Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 I have been treating my father for macular degeneration for the past 4 years. In that time his condition has stabilised and his consultants are quite pleased. I give him one capsule a day of bilberry extract which I get from Herbal Apothecary, although I don't know if they still do it and one a day of a high potency Ginkgo capsule. Lamberts do a good Ginkgo and also a supplement called Colladeen which contains bilberry. I also recommend eating lots of yellow vegetables such as sweetcorn, yellow peppers and yellow courgettes because the pigments are antioxidant and have an affinity for the eye. If the person is a close relative it might be advisable to take supplements yourself or watch your diet as recent evidence suggest some forms of macular degeneration might be hereditary. good luck, Pat Vaccinium myrtillus > Hi everyone, > > Have any of you had experience of using Bilberry for cases of retinal damage? I would appreciate some info as to dosage etc, as a family member has been diagnosed with a macular hole. I'd like to treat her to maintain the current status quo and do all that I can to prevent the same happening in the other eye. Sight in the affected eye is understandably diminshed but the good eye is compensating well, so overall, sight is good. I heard that Bilberry has a reputation for increasing retinal blood flow as well as for damage to the area. > > I have found a few references on the web to the effectiveness of Bilberry in diabetes too, it's been found to reduce plasma levels of glucose. I'd be very interested to hear more about it as I've been asked by a pro-herbal treatment eye consultant about anything in our materia medica which can be used for eyes. I'd appreciate any www.'s for reliable herbal monographs too. > > All the best, > Sue Cobbold MNIMH > Bury St Edmunds > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Hi Sue, Lutein (the carotenoid found in kale, spinach and egg yolk) seems to be the current micronutirent being investigated for macular degeneration, as it's concentrated in the macula. Its function is to protect the retina from excessive light at the blue end of the spectrum. I don't know how effective it is for repair, but there have been copious studies on this pigment. It needs to be taken at meal times with a small amount of fat and separately from Vitamin A, with which it competes for retinal absorption. Incidentally, this story about billberries and WW2 RAF pilots: I was under the impression that the story was put about at the time to divert attention from British advances in radar, which was the real reason why the bombing strike rate on enemy territory increased. All the best, Krystyna At 13:28 19/06/02 +0100, you wrote: >Hi everyone, > >Have any of you had experience of using Bilberry for cases of retinal >damage? I would appreciate some info as to dosage etc, as a family member >has been diagnosed with a macular hole. I'd like to treat her to maintain >the current status quo and do all that I can to prevent the same happening >in the other eye. Sight in the affected eye is understandably diminshed >but the good eye is compensating well, so overall, sight is good. I heard >that Bilberry has a reputation for increasing retinal blood flow as well >as for damage to the area. > >I have found a few references on the web to the effectiveness of Bilberry >in diabetes too, it's been found to reduce plasma levels of glucose. I'd >be very interested to hear more about it as I've been asked by a >pro-herbal treatment eye consultant about anything in our materia medica >which can be used for eyes. I'd appreciate any www.'s for reliable herbal >monographs too. > >All the best, >Sue Cobbold MNIMH >Bury St Edmunds > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Dear Sue, One of my patients had macular degeneration and used a high quality, high dose of Bilberry extract with added Procyandins? etc. Had a good in helping restore defective vision over time, definatley recommended. Lorraine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 thanks for all your replies so far, t certainly looks encouraging, what dose did you use Lorraine? I have Proline Fluid Extract. the patient is my mum, so I guess I'll be joining her! all the best, Sue Cobbold MNIMH Re: Vaccinium myrtillus > Dear Sue, > One of my patients had macular degeneration and used a high > quality, high dose of Bilberry extract with added Procyandins? etc. Had a > good in helping restore defective vision over time, definatley recommended. > Lorraine > > > > List Owner > > > > Graham White, MNIMH > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Sorry Sue, The patient had bought the extract when it first came on the market a few years ago, it was standardised, and backed up by research and available in heath food shops, sorry to say it wasn't tincture or anything. It seemed tailor made for the job, maybe if you enquire in health food shops, sorry I can't be more helpful. It definately worked for her, although I was treating her for other things namely circulation etc. but no bilberry in my tincture. Lorraine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Dear Sue Just to add to the rest - dried bilberries make a lovely tea, I have a few clients with various degenerative eye problems on a daily bilberry decoction - approx 1/2 teaspoon per cup simmered for 10 mins, it will re do once or twice more with a few extra bilberries each time - one or two cups daily. It has certainly helped those who have tried it for a few months; my brother in law used it for raised ocular pressure ( not enough to require immediate medication)and it improved within a few weeks. best wishes Herbert Vaccinium myrtillus > Hi everyone, > > Have any of you had experience of using Bilberry for cases of retinal damage? I would appreciate some info as to dosage etc, as a family member has been diagnosed with a macular hole. I'd like to treat her to maintain the current status quo and do all that I can to prevent the same happening in the other eye. Sight in the affected eye is understandably diminshed but the good eye is compensating well, so overall, sight is good. I heard that Bilberry has a reputation for increasing retinal blood flow as well as for damage to the area. > > I have found a few references on the web to the effectiveness of Bilberry in diabetes too, it's been found to reduce plasma levels of glucose. I'd be very interested to hear more about it as I've been asked by a pro-herbal treatment eye consultant about anything in our materia medica which can be used for eyes. I'd appreciate any www.'s for reliable herbal monographs too. > > All the best, > Sue Cobbold MNIMH > Bury St Edmunds > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2002 Report Share Posted June 19, 2002 Dear Sue, I have been giving Lambert's Colladeen to one of my patients, an elderly diabetic who has had a lot of degenerative eye problems. Since taking it, for several years now, there has been no further degeneration. It is an anthocyanidin complex containing extracts of bilberry, cranberry and grape seed. I also use Vaccinium tincture for one or two other patients, but as it is mainly for prevention of degeneration it is difficult to prove its efficacy. There are stories of bilberry jam improving the vision of fighter pilots in the war. The anthocyanidins have been shown to reduce small blood vessel permeability. As mentioned in Greenfiles there is an in-depth analysis of treatments for eye diseases by Pat in PROOF, Summer 1999, 2-6. Also an article on anthocyanidins, which includes the active constituents of bilberry with actions and indications, by J. Arzberger, in NUTRIT. PRACT. 1999, 1 (3) 19-20. Summary in Greenfiles, Spring 2000. Best wishes, Cooke natural.therapy.clinic@... Vaccinium myrtillus > Hi everyone, > > Have any of you had experience of using Bilberry for cases of retinal damage? I would appreciate some info as to dosage etc, as a family member has been diagnosed with a macular hole. I'd like to treat her to maintain the current status quo and do all that I can to prevent the same happening in the other eye. Sight in the affected eye is understandably diminshed but the good eye is compensating well, so overall, sight is good. I heard that Bilberry has a reputation for increasing retinal blood flow as well as for damage to the area. > > I have found a few references on the web to the effectiveness of Bilberry in diabetes too, it's been found to reduce plasma levels of glucose. I'd be very interested to hear more about it as I've been asked by a pro-herbal treatment eye consultant about anything in our materia medica which can be used for eyes. I'd appreciate any www.'s for reliable herbal monographs too. > > All the best, > Sue Cobbold MNIMH > Bury St Edmunds > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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