Bilberry Whole: Cert. Organic (Vaccinium myrtillus) 1 lb: C

This is Starwest\'s nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Also called Whortleberry, Huckleberry and European Blueberry. The blue-black berry is creamy white inside. Bilberries, a principal food of the grouse, are a staple of sweet European haute cuisine for sauces, glazes, mousses, syrups, chutneys, jams, jellies, cobblers, pies, cakes and tarts. Here\'s a couple of simple Bilberry recipes: Bilberry Tart ½ lb pastry 2.2 lb bilberries 2 spoons sugar Line a pie-dish with the pastry. Fill with fruit. Bake in the oven and dust with sugar when cooked Bilberry Jam Soak and soften dried fruit, drain, crush in pan with wooden spoon, add juice of 1 lemon to each 2 lbs bilberries and simmer until soft. Add warmed sugar, 1½ lbs to each 2 lbs fruit. Boil to setting point. Pot and cover. Medicinally, bilberry is used as an infusion, decoction, extract and tincture. The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Bilberry for \'Nonspecific, acute diarrhea. Local therapy of mild inflammation of the mucous membranes of mouth and throat.\' \'Dosage: Internal: Daily dosage 20 - 60 g. External: 10 percent decoction; equivalent preparations. Mode of Administration: Dried drug for infusions, as well as other galenical preparations for internal use and local application. Duration of Administration: If diarrhea persists for more than 3 - 4 days, consult a physician. Action: Astringent.\' The dried berries and leaves have been recommended for scurvy, urinary tract infections, kidney stones and diarrhea. Modern research on bilberry was kick-started by British World War II pilots, who noticed that their night vision improved when they ate bilberry jam prior to night bombing raids. The plant appears to assist the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye, in adjusting quickly to both dark and light. Research has shown that this is probably a result of the plant\'s anthocyanosides, which have antioxidant properties and appear to boost oxygen and blood delivery to the eye. In one study of 50 patients with age-related cataracts, it was found that taking bilberry extract along with vitamin E supplements stopped the progression of cataracts in nearly all of the participants. The study did not, however, isolate the effects of the vitamin from the bilberry. But bilberry has also shown promise in the treatment of other eye disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy and pigmentary retinitis, so bilberries and eyes seem to go together. Anthocyanosides also appear to strengthen collagen, the protein that provides support to healthy connective tissue. Anthocyanosides help larger blood vessels maintain good circulation throughout the body. A 1988, single-blind, placebo-controlled study of this herb included 60 patients with poor circulation (venous insufficiency). The results showed that bilberry extract decreased the participants\' discomfort when taken over