Vaccinium myrtillus Also known as black whortleberry,
blueberry, burren myrtle, dyeberry, huckleberry, hurtleberry, whinberry,
whortleberry and wineberry. Bilberry is a perennial shrub which grows in
northern USA, and in woods and forest meadows of Europe. The plant has a
green, branched stem which grows from creeping roots, and can reach heights
of between 1 to 1 1/2 feet. The leaves are slightly serrated, and are a
dark, shiny green on top. In May and June, pink or red and white flowers
bloom. These have a pitcher-shaped corolla. The fruit of this plant is
blue-black in colour (or sometimes red), and is a 5-seeded berry. Although
the bilberry is commonly called a huckleberry, it is more closely related to
the cranberry. The leaves and berries of the bilberry plant are
antiseptic and astringent. It is often used to treat diarrhea, with
interesting results. The leaves may be safely used as a remedy, but the
berries need to be experimented with, as they cause diarrhea in some
individuals, and stop it in others!! The dried berries have a strong
astringent property, and can be taken alone, or with apple powder. The
berries actually pass through the stomach without affecting it, and begin to
work when they reach the small intestine. Typhoid fever is sometimes treated
with a decoction of the berries, and the fresh juice makes a good mouthwash
or gargle for respiratory catarrhal problems. Inflamed gums and leucoplasia
can be remedied by keeping a mouthful of bilberry juice in the mouth for a
few minutes. Consumption of fresh berries has been known to regulate bowel
action, stimulate appetite, end intestinal putrefaction, and expel ascarids.
A tea made from the leaves is useful for coughs, vomiting, stomach cramps
and catarrhal enteritis, and when used as a wash, can help skin problems and
burns. If used over long periods of time, the leaves can produce symptoms of
poisoning.
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