Issues affecting the eyes have been treated by this plant for quite a long time, more specifically for almost seven centuries. The plant is called Eyebright or Euphrasia Officinalis.
According to the legends the plant was named Euphrosyini after the Greek migrate. The word means joy, since it made everybody full with joy because it was getting their sight back. Some even believe that it can help even topeople that are over 70 years old.
The Plant
Euphrasia is an annual plant, growing from 2-8 inches. The flowers can be white or purple and the leaves are deeply cut. It blooms from July until September. Parasitic in nature, it thrives over the grass.
What Parts Can Be Utilized?
When blooming, this plant can be good for making an extract (best to do it in July or August). The liquid has some compounds like tannin – Eurphasia – Tannin acid, glucose, mannitol (sweet tasting alcohol, soluble in water) etc.
How It Can Help the Eyes?
This plant has been quite popular in alternative medicine for treatment of eyesight problems. It has also been proved that the plant promotes healing, killing bacteria and viruses in the eyes while relieving dryness and pain.
Conjunctivitis and an inflammation caused by the eyelash follicles are just two examples of what this plant can help with. Instead of using eye drops, just used an extract from the eyebright plant.
How It Can Help the Respiratory Tract?
Hay fever, upper respiratory tract infections, catarrh and sinusitis can be tackled by eyebright. Dry congestion and bronchial cold can be solved by a herbal smoking mix that you can prepare from this dried herb. Allergies and nasal irritations are something else that this plant can help with too.
It can be used as astringent for stimulation of healing of skin wounds. It is applied externally on the affected are. Also, since it has anti-inflammatory properties, you can use it to treat acne and skin inflammation. You can also tighten your skin with cold eyebright compresses.
Dosage:
For adults, the recommended dose is half a teaspoon of dried herb, maximum 3 times per day. If you would like to make a tea, mix 2 teaspoons dry eyebright with a cup of boiling water. Let it stay for about 15 minutes and stir a few times. Afterwards, strain it and drink it 3 times per day, but make sure you consume it unsweetened. If used as eye drops, you can apply 1 drop up to 5 times a day.
You can find the plant in teabags, as loose dried leaves, tablets, as liquid, tincture, oil and even powder. You can find it online or from a drugstore.
