Eyebright Herb Tea
Treating Eye Infections
Characterized by small flowers that resemble bloodshot human eyes, eyebright is a plant that is native to Europe. It grows abundantly throughout Britain, although can be found throughout the continent and into North America as well. The flowers are usually white or purple with a yellow tinge, and might have patterns that are similar to eyes. For this reason, eyebright herb tea was often given as a remedy for eye infections or vision problems during the middle Ages. However, this medicine is still used as a folk remedy, particularly in Easter Europe, in both a topical and tea form.
While there have been no conclusive tests that prove why eyebright herb tea and poultices might be effective in treating eye disorders or infections, there are several chemical compounds found within the plant that might indicate why it's effective. Eyebright contains caffeine, aucubin, ferulic acid, choline, and other chemicals that have been shown to kill certain bacteria. If you do decide to place eyebright directly on your eye to draw out an infection, be careful that everything you are using has been properly sterilized, or you could in fact experience worse damage. This is why taking eyebright in a tea form is the safest way of seeking relief.
To prepare eyebright herb tea, it's recommended to take approximately two teaspoons of dried plant and combine this with one cup of hot, not boiling water. You can then let this steep for several minutes, and flavor it with lemon and honey if desired to bring out the flavor and have a smoother experience. It's recommended to take two to three cups of this tea per day while you are in the treatment period. Eyebright can also be taken in a tincture form, or placed on sterile compresses and applied to the site of infection. Goldenseal is another herb that is commonly combined with eyebright, for cold and flu relief. Teabags are an easy way to steep your tea, without having to measure anything.
As with any herbal remedies, if you plan on continuously taking eyebright herb tea as a means of curing eye infections or clearing up blockages in the body, you should check with your doctor first to be sure that this is a good idea, and to have your infection properly diagnosed. Something like conjunctivitis could lead to greater eye damage over time if not treated properly. However, taking eyebright internally is the safest way to experience its benefits.