A shrubby perennial plant. The angular, green, branched stem grows from a creeping rootstock to a height of 1 to 1.5 feet. The leaves are alternate, obovate to ovate, weakly serrate, dark green and shiny on top and 0.5 to 1 inch long. The reddish pink or red and white, solitary, auxiliary flowers have a pitcher shaped corolla and appear in May and June. The fruit is usually blue-black; it may be red in some cases. The berry is 5-seeded.

Laxative, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic and hemostatic; astringent, tonic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic (leaves)

Bilberry and Herbal Medicine
Plants for a Future
Herb Information

Arbutin, astragalin, hyperoside, tannin, ursolic acid (fruit, leaf); ascorbic acid, cyanidin, delphinidin, ferulic acid, inositol, lutein, malvidin, niacin, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, riboflavin, syringic acid, thiamin, vanillic acid (fruit); asperuloside, benzoic acid, beta-amyrin, beta-carotene, caffeic acid, caryophyllene, catechin, chlorogenic acid, citric acid, cyanidin-3-o-galactoside, cyanidin-3-o-glucoside, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, gallic acid, hydroquinone, isoquercitrin, malic acid, oleanolic acid, oxalic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, succinic acid (leaf).

For indigestion, dysentery and diarrhea (especially for juveniles) (fruit); in infections of the urinary tract, to treat gastrointestinal ailments (leaf); in periodontal disease (leaf and fruit); to improve night vision; in the treatment of ulcers and in ulceration of the mouth and throat (decoction of leaves and bark)

Bertuglia S. Malandrino S. Colantuoni A. Effect of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on ischaemia reperfusion injury in hamster cheek pouch microcirculation. Pharmacol Res1995 Mar-Apr;31(3-4):183-7.