Anyone tried Billberry to improve night vision?

[OneOfOne (Trevor)]

I was reading an article in, I think it was AS&T, about night vision and they mentioned that during WWII pilots would put Billberry jam on their toast each morning etc. to improve their night vision. They also mentioned that there is some evidence that it may improve your night vision. As a result, I have been taking one pill each morning for a couple of weeks. So far I haven't noticed any change, but the sky has been so dirty lately it is a bit hard to tell.

Did anyone else read the article or tried Billberry? If I haven't noticed any difference by the end of the bottle (100 capsules) I think I will save my money. There is a bit of stuff on the net, but when they start to say it will get rid of varicose veins, gout, kidney stones etc, it puts me off a little.

But hey, even if you pick up a third of a magnitude, it is easier than trying add a couple of inches to your instrument!

[ving (David)]

never heard of the stuff....

I remmeber a story..... i think it was one of the carpenters who ate nothing but carrots (not for night vision) and it turned her skin orange

wonder if billberries do something similar?

[beren]

I remember reading a story about billberry as well and meaning to pick some up I always cut up some carrots for a snack until recently my wife concerned about it pointed out that you can get beta-carotene poisoning

[Stu]

I read the articule too but haven't tried it. Wonder if pepsi and chocolate do the same thing. Probably not.

Please keep us up to date and post a billberry review!

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

I bit the bullet and bought some, you know, you cant tell if its working or not but I could pick out 6 stars of M45 alot easier, not sure if its the tablets or conditions. Mind you @ $30 for 60 capsules it had better work.

[BerzerkerNerd]

For $10 you can buy a six pack of beer, then everything starts to look better . Alcohol and astronomy isnt always a good idea though. Havent tried bilberry yet but have always been into munching carrots and raw vege's-works for me and has kept spec's away so far even though i read heaps.

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

I read that and have considered giving it a go !

Originally Posted by BerzerkerNerd

Alcohol and astronomy isnt always a good idea though.

What do you mean, astronomy and alcohol go hand in hand. How else do you think that the greeks could look at a random assortment of stars and say: "Hey, that looks like a goat!". Wine was very popular back then

[Howzat (Phil)]

Originally Posted by Xarxro

What do you mean, astronomy and alcohol go hand in hand. How else do you think that the greeks could look at a random assortment of stars and say: "Hey, that looks like a goat!". Wine was very popular back then

lol best post I've seen in ages

[Dennis]

I experimented with Bilberry capsules a couple of years ago, but did not take them consistently and I did not notice any dramatic improvements. I understand that generally, in a healthy person, herbal remedies tend to support and maintain health rather than provide dramatic effects?

Here are the results of some Google searches I did, the last one includes a medical warning about blood clotting:

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From http://www.kcweb.com/herb/bilberry.htm
“Bilberry has long been a remedy for poor vision and "night blindness." Clinical tests confirm that given orally it improves visual accuracy in healthy people, and can help those with eye diseases such as pigmentosa, retinitis, glaucoma, and myopia. During World War II, British Royal Air Force pilots ate Bilberry preserves before night missions as an aid to night vision. Bilberry works by improving the microcirculation and regeneration of retinal purple, a substance required for good eyesight”.

From http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Bilberrych.html
Visual disturbances
Anthocyanidins found in bilberry fruits may also be useful for people with vision problems. During World War II, British fighter pilots reported that bilberries improved their nighttime vision and helped them quickly adjust to darkness. A recent study, however, comparing a bilberry extract of anthocyanidins to placebo in young men with normal vision did not confirm any improvement in night vision from this supplement. The study only included 12 men. Therefore, more research is needed to know whether the long standing stories of improvement in night vision from bilberry for some individuals is scientifically true or not.

Today, it is believed that anthocyanidins may help protect the retina, the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye and sends nerve impulses to the visual areas of the brain. Studies conducted in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s suggest that the anthocyanidins contained in bilberry fruit preparations improve symptoms of a variety of visual disturbances including nearsightedness, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

From http://www.drugs.com/MTM/bilberry.html
Do not take bilberry without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder; if you are taking a medicine to prevent blood clots; or if you are taking other medications, herbs, antioxidants, or health supplements (these may also affect blood clotting). Bilberry may affect the time it takes for the blood to clot.
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Cheers

Dennis

[Argonavis (William)]

Many years ago I did buy and try some bilberry. I am not sure that it made much difference, it is very hard to tell. These days, most people have good nutrition (in many cases over nutrition) so mild deficiency diseases that may have affected vision are no longer around. The WWII pilots in the UK who benefited from this stuff probably never eat much in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables.

I think you are better off following the other advise in the article and keeping the dark shades on and avoiding bright light for several days before an observing session. Probably the best thing you can do for your night vision is to live in a cave and only come out at night.

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Grunt ..... I'm all for the cave idea
So long as the cave is high on a dark & dry mountain & comes with a cavewoman

[Argonavis (William)]

also from google......

Phytochemicals in Fruit – Anthocyanidins

With over two thousand known plant pigments presently identified, the chemicals that give foods their colors may also translate into vibrant health. Notable among these phytochemical pigments are the bioflavonoids known as anthocyanidins. These are the purple-blue pigments that give fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, black currants, and red and purple grapes their unique coloration, and which protect them from the damaging effects of oxidation. Anthocyanidins' antioxidant properties are now being investigated by health care researchers who are determining that these phytonutrients not only support the health of plants, but can support the health of humans as well.

As researchers confirm that metabolites of oxidation, known as free radicals, are at the root of the progression of both chronic diseases (such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer) and other signs of aging, such as the loss of skin elasticity and cognitive function, antioxidants are gaining an ever more important place in health promotion. Among the antioxidants, anthocyanidins have been found to have some unique features. They are able to protect cells and tissues from free radical damage in both water-soluble and fat-soluble environments. And, their free radical scavenging capabilities are thought to be more potent than many of the currently well-known vitamin antioxidants; anthocyanidins are estimated to have fifty times the antioxidant activity of both vitamin C and vitamin E.

Much of the research on anthocyanidins has focused on their ability to protect collagen, such as the collagen that makes up our joints or provides the structure to our capillaries, from the destructive effects of free radical damage. This protection of capillary integrity manifests in the ability of anthocyanidins to reduce the fragility and permeability of these small blood vessels. Anthocyanidins are therefore thought to be able to reduce edema (swelling) as well as vascular conditions such as varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Their ability to inhibit the degradation of collagen found in blood vessels and cartilage has led researchers to propose that anthocyanidins may play a role in the prevention of atherosclerosis and arthritis.


Considering the anti-oxidant properties of these foods, it would be prudent to include them in your diet in preference to expensive herbal extracts. I think a decent diet is all you need to get the best from your eyesight, even if the grapes are fermented.

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

I'll drink to that
Ohh & have some fruit for breaky this morning too

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by Xarxro

What do you mean, astronomy and alcohol go hand in hand. How else do you think that the greeks could look at a random assortment of stars and say: "Hey, that looks like a goat!". Wine was very popular back then

Can I nominate this for the "Best Post of 2006" award?

[BerzerkerNerd]

Next to the venerable fermented grapes, green tee is my hot drink of choice- trying to avoid coffee these days. the tea contains various antioxidents. Im not queer either.

[fringe_dweller]

Yes the Romans also believed you could tell the future from the entrails of goats, threw christians to the lions, had wild toga parties - are you suggesting we go back to those days? hmmm Bacchanalian astronomy, have you ever seen someone become entangled in their eq/newt mount from drunkedness - I have - not a pretty sight! drunken astronomy is just dumb and defeastist ... beer goggles on andromeda! hehe

[fringe_dweller]

one of my favourite quotes of all time
"On those nights on the farm I really learned how to use a telescope and find objects in the sky, now you don't do that by sitting in a bar and drinking beer".-Clyde Tombaugh (Discoverer of Pluto)

[Argonavis (William)]

In another State of the Commonwealth far far away, where I would occasionally attend a star party or 2, it seemed that quite a few of the attendees would turn up inebriated or become so during the night. Like the old bear joke, they obviously didn't come for the star gazing. Haven't noticed much of this in my current locale.