Eyebright herb, cut, organic - 50g

Euphrasia officinalis L., cut, controlled organic cultivation

Indication

For all diseases of the eyes, sore throat, nasal and ear infections, jaundice, digestive problems

Application

Preparation of eyebright tea: Pour 500 ml of cold water over 15 g of eyebright, bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. Drink in 3 portions per day. Cure over 6-8 weeks.

For eye rinses: Pour 1 l of hot water over 10 g of eyebright. Cover and steep for 25 minutes. Allow to cool. Filter well (best with an unbleached coffee filter). Eye wash 3 times a day in an ophtalmic glass or shot glass (both eyes!). Drink the rest of the litre or store in the refrigerator for the next day.

Medicinal herb description
HISTORY:

Eyebright was probably not known to the Romans and Greeks in ancient times or it was not documented. It was first mentioned in 1485 in the medicinal herb book Gart der Gesundheit. Later, it is described in detail in medieval writings. Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) describes it as follows: "Eyebright has the power to support and improve the eyesight that diminishes with age. Eyebright herb, as the name suggests, can be used externally and internally for eye diseases. Eyebright is the classic medicinal plant for problems with the eyes and was already used by our ancestors for this purpose. Eyebright is also very helpful for colds, even hay fever and diseases of the digestive system. There are many species of eyebright and all have similar healing properties.

PRESENT:

Eyebright grows in Central Europe in meadows, on dry banks and in sparse forests.

PLANT FAMILY:

Brownroot family = Scropholariaceae.

COLLOQUIAL NAMES:

Eyebright (engl.), Eufrasia (it.), Eyethank, Eyewort, Augustine's weed, Gibinix, Grummetblume, Herbstblümle, Hirnkraut, Lichtkraut, Milchdieb, Milchschelen, Nitnützle, Spöttlich, Wegleuchte, Weihbrunnkessel, Wiesenwolf.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION:

This annual meadow plant, growing up to 40 cm high, has oval, opposite, ovate-toothed, grass-green leaves. The stem has downy hairs and branches at the top. Its flowers are somewhat reminiscent of eyes, which in the context of the old theory of signatures may have originally indicated the reference to eye problems and was also involved in the naming. The colours of the flowers are white, purple and yellow patterned. The white flowers are often veined purple and have a yellow spot on the lower petals. Eyebright is a semi-parasitic plant, as it has sucker roots that suck nutrients from the surrounding grasses.

APPLIED PLANT PART:

Eyebright herb, consisting of the aerial parts collected during flowering and carefully dried, and its preparations in effective dosage.

ACTIVE SUBSTANCE/COLLECTION TIME:

Collected from July to October.

CONTENTS:

Glycoside rhynanthin, essential oil, fatty oil, resin, bitter substances, sugar, salts, euphratanic acid, aromatic substances.

Little research has been done on the effectiveness of eyebright herb. It is possible that the phenolic carboxylic acids contained in the herb have a growth-inhibiting effect on microorganisms. Today it is known that the ingredient aucubin contained in the eyebright herb influences the formation of inflammatory substances and thus has anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, laboratory tests have shown that aucubin prevents the multiplication of the hepatitis B virus. In addition, a further clinical study showed a good effect of the drug in the application of conjunctivitis with very good tolerability. Other constituents of the plant include lignans, flavonoids, tannins and iridoids such as catalpol as well as the aforementioned aucubin.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES:

Astringent, antiphlogistic (anti-inflammatory), eupeptic, soothing, sedative, ophtalmic, tonic.

USE AND DOSAGE:

For all diseases of the eyes, inflammation of the throat, nose, ears, also for jaundice, conjunctivitis, stye, eyelid rim inflammation, eyestrain, photosensitivity, ophtalmia of the newborn, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, hay fever, rhinitis, cough, flu, digestive complaints, feeling of fullness, clogged tongue, headache, migraine, insomnia.

Preparations made from eyebright are nowadays mainly used for eye diseases. The medicinal herb is used for all acute and subacute inflammations of the eyelids, cornea and conjunctiva, styes, eye fatigue and functional visual disorders. For these complaints, internal use, in the form of tea, and external use, in the form of compresses and washes, can be combined. Compresses made from a decoction of eyebright can be used to treat inflammatory eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis. Eyebright has also been shown to be effective against colds. Internally as a tea, eyebright is also suitable for colds, headaches, coughs and hoarseness, bloating. Folk medicine also recommends eyebright for other ailments, such as insomnia and cramps. Rinsing of the eyes for conjunctivitis, chemical burns and to increase vision using an eye bath or so-called ophthalmic glasses. Phytotherapeutically, a half mixture of camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and eyebright is recommended.

For styes, hot eye poultices are made with eyebright and chamomile:

Pour 5 tablespoons over ¼ litre of boiling water, infuse for 10 minutes, drain. Place the porridge in a linen bag on the stye as hot as possible.

Preparation for internal use: 1- 2 teaspoons of the dried drug with 150 ml of boiling water, infuse for 5 minutes and then strain. Drink 2 cups daily.

Poultice for external use for barley pits, tired eyes and eye inflammations: pour 2 teaspoons of the dried herb over a cup of hot water, steep for 15- 20 minutes and strain.

SPECIAL NOTES:

When making eyebright tea for external treatment of the eyes, extremely clean conditions must be created. It is recommended to use distilled water. To avoid spreading germs, prepare a new tea and use new compresses for each subsequent application. The tea should be filtered thoroughly so that no residues remain that could damage the cornea, especially when rinsing the eyes. In addition, the use of sterile compresses contributes to much better hygiene. If eye drops in the form of ready-to-use preparations are used, extreme cleanliness should also be ensured. Immediately after treatment, avoid bright light or other eye strain.