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When you think of blueberries, the first thing that comes to mind would most likely be their brain-boosting benefits (thanks to the powerful purple pigments that act as antioxidants in the brain!)

However, today I wanted to share the benefits of the blueberry plant from an herbalist’s perspective, which is all about the leaves.

When my teachers first introduced us to the humble blueberry, we learned to recognize the leaves as they’re an important local remedy for elevated blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics. Blueberry leaves contain a substance called myrtillin, which greatly helps to reduce blood glucose in both animals and humans. [1]

To make a blood-sugar-support tea:

Steep 1 teaspoon chopped, dried leaves in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup 3-4 times spread throughout the day in order to keep blood sugar levels low.

Myrtillin is also present in large quantities in the berries, which are demonstrated to have a significant hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rodents, lowering blood glucose by as much as 51% relative to controls [2]. Blueberry leaf tea is additionally rich in vitamin c, reduces allergies, boosts brain function, and contains a substance called gallic acid which helps with the redness, swelling, and pain associated with arthritis.

NOTE: It’s extremely important (especially if you’re taking medication) to speak to your doctor first and monitor your blood sugar levels closely when using blueberry leaf tea. Because it can greatly reduce blood sugar, you want to be sure your levels aren’t going too low. Start off slow and work with a practitioner in case medications require adjustment.

References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1709814/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718544/
[3] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jmf.2008.0081

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