Also known as:

Euphrasia officinalis, Augentrostkraut, Euphraisiae herba, Euphrasia, Euphrasia officinalis. Eurphrasia rostkoviana, Herbed Euphraise.

Introduction:

Eyebright is an elegant, tiny English pasture plant, with deeply-cut leaves and numerous, small, white or purplish flowers variegated with yellow. Its botanical name Euphrasia is borrowed from the Greek Euphrosyne (gladness), one of the three graces who was distinguished from the others by her joy and mirth. Although the name comes from the Greek, very little is mentioned about the herb by Pliny the Elder or Discorides or in any herbals tomes until the 14th century, where it is mentioned in Gordon's Liticium Medicinia (1305). It is also mentioned later in Milton's Paradise Lost, where an angel gives Adam Rue herb and Eyebright to help purge his eyesight. In Elizabethan times, "eyebright ale" was a popular remedy for eye problems of all sorts.

Constituents:

Anti-inflammatory acubin, antiviral caffeic acid, antiallergenic ferulic acid.

Parts Used:

Leaf, stem and small pieces of the flowers.

Typical Preparations:

Warm compress or tea. Also convenient as an extract or capsule.

Summary:

Nowadays, it is mainly used in Europe as a rinse, compress, or eye bath, and modern herbalists worldwide use eyebright as a poultice with or with concurrent administration of a tea for the redness, swelling, and visual disturbances caused by blepharitis and conjunctivitis. The herb is also used for eyestrain, and to relieve inflammation caused by colds, coughs, sinus infections, and sore throat. Traditionally, herbalists have also used it for hay fever and nasal decongestion.

Precautions:

The safety of this herb during pregnancy and lactation is not proven.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

For educational purposes only.