Herb library · Herb · Vaccinium myrtillus
Bilberry
A European relative of the blueberry, sold for eyesight and circulation. It has not been clearly shown to help any health condition, and the best studies of night vision found no benefit in healthy people.
Traditional use
The berries and leaves were used for vision, high blood sugar and heart and circulation problems. A well-known story says British pilots in World War II ate bilberry jam for better night vision, which may have been superstition or a deliberate cover for improvements in radar; either way, it prompted research. Today it is sold for eye conditions and circulation.
What studies show
- Limited
Night vision: studies have had conflicting results and much of the research was of poor quality; the most rigorous studies found no improvement in night vision in healthy people.
- Insufficient
Eye conditions, circulation and other uses: bilberry has not been clearly shown to help any health condition. Many studies lacked rigorous methods or enough participants to reach conclusions.
Be careful of
Cautions
- NoteThe fruit is considered safe in food amounts. Fruit extracts have been used safely in research at up to 160 mg a day for up to 6 months.
- AmountBilberry leaves may be unsafe in high doses or when used for long periods.
- PregnancyLittle is known about amounts greater than food amounts during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
From the old books
What herbals and dispensaries of the past printed. History, in their words.
“the juice of them gives a purplish colour in their hands and lips that eat and handle them, especially if they break them.”
“They are under the dominion of Jupiter. It is a pity they are used no more in physic than they are.”
Sources
- Bilberry: Usefulness and Safety (opens in a new tab) · NCCIH · read September 25, 2026
Reviewed September 25, 2026.