HerbilousOpen the interactive guideHERB PROFILE · EDUCATIONAL REFERENCE
Bilberry
Important safety information: Persistent or bloody diarrhoea, unexplained bleeding, sudden visual change or painful swollen limbs need medical care. Concentrated anthocyanin extracts may affect platelet function; review use with warfarin, anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines and before surgery. Medicinal-dose pregnancy and breastfeeding safety is not established.
Herbal actions
- Vasoprotective
- Antiedema
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Astringent dried fruit
Traditional and practitioner uses
These uses are presented for historical and educational context. They are not treatment claims.
- Practitioner use of standardised anthocyanin extracts for venous insufficiency and capillary fragility
- Traditional short-term relief of mild diarrhoea using dried fruit
- Traditional mouth or throat rinse for minor inflammation
- Older studies investigated retinopathy, Raynaud's syndrome, dysmenorrhoea and postoperative bruising; benefit remains uncertain
- Food use; night-vision claims remain unproven
Main constituents
Anthocyanins (anthocyanosides), condensed tannins, flavonols, phenolic acids and fruit sugars
Preparation overview
Tea: Decoction. This traditional preparation uses dried ripe bilberry fruit, not the leaf or ordinary blueberry. Standardised extracts and liquid extracts are not dose-equivalent.
Liquid extract reference: 1:1 liquid extract: 3–6 mL/day (20–40 mL/week)
Preparation strengths are not interchangeable. Open the interactive guide for the complete evidence notes and sources available for this herb.
Herbilous provides educational information only. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace professional medical advice. Seek urgent care for severe or worsening symptoms.