Is a bilberry a blueberry?

Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) are small, blue berries native to Northern Europe. They’re often referred to as European blueberries, as they’re very similar in appearance to North American blueberries ( 1 ).

Is bilberry a hybrid?

Research highlights. ► Hybrid bilberry is a natural hybrid between two commercially important wild berries.

Where does bilberry come from?

The bilberry plant (Figure 4.1) is a low-growing shrub native to northern Europe, but is now also found in parts of North America and Asia. Bilberry is also known as European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry, and blaeberry.

Can you eat wild bilberries?

Bilberries are edible straight from the bush (assuming you’ve made a good and positive identification) and can be safely eaten raw in most cases. Some care is needed when picking them as they have a tendency to pop easily.

Is blaeberry the same as blueberry?

Closely related to the Cowberry, the blaeberry is also known as bilberry – if you’re English, or whortleberry – if you read Roald Dahl stories! It’s the European version of the American Blueberry from which it differs as a species (and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise), but is still part of the same genus.

Are bilberries poisonous?

When taken by mouth: The dried, ripe fruit of bilberry is LIKELY SAFE for most people when eaten in typical food amounts. Bilberry fruit extracts are POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for medicinal uses for up to one year.

Can you eat bog bilberry?

When taken by mouth: The fresh fruit of bog bilberry is POSSIBLY SAFE when eaten as food. However, fresh bog bilberry fruit might be UNSAFE if people eat large amounts of fruit that is contaminated with fungus. The fungus that sometimes grows on bog bilberry fruit can be poisonous in large amounts.

Does bilberry interact with kidney disease?

Bilberry has also been used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome, hemorrhoids, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gout, skin infections, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disease and urinary tract infections.

Does bilberry interact with cancer?

Bilberry extracts can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the lab. Initial studies in humans also show that bilberry may have anti-cancer effects, relieve certain types of inflammation, or improve the biological profiles of those at higher risk for heart disease or diabetes.

Does bilberry interact with allergy?

Bilberries naturally contain substances known as tannins (found in many foods such as coffee, tea, red wine, blueberries, cranberries, chocolate, and some nuts and beans). If you have an allergy or sensitivity to foods containing tannin, you should avoid bilberry.

Does bilberry interact with rosacea?

Bilberry is excellent for facial and ocular rosacea due to the high anthocyanidin content that repairs weak rosacea blood vessels. Bilberry also has the unique ability to reduce inflammation deep inside the blood vessel wall through interaction with anti-inflammatory muccopolysaccharides.