Eyebright for Eyesight (and more)
Eyebright has also been used by Herbalists in the past to treat:
- Coughs and hoarseness. In fact, the herb was an ingredient in British Herbal Tobacco, which was used to relieve chronic bronchial colds.
- Hay Fever, nasal congestion, and acute attacks of head colds. For such use, an immediate dose of the infusion is given and repeated every two hours until relief is felt.
- Inflammation of the prostate when taken as a tea or infusion
- Inflammation of the mouth and throat. Use the tea or infusion as a mouthwash and gargle.
- To enhance memory, take a daily dose of Eyebright tea.
You can prepare an Eyebright tea (infusion) of ½ teaspoonful (2-3 grams) of the fresh herb, finely cut, to a cup of boiling water. Steep 5-10 minutes and strain before drinking.
Cool a 2 percent Eyebright infusion to use as a washing solution, which can be used up to four times a day. It can also be effectively used as a compress.
Note: While there are no cautions to using Eyebright, there can be problems using an unsanitized solution in the eye. Be certain to use infusions made from the pure herb, distilled water, and a sterilized eye wash applicator when applying Eyebright externally. Also, change the infusion for each eye so as not to spread the problem further.
Gardening with Eyebright
M. Grieve, in A Modern Herbal, describes Eyebright as "...an elegant little plant", and I quite agree. This annual grows from 2 to 8 inches high and will take any soil. Flowering in spikes from July to September, it has small yet attractive little flowers that range from white to blue to purple, and touched with yellow.
If grown in poor soil, this little herb can grow only up to an inch or so in height, but in rich soils it can form a nicely mounded tuft up to eight inches in height. The leaves also vary, sometimes being almost round, and at other times pointed and narrow. They can always be distinguished by the deeply cut toothed appearance, however.
Eyebright does not appreciate being transplanted, but can survive if it is protected by grass. It is one of a number of herbs that is semi-parasitic, as it requires the nourishment of the roots of other plants, sending out suckers below ground to draw on the roots of grass, although the grass don't seem to mind!
It is best
Latest Articles