Description
Ericaceous,
deciduous shrub, 20-60 cm,
densely branched. Under the ground it develops a wide net of superficial roots
and repent offshoots. Oval to
lanceolate caduceus and alternate leaves of 3-8 cm in length, whole,
peninnerved, with acute apex and toothed edge, of membranous consistency,
glabrous and shiny green color in the upper side of the leaf and slightly
dotted with hairs in the underside of the leaf; pubescent in the vein of the
same. During
autumn, leaves turn into orange to scarlet color. Flowers are isolated in the
axil of the leaf, although they might be also found in small groups forming
axillary bunches. Berry-like, globular blue fruits, 6-8 mm diameter, sweet-and-sour flavor,
flattened at the top, where the rests of the style and the calyx are found,
forming a small rounded crown. In the uppermost part it has a small crown that differentiates it from
the blackcurrant. It belongs to the Ericaceae family.
Blueberry
is native of Eurasia, North America, and Japan. It is especially abundant in
mountain mixed forests, in cold climates between 500-2 000 meters and
in all arid siliceous soils without lime of the North hemisphere. It is found
in most of Europe (Alps, Central Apennine, Pyrenees), Asia, Central America,
US, and Canada with Atlantic climate, in coniferous forest, and heathlands. It blooms from April to June and its fruits mature
from July and onwards. Leaves should be harvested when the plant has its peak
of development, generally during June. Berries are best harvested in August or
September, or even during the first days of July only if the plant is mature
enough, when berries show a blue, almost black color. From an ecological point
of view, blueberry is important not only due to its fruits, but also because it
protects the forest soils from erosion at the time that contributes to the
formation of hummus.
During
the Second World War some British Air Force pilots with the mission of flying
during night operations noticed that their vision improved after eating a jelly
made of blueberry. Later, this and other effects of blueberries on vision have
been proven. An effect that recently has received attention is that blueberries
prevent the loss of vision caused by the retinal degeneration that usually
appears in elderly individuals. Other studies show the positive effects of the
combination of blueberries and vitamin C to prevent and restrain the
progression of cataracts.
Part used
Ripe fruits (fresh and dried) and leaves.
Indications
Fresh fruits
> Vision
disorders from a blood circulation origin: retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathies
of hypertensive or diabetic origin, myopia, nyctalopia (reduction of the visual acuity in relatively
low light) and glaucoma.
> They are
used to improve night vision, adaptation to darkness and normalization of vision
upon exposure to intense light.
> Venous
insufficiency: prevaricose syndrome (improving signs and symptoms such as
edemas, heaviness and pain in the legs, etc.), varicose veins, hemorrhoids,
phlebitis, thrombophlebitis.
> Capillary fragility.
> Diabetic, senile, and
arteriosclerotic microangiopathies.
> Coronary artery disease
prevention.
> Urinary infections.
> Dysmenorrhea.
> Adjuvant in treatments with
anticoagulants.
Dried
fruits
> Unspecific severe diarrhea.
> Spasmodic
colitis.
> Mild
inflammation of the buccopharyngeal mucosa (stomatitis).
> Eczemas.
Leaves
> Diarrhea.
> Type II
diabetes.
> Urinary
infections: cystitis, urethritis and hyperuricemia
> Chronic
gout (chronic gouty arthritis).
> Lower
action that fruits in the case of venous insufficiency (varicose veins,
hemorrhoids).
> Stomatitis.
> Eczemas, dermatitis, wounds and trophic ulcers.
