Bilberry Effective for Treating Diarrhea
Bilberry is nature’s well kept secret cure to help treat diarrhea. In certain countries including Europe, it has been widely used for treatment of various illnesses from thousands of years ago. Also called the Vaccinum myrtillu, this shrub is used to treat an array of ailments including diabetes, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal ailments such as diarrhea.
Bilberry belongs to the same family as the blueberry, huckleberry and cranberry family. It is found in several countries in Europe as well as North America. The shrub is just about sixteen inches tall, but has quite a lot to offer in terms of treating ailments. The plant has small, oval shaped green leaves and pink flowers. The shrub bears the berries which ripen towards the end of the summer season. The leaves and the Bilberry are used for medicinal purposes.
Main components of Bilberry
Bilberry has certain key components due to which it is valued as an ideal medicine in the diarrhea treatment. Earlier, it was believed that the dried Bilberry contained up to 10% of tannins. However, a scientific study has revealed that it contains a mere 1.5% of tannins. The Bilberry fruits, however, have nearly 10 -20% of tannins. Nevertheless, it is an essential ingredient in the treatment of mild diarrhea. Also, the tannins have an astringent effect; hence they could help in stopping bleeding as well.
Apart from this, Bilberry is also known to contain anthocyanidin, which has many benefits for the human body including helping minimize the occurrence of blood clots. It is thought that the Bilberry also has the ability to protect the stomach from ulcers.
How to use the medicinal herb
It is best to use the dried leaves for the treatment of diarrhea as the fresh leaves do not serve the purpose. In fact, the use of fresh Bilberry might aggravate the symptoms of diarrhea. The berries should be boiled in water for 10 minutes before being consumed.
A tea made of the dried leaves is also an option, as it soothes inflammation.
Bilberry extracts are invaluable when it comes to reducing the intestinal inflammation. The presence of anthocyanieds contributes to this.
Precautions
As always, there are certain factors you have to be aware of.
Bilberry can be used for treatment of mild diarrhea only. If the condition persists for nearly three days, it is important to consult the doctor at the earliest. Diarrhea is a symptom that could be indicative of other problems.
A long term use of this medicinal shrub may lead to digestive problems owing to the high tannin content. Hence it should be used sparingly. Distilled water should be used for the preparation of teas or extracts.
When taken in combination with certain other medicines, the Bilberry might aggravate the diarrhea.
If you are diabetic and are using certain other medicines already, it is best to consult the doctor before taking Bilberry. There are possibilities that the medicines taken could affect the intake of Bilberry or vice versa.
