Evidence supporting the use of: Bilberry
For the health condition: Cholera

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) has a long history of use in European traditional medicine, particularly for gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea and mild inflammation. The use of bilberry for treating or supporting cholera specifically is rooted in its astringent properties, attributed to its high tannin content. In historical texts and herbal medicine guides from the 18th and 19th centuries, dried bilberries or their extracts were sometimes recommended as an adjunct treatment for symptoms of cholera, primarily to reduce diarrhea and fluid loss. This was based more on empirical observation than on an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the disease.

However, scientific validation for bilberry’s efficacy against Vibrio cholerae infection or the cholera toxin is lacking. Modern research has confirmed bilberry’s astringent and anti-inflammatory effects and its usefulness in mild, non-infectious diarrhea, but there are no robust clinical trials or laboratory studies demonstrating direct benefit in cholera cases. At best, bilberry may offer mild symptomatic relief from diarrhea, but it should not be considered a treatment for cholera, which requires urgent rehydration and antibiotics. Thus, its use for cholera is justified primarily by tradition, with only minimal supporting evidence for general antidiarrheal properties.

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