Bilberry is the name that has been given to several different species of shrubs that grow low to the ground and bears fruit.  The most commonly known fruit that comes from the Bilberry plant is the European blueberry.  In 19th century Southern England these were called “black hearts” in Thomas Hardy’s novel, “The Return of the Native.”

The Bilberry is closely related to the North American blueberry and huckleberry both of which grow on bushes in colder areas of the world.  However, the Bilberry is different from the blueberry in that the Bilberry is reddish purple and it will stain your fingers if it is eaten raw.

Bilberry Herbs for the Heart

Angina is a type of heart disease that will cause you to feel moderate to severe chest pain.  Depending upon which type of angina a person has, this condition will develop either when they are at rest (unstable angina) or after physical exertion (stable angina).    Bilberry heart extract has been shown to improve this condition because this heart herb can open up the coronary arteries and thus improve the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.  This herb for the heart will also help to decrease cholesterol.  As such, this is one of the most powerful herbs for the heart.

Why Bilberry Works

The reason that this heart alternative works so well is that it is rich in anthocyanins.  Actually, any berries that have a deep red or purple color are rich in anthocyanins.  This is what gives them their color and the deeper this color is, the higher the amount of anthocyanins that berry has in it.

Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that have been shown to lower the risk of diseases to both the heart and the cardiovascular systems as well as lower the risk of eye disease and cancer too.  Scientists are still studying this antioxidant and its potential curative properties when it comes to humans.

Antioxidants in Bilberry

Bilberries contain a high amount of antioxidants.  This is why they are a good heart herbal supplement to take.  They will help protect you against getting heart disease and keep your cholesterol in check.

How to Use Bilberry

Bilberries can be eaten fresh off of the bush.  They can also be cooked in pies, preserved as jellies or their leaves can be dried to make tea.  Bilberry herbs extract contain the most anthocyanidins, which is why it is the strongest and most potent form of Bilberry.  In this form these Heart Herbs actually contain between 25% and 36% anthocyanidins but usually they are standardized to contain 25%.  It is recommended that adults take 480mg of this heart extract two or three times a day.

Those who like Bilberry tea can go ahead and drink it but they will also want to make sure to take a supplement with it in.  Taking a supplement that only contains Bilberry isn’t nearly as beneficial as multi-nutritional supplements that contain Bilberry.

Side Effects and Warnings

While people have been using heart disease herbs for quite some time now, it is still important to have the supervision of a knowledgeable practitioner guide you whenever you are using herbs for heart.  This is because heart health herbs can contain substances that will either trigger side effects or interact with other things that you may be taking for your health.  Even though there are no known side effects for Bilberry leaves, these precautions should still be taken.  It is also important to note that you should never take large quantities of Bilberry leaves over a long period of time because they may be toxic in such cases.

Bilberry is considered safe and there are no known side effects, it is just like any of the other Heart Supplements that you may take in that there is the potential for side effects and interactions.  However, you don’t want to take a large amount of Bilberry leaves for a long period of time since they may become toxic.  Otherwise there haven’t been any reports of Bilberries having negative interactions with any medications.  In fact, studies have even show that it is safe for pregnant and lactating women to eat Bilberries.  Of course, if you know that you are allergic to Bilberries or blueberries you will want to avoid eating them.