Herbs for Eye Injuries and Irritations
From Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People:
A scratched eye or an irritated eye can be a major issue if not properly treated, leading to infection and even blindness.
Eyewash:
1 teaspoon plus a dash of salt into 1 quart
water to make isotonic solution... or 1/4tsp table salt per cup.
As Michael Moore of the Southwestern School of Botanical Medicine explained, our bodies are filled with salt water. Using plain, unsalted, water irritates the eye. A bit of salt in the eyewash soothes the eye because, tears are salty. He recommended combining the eyewash with mesquite or acacia, boiled together for 5 min... strain... cool to body temp. Good for eye infections. He said that
honey locust and mimosa also work and they are good for eye infections, including kids with pink eye. These are all closely related leguminous
trees.
Other mildly astringent, antiseptic herbs may also be used in an eyewash, or simply laid over the eye like a poultice.
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) is the herb most commonly recommended for use in such eyewashes in European herbalism.
Father Künzle wrote of Eyebright:
Eyebright (Euphrasia) was known as an excellent means of strengthening the eyes even before the birth of Christ. The ancients boiled it with wine and drank it regularly before going to bed. Fr. Kneipp recommends a decoction of eyebright, just washing your eyes diligently with eyebright water decoction. This herb is by far most effective when you throw it into a jar or in the barrel where you are fermenting cider, let it ferment with the drink and drink it throughout the year.
Indeed, Father Kneipp wrote:
As a reward, and out of gratitude for its faithful services, our forefathers gave this little herb the pretty name of "Eyebright" fort). Often when no other remedy would help, this little flower gave to the eyes the last comfort. I have very often recommended it, and with good results. When the aftermath harvest is half-ripe about August, you will find this salubrious little herb on almost every meadow. It is often disliked by the farmers on account of its crowding out the forage plants with its plentiful growth. Both the dried and the pulverized leaves are used as tea and as powder. The eyes are well washed with the tea two or three times daily, or little pieces of linen are dipped into it, and fastened over the eyes by means of a bandage during the night. It will cleanse the eyes, make them clear, and strenthen the sight.
Eyebright is a small flower that can be hard to find outside of the mountains. Fortunately, Roses (especially wild or non-hybridized roses) that have not been treated with chemical pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers may be used interchangeably, as can the entire category of "Rose Family Astringent" herbs.
Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora) is an astringent herb that is useful for eye infections.
Wood Avens (Geum urbanum) was called by Father Künzle, Saint Benedict's Herb, which is an old name derived from it tending to bloom on Saint Benedict's Day:
The Creator has given St Benedict's herb the power to draw and eliminate everything that should not be in the eyes, nose, teeth, brain nor in the heart; it heals eye ache, headache, toothache, nasal catarrh, also diarrhea, strengthens the heart miraculously and cheers you up. St. Benedict's herb is one of the plants which can draw out inflammations; probably because of the radium it contains. When the cattle in the Alps get red, inflamed eyes due to the cold wind, the herdsmen tie a bunch of roots of this herb round the neck of a suffering cattle; the inflammation disappears in 1-2 days. I have found out that it works the same with human beings - that eye inflammation and often toothache and headache can be quickly healed with this herb. This power was well known in the past, but now, after it became known that many plants contain radium, the reason for this power has been clarified. The ancients were right again as always.
Fresh roots of St. Benedict's herb, applied fresh and in abundance (do not simmer!) frequently help in case of encephalitis or meningitis or stiff neck. Roots of strawberry plants and tormentil roots have the same effect.
He wrote of Geranium:
The cranesbill (Geranium robertianum), or Herb Robert. This plant is mostly used externally, is not exactly poisonous, but only acceptable to the stomach when mixed with wine; it is a plant that draws out inflammation. It is a fact, that nasty eye infections, sore throats, swelling of the teeth, swelling of the limbs, etc., quickly disappear in people and cattle when green and crushed cranesbills are applied. If the disease cannot always be cured by this application, this herb often alleviates the greatest pain. When dried, it must be soaked in water.
Many other types of geranium, including our well-known indoor geranium, have the same effect.
Maria Treben recommended making a tea of Eyebright, along with Valerian, Avens, Lilac Blossoms, Lady's Mantle, Chamomile and Rue to use as a compress on irritated, weeping eyes.
Mrs. Treben also recommend a small drop or so of Swedish Bitters brushed on the eyelids and along the corners of the eye for all eye complaints.
Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) is an astringent herb that is not only good for eye irritations, but is said to improve vision.
Chamomile boiled in
milk is a soothing compress for inflamed eyes.
Yarrow tea may be used similarly for eye pain.
Powdered Fennel seeds may be used as an eyewash, but according to Fr. Kneipp are even more effective used as a steam. In such use, the fennel is put into steaming water and the person holds his face in the steam, with a towel over the back of the head and basin to concentrate the vapors.
Honey mixed with warm water, applied to the eyes with a clean cloth, is a good, mild antiseptic.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthum) tea is a tried and true remedy for eye complaints, both used internally and as a wash or compress.
In prior centuries, Aloe (Aloe vera) was used commonly to clean and sooth inflamed, injured or infected eyes. This aloe was used as a dry powder mixed with water. Dried Aloe is very difficult to find now, but it may be made simply by scraping out the gelatinous pulp of aloe leaf and carefully drying it on a clean, light cloth or paper in a food dehydrator. Aloe was also a popular laxative (as it is now). Below is Fr. Kneipp's instruction for its use:
Aloe shows the same cleansing power for exterior application, as it does when used interiorly. An excellent eye-water may also be prepared from it for diseased, dim, red-edged, bleary eyes, which discharge matter and other dirt. A good pinch of this powder is put into a medicine-glass, hot water poured upon it, then shaken, and the eye-water is ready for use. Three or four times a day the eyes are washed with it, both within and without. The irritation and burning which is felt at first is of no consequence. Old wounds, putrefied flesh, are exceedingly well cleansed and healed by such water. A piece of linen is for this purpose dipped in the aloe-water and put on the suffering part.
Other herbs that are useful for eyewashes include:
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) leaf tea is useful for an eyewash - these are small plants in the dogwood family.
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) is a very astringent herb that (According to Peterson's Field Guide) was used by
Native Americans for eye ailments.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) bark tea has been used as an eyewash for eye inflammation.
Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) bark tea used as eyewash.
Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) inner bark tea used as eyewash, especially sore eyes. Tea is astringent and contains aspirin-like salicin. Good for wounded eyes.
Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) juice from the plant has been used for inflamed eyes. This odd little parasitic plant is rare outside of the mountains, and is often often-harvested there.
Goldenseal, Oregon Grape, Barberry and Goldthread - as described under the chapter on wounds. Due to the antiseptic qualities of the berberine these plants contain, the tea may be used as a wash for injured or infected eyes.
Plantain tea may be used as an eyewash to sooth pain and inflammation.
Frostweed (Helianthemum canadense) strong leaf tea used as a wash for eye infections.
Heal-All (Prunella vulgaris) leaf tea traditionally used for conjunctivitis.
Osage Orange (Maculara pomifera) Native Americans used
root tea as a wash for sore eyes.
The above article is an excerpt from my new book Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People
You can read about and purchase Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People here: southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html
Also available on Amazon: Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and
Permaculture People: Carroll, Judson: 9798491252923: Amazon.com:
Books
Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own
experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
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