Better vision in sight: blueberry

The blueberry’s (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) effect on night vision, which is improved if the fruit is consumed on a regular basis, is simply astonishing. As early as the Middle Ages, the scholar Hildegard of Bingen, described the effect of the blueberry in her texts. She recommended taking dried berries for bloody diarrhoea and fresh berries for poor vision. British military pilots realised the spectacular effect of the blueberry on vision during the Second World War: their night vision was markedly better after they ate blueberry jam. Scientists were able to identify the active ingredients which are today used as medication for poor vision.

The elasticity of the ocular muscles is stabilised by the antioxidant anthocyanidins, because they protect the blood vessel walls against free radicals. Vision is therefore improved at dusk and during the night. Conventional medicine uses blueberry extracts to treat retinal diseases. The standardised preparation, Myrtaven, is only available on prescription, because retinal diseases require a medical diagnosis.

Furthermore, the blueberry with its tannins seals inflamed mucous membranes in the digestive tract, reduces inflammation and inhibits diarrhoea.

The blueberry is a dwarf shrub which grows up to 80 centimetres tall. Its green twigs grow very densely and upright. The plant prefers barren soil in partial shade and can survive at altitudes of up to 2,350 metres. The green leaves are two to three centimetres long and glandularly-serrated to fine-toothed. The nodding flowers grow individually from the leaf axil: green protruding from the pedicel and getting redder and redder towards the corolla. In spite of its lignified twigs, the blueberry is only deciduous. Its leaves turn dark red in autumn. It can be up to 30 years old, reproduces via runners and can cover areas spanning several thousand square kilometres.