Blueberry

Latin name:Vaccinium myrtillus
Magic name(s):
Synonyms:
Family:Ericaceae

Warning!
Don't eat too much because your stomach might get a bit upset.

Description
Perennial brush which often grows in large stands. The branches are evergreen and angular which makes it easy to recognize the plant, even in winter. The plant blossoms in May-June and the hanging flowers are often placed on their own shaft from the foliage. The berries ripen in July-August and are usually bluish misty on the surface.

Main constituents
Blueberries have lots of vitamins and antioxidants that help keep your body healthy. For example anthocyanins, vitamin A, B complex, C, E, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and so on. They help boost your immune system.

Anthocyanoside is said to reduce the risk of loss of vision, and blueberries have a lot of it. According to reports published in n ophthalmology study, eating 3 servings of blueberries every day will reduce your risk of getting age related macular degeneration.

Uses
Medical
Stomach problems, diuretic. Tea on 3 tbsp of dried berries is used against diarrhoea (boil for 10 minutes), fresh berries are used as a laxative. The leaf tea is used against gas and coughing. Improves night vision, antiseptic, astringent.

Recently studies show that eating blueberries may lower cholesterol. Other studies have shown that wild blueberry juice may benefit the brain, improve memory and learning in older adults, while possibly reducing blood sugar and symptoms of depression.

Magical
Place some blueberries beneath the doormat to keep unwanted people away and protect against evil. Because blueberries have protective qualities, they can be added to any protection spell, incense or oil. Make amulets out of whole dried berries by glueing them to an already made amulet or stringing them into a necklace.

Cosmetic


Culinary
Blueberries are both tasty and packed with goodness. They're used in baking, jam, syrup, desserts like blueberry pie and more.

Other
The brush can be used to tan leather, and the berries are used for colouring.

Cultivation


Harvest
The leaves are picked right before the plant blossoms, the berries when they're ripe.

Recipes
Medical
Coughing II
Tea against diarrhea I
Tea against gas I

Magical


Cosmetic


Culinary


Other
Dyeing

Miscellaneous information
My mom used to call them "tattle berries" because you can't hide that you've been eating them.

Images
http://lindaursin.net/images/blueberry.jpg