Cowberry

Other Names

Airelle, Airelle d’Ida, Airelle à Fruits Rouges, Airelle à Pomme de Terre, Airelle Rouge, Airelle Vigne d’Ida, Airelle Vigne du Mont Ida, Arándano Europeo, Cowberry, Dry Ground Cranberry, Foxberry, Lingen, Lingenberry, Lingon, Lingonberry, Lowbush Cranberry, Moss Cranberry, Mountain Cranberry, Partridgeberry, Red Bilberry, Redberries, Red Whortleberry, Rock Cranberry, Shore Cranberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vine of Mount Ida, Lingonberry, Red Whortleberry, Mountain Cranberry, Foxberries, Bearberries, Patridgeberries, Mountain Bilberries, Cougarberries, Csejka Berries, Redberries, Beaverberries, Beaver Berries, Quailberries, Lowbush Cranberry, Patridge Berry, Northern Mountain Cranberry, Wolf-Berry, Dry Ground Cranberry, Rock Cranberry, Ling Berry, Tyttebaer, Baroken, Bernitschke, Bickelbeere, Bockskraut, Boiwacken, Bowken, Breinsschnetzen, Breuchelbeere, Brezelbeere, Buchsbeere, Budlergreifeln, rote Bulgrafen, Duttenbeere, Fuchsbeere, Gichtbeinchen, Gickelbeer, Grandelbeere, Grange, Granten, Graubeere, Grestling, Gruse, Kadelbeere, Kastenbeere, Klosterbeere, Klunderbeere, Klusterbeere, Kranichbeere, Krestling, Kronsbeere, Mehlbeere, Moosbeere, Prauselbeere, Rote Welpen, Sauerbeere, Schmalzbeer, Speckbeere, Spreisselbeere, Steinbeere, Winteräpfelchen, Winterkirsche, Zwangerl, Zwengerling, Брусни́ка, Брусница

Description

Also known as “Black Hearts” according to Thomas Hardy in his 1878 novel The Return of the Native, the European bilberry bush is a close relative of American blueberries, cranberries, and huckleberries. It flourishes in damp acidic soil throughout temperate and sub artic regions of the world. The bilberry has a long history of medicinal use. The English used it as a dye for wool due to its wonderful dark blue/purple coloring.

Cowberry is an evergreen shrub that produces edible berries that are bright red in colour. The fruit is common in European and Scandinavian cooking and has a taste similar to cranberry.

Ingredients

Vitamin C, Vitamin A, organic acids, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, phytochemicals, omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, benzoic acid

Collection Period

June-August

Used Parts

Berries

Uses

Bed-Wetting
Bladder Stones
Breast Cancer
Cold
Cough
Cystitis
Diabetes Mellitus
Diarrhea
Elevated Cholesterol
Fever
Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders
Gout
Headache
Kidney Problems
Loss Of Appetite
Pyelitis
Rheumatism
Spasm Of The Bladder
Urinary tract infections
Vitamin C Deficiency

Properties

Anticholesterolaemic
Antimicrobial
Aperients
Demulcent
Soothing mild diuretic

Application

Cowberry can address various urogenital conditions. Traditional Austrian medicine makes use of the berries as jelly and syrup. It is effective in gastrointestinal disorders and fever.

Summary

Cowberry is valued for processed products like juices and sauces. Other products include wines, liquors, trifle, syrups, desserts like sherbet, ice cream and candy. It is also used as an ornament in gardens and lawns. It is effective for cough syrups and can treat blood disorders.

Side Effects

Cowberry may have adverse effects on the male reproductive system.

References

Nature Gate, Lingonberry: http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kukkakasvit/cowberry
Wikipedia, Lingonberry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccinium_vitis-idaea
Prairie Elements and Phytotechnical Services, Botanical and Horticultural Consulting: http://www.prairie-elements.ca/lingonberry.html
WSU Whatcom County Extension, Lingonberry: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/plant/lingonberry.htm
Living Naturally, Lingonberry: http://www.livingnaturally.com/ns/DisplayMonograph.asp?StoreID=E32FA6C399AB4C99897032581851D45D&DocID=bottomline-lingonberry