My earliest memories of bilberries are as a child are of eating them with ice cream and watching the darkly purple syrup swirl and fleck the vanilla ice cream to form a beyond beautiful pudding, whose luscious flavour matched its looks.
This particular shade still lives with me and I can see it in the purple pink of some weather-heavy clouds. I still refer to this (much to my partner's bewilderment) as a bilberry sky - he is from the South of England and is unfamiliar with the bilberry, only knowing the more commercial, bigger and non-native (and I think less marvellously tasting) North American blueberry, so the allusion is somewhat lost on him.
Bilberry pie is also a dessert worth pursuing, although if you are picking your own, you may need to set aside many hours to gather enough of the rather small fruit, which nestle beneath the leaves of this small tough shrub, to fill a pastry case. Persevere! Liberally sprinkle the bilberries with sugar the result is a king amongst pies.
When I began to study herbal medicine, I was surprised to find bilberry tincture on the dispensary shelves, a surreptitious sip of the tincture confirmed that the taste still lived on in its medicinal form - a delicious taste is not something herbal medicines are famous for - the opposite is the case, so this one makes a change.
Often used in herbal medicines to support the circulatory system, for example those aimed at helping with high blood pressure - it can decrease the stickiness of blood. It is also protective to walls of the blood vessels themselves, so can be used for varicose veins (it can decrease vascular permeability) and may benefit haemorrhoids. Another use is to help strengthen the delicate blood vessels of elderly people, which often rupture on the slightest knock.
The beautiful colour of the berries comes from chemicals called anthrocyanosides, and like all purple-black fruit they are rich in anti-oxidants. Bilberries have been shown to have some liver protective action and are thought to enhance cognition and memory. It is a good urinary anti-septic and may be used for kidney stones. It can quell diarrhea and is useful for any conditions where there is inflammation of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Again in common with other darkly coloured fruits, its constituents are thought to slow macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Like carrots, the bilberry is thought to help night vision and there was a rumour that British pilots in WWII ate bilberry jam to help them fly at night, although this may have been a propaganda story to obscure the truth about radar from the enemy.
Bilberries will soon be coming into ripeness, go out on a walk and try to find some, if not for their medicinal virtues, then for the simply unique flavour that this little berry packs - a truly fine thing to come from the north country!
This information is meant for educational purposes only and not intended as a guide to self-treatment. You should always seek professional advice. Remember that herbs can interact with other drugs and may be contra-indicated if you have certain medical conditions, are pregnant or lactating. Don't take too much of anything for too long and discontinue immediately if you have any ill effects. Take care when using wild plants or any herbs, that you have the correct species from a reliable source.
References
Kuhn M, Winston D. Herbal Therapy and Supplements: A Scientific and Traditional Approach. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 2001
Catherine Schofield BSc MNIMH Herbalist Cheshire Herbs and Herbal Medicine