves are collected at the time of flowering, in dry weather. The method of collection is by pulling off flowerless branches. Sheets must be free of dirt. The fruits are collected during July and August, by hand or with the help of combs. They must be free of dirt.

Drying: We dry the leaves in a thin layer in the shade, in a ventilated room. They are artificially dried at a temperature of up to 40 °C. Ripe fruits are dried in the shade naturally or in an oven at a temperature of up to 50 °C.

Active substances: Plody obsahujú katechínové triesloviny, antokyány, flavonoidy, organické kyseliny, pektín, cukor a vitamíny. Listová droga sa vyznačuje vysokým množstvom trieslovín, iridoidov, organických kyselín a fenolového glykozidu arbutínu. 

Uses: The fruits are therapeutically used as a remedy against diarrhea. They reduce the fragility of capillaries, help regenerate the retina of the eye, and improve vision in darkness and dim light. The leaves have astringent properties, mild uroseptic effects, and can help lower blood sugar levels.

Traditional method of use in indications determined solely on the basis of long-term use:

– relief from heavy and swollen legs, related to venous insufficiency,

– symptomatic treatment of fragility of blood capillaries.

Selected herbal preparations: JUVAMED BLUEBERRY – FRUIT herbal loose tea 1×20 g, LEROS BLUEBERRY herbal tea, infusion bags 20×1.5 g, FYTO Herbal tea EUDIABEN WITH CINNAMON 20×1.5 g, J.V. DROPS – VISION for eyesight 50 ml, Herbs Planet VASCULAR NUTRITION capsules 60 pcs, Noventis Bilberry capsules 30 pcs, JAMIESON BLUEBERRY 2000 mg capsules 60 pcs, NaturProdukt Blueberry Syrup 250 ml.