mmm, mmm - Bilberry

Vaccinium spp.

Both the leaves and the fruit can be used medicinally...however, we stock just the dried fruit, which is the most commonly and studied part of the plant.  so, took about 2 tablespoons of the dried fruit and brewed it in about a cup or so of water.  by brew, i mean I made a decoction.  and by decoction, i mean bringing the water and herb to a boil in water and then lowering to a simmer for about 20 minutes or so.   the water turned a nice deep purple and i added just a tiny bit of honey to it.  i thought about some apple cider vinegar, just cause i am into that kinda thing...maybe next time.  this time, i wanted to taste more of the bilberry.  and it was delicious!  it didn't even need the honey, it was sweet and flavorful.  it would be a great tea for kids, or to add to another tea for flavor.  or jsut by itself everyday as a tonic.

if you did it everyday as a tonic, some of its uses might be helpful to know.  to see if you are someone that could use a bilberry tonic.  it is great to the vascular system.  things like Raynaud's syndrome (cold hands and feet), venous disorders during pregnancy, varicose veins (venous insufficiency), hemorrhoids.  According to Mills and Bone, it decreases vascular permeability, and so therefore increases capillary integrity.  it is also used in my vision supplements.  it is astringent and can be sued for diarrhea, and is great for inflammaotry bowel conditions.   so, there i would be thinking a yummy tea for my kids if they were having diarrhea or some digestive thing with loose stools.  and like other dark berries, it is antioxidant as well.

what a pleasant tea for this sunny seattle day.  would be great on ice as well!  or made into a syrup.  or used in some yummy cocktail.  and you know there's delicious bilberry jam out there as well.

drink up!

i bet i'll be having more bilberry tea from now on...and wouldn't you know, i could use it after all my pregnancies i got a little venous insufficiency myself!

Melissa