What is Eyebright?
Eyebright (Euphrasia Officinalis) is an herb which belongs to the
Figwort family.
The whole foliage (stem, leaves, and flowers) of Eyebright is edible and
can be used in herbal medicine.
The herb's name comes from its common use as an alternative treatment
for eye related ailments.
According to researchers, Eyebright herb contains many chemical, organic
and nutritional properties that may not only aid in treating eye
problems but also may help with a number of other health conditions.
It contains vitamins B, C, E, and beta-carotene, alkaloids, antioxidants
such as caffeic acids, ferulic acids and flavonoids, iridoid
glycosides, defensive compounds, tannins and volatile oils.
What are the Benefits of Eyebright?
Eyebright has been used for centuries in the treatment of a number of
ailments.
The nutritional and herbal ingredients make it beneficial for many eye
problems including ophthalmia (severe inflammation of the eye),
blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids), conjunctivitis (pink eye),
cataracts, stye, weeping eye, and bloodshot or strained eyes.
It has also been found to be beneficial in treating respiratory
conditions including bronchitis, colds, sinusitis, and allergies.
Skin problems such as acne and stretch marks, as well as bad memory,
have also been found to respond well to Eyebright treatments.
Uses of Eyebright
Eye Problems
Eyebright is famous for its use in treating eye related problems, as
well as slowing down progressive vision weakness due to age.
Eye Inflammation
For ophthalmia, blepharitis, stye and any other eye inflammation, an
Eyebright tea might be beneficial when used as a cold eye compress.
To make Eyebright tea, take 1 teaspoon of carefully washed Eyebright
herb and boil it in 1 1/2 cup of water for 10 minutes.
Drain the leaves with a very fine strainer or cotton cloth and let it
cool.
Dip a small cotton pad in it and use it as a compress three to four
times daily.
Cataracts, Pink Eye, Bloodshot Eyes
For cataracts, weeping eye, pink eye (conjunctivitis), blood shot and
strained eyes, an Eyebright tincture may help when used as an eyewash.
To make an Eyebright eyewash, mix 5-8 drops of tincture in 2 cups of
cool filtered water or boil 1 teaspoon of eyebright in 1 1/2 cup of
water.
Dilute the strained tea in a cup of cool rose water.
Washing the affected eyes with this eyewash every 4 hours may alleviate
the symptoms.
Herbal experts recommend this topical use for short term only.
Due to possible impurities in homemade non-pharmaceutical Eyebright tea
preparations, it is recommended to be supervised by an herbal expert
during the external application of Eyebright for eye treatment.
Drinking Eyebright tea and taking Eyebright capsules or tablets may
speed up the healing process.
Colds, Sinusitis, and Seasonal Allergies
Due to its herbal compounds Eyebright is considered a great remedy for
treating allergies and respiratory discomfort.
The natural astringent-tannins in the herb may help reduce the mucus
discharge during colds and flu by tightening the mucous membranes.
Flavonoids and defensive compounds in Eyebright may also help in
treating seasonal allergies, coughs, cold, chest congestion and stuffy
nose.
It is suggested to make Eyebright tea by steeping the Eyebright teabag
for 5 minutes in a boiling cup of water.
Drink it two to three times daily.
When using dried leaves, add one teaspoon of Eyebright leaves to one cup
of boiling water.
Let it steep for 5 to 7 minutes and strain out the leaves.
Add honey for sweetness if desired.
Drinking lots of water or orange juice can be helpful.
Acne and Skin Irritation
Natural astringent and antibacterial agents in Eyebright are known to be
effective in tightening the porous oily skin and healing acne and
irritated skin.
Therefore, a simple remedy for acne is to apply Eyebright poultice, cold
Eyebright tea or its tincture onto the affected skin.
To make the Eyebright poultice, crush fresh Eyebright leaves and flower
petals and apply it directly onto the acne areas every night.
Remove the poultice after 20 minutes before going to bed and wash the
face in the morning.
If fresh leaves are not available a poultice can be made by soaking
crushed dry leaves and petals into slightly warm water for ten minutes.
To apply Eyebright tea or tincture, simply dab a cotton pad into cold
steeped tea or in a mixture of 5 drops of tincture in 1/4 cup of cold
water.
Gently apply the soaked cotton pad onto affected areas.
For a hassle free application, 5-6 drops of Eyebright oil can be mixed
into the face moisturizer and can be applied overnight.
Bad Memory
The flavanoids and beta-carotene in Eyebright herb may help improve
cognitive performance and strengthen bad memory.
A great home remedy can be made by mixing 2 tbsp powder of the dried
Eyebright herb, 1 tsp sugar, half tsp of ground mace, 2 tbsp of fennel
seeds together.
Take half teaspoon of this mixture every morning with juice.
Or simply drinking one cup of Eyebright tea daily may improve the
gradual memory loss.
What are the Side Effects of Eyebright?
Eyebright herb in moderate doses doesn't have any known side effects
when used internally.
However, it is recommended to be very cautious when using it topically
as an eyewash due to the possible unsterilized conditions during its
preparation.
It is advised to seek expert supervision when any kind of eye treatment
is involved since any mishandling can cause severe infection.
To avoid potential infection risks it is recommended to buy commercially
prepared eyebright eyewash products available in the market.
People who have had cataract removal, laser eye treatment, cornea
transplantation, or any other eye surgery should not use Eyebright wash
or drops unless advised by their health care provider.
If you are taking any medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding,
consult with your physician before the therapeutic use of Eyebright
herb.
Some people may be allergic to the herb and the external use of
Eyebright may cause swollen eyelids, itchiness, sensitivity to light,
and eye pressure.
Also, an overdose of Eyebright when taken internally may cause
confusion, headache, nausea, and unusual perspiration.
If you experience any of these symptoms during the consumption of
Eyebright herb, contact your doctor immediately.
Where and How to Buy Eyebright
Eyebright herb can easily be found in most health or natural food stores.
It is available in teabags, loose dried leaves, powder, liquid, tablets, capsules, tincture, and oil.
It is also occasionally packaged with dried bilberries which is also used in the treatment of eye related conditions.
