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| | Bilberry - Vaccinium myrtillus |
 | | According to the monograph the leaves and their preparations are traditionally recommended for use in diabetes mellitus, and the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tract conditions, arthritis, gout, skin ailments, hemorrhoids, poor circulation, heart problems, blood purification, and to stimulate metabolic processes. |
 | | In the 1870s, a USDA report noted that the fruits were a favorite food of various Indian groups of the Rocky Mountain region. |
 | | The effectiveness of the fruit extracts was linked to a group of compounds called "anthocyanosides." These compounds are derivatives of anthocyans - the pigments responsible for the red, blue or violet colors in flowers and fruits. |
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