Comfrey eyedrops?

Hi there, I was thinking this morning about my daughter's dry eyes, which I always medicate with a simple saline solution. Then I got to wondering if there is possibly an herb that would soothe those eyes as a tea, my immediate thought was comfrey, then plantain--since both of these plants are mucilaginous and soothing to other skin and membranes, it seemed like either could work. Anybody have any experience with this type of thing, or any reasons why it could be a bad idea? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

This article talks about making a compress for eyes:

Make comfrey eye bags by cutting and washing fresh comfrey leaves, blanching them in boiling water and wrapping them in large gauze pads. Place warm or chilled bags on puffy eyes or eyes with dark circles for soothing relief.

https://www.motherearthliving.com/in-the-garden/grow-comfrey-bruises-eye-cream/

I feel your idea would work though you might try using on your eyes first to see how it feels.

Thanks, Anne!! Just exactly the info I was looking for. 👍🏻

I have read some accounts of comfrey being so good at knitting tissue together that it caused parts that shouldn't be together to grow together. For example, people using it as a diaper rash cream and having tissue down there fuse together, requiring surgical intervention. I don't know if this is overblown. I do know comfrey is very powerful at promoting quick tissue growth. I probably wouldn't put it in my eye or in contact with my eye lids personally. Those little bristly hairs seem like they could irritate too.

I like to always use the gentlest plant first, then if that doesn't work, move onto "stronger" plants. If it were me, I would try plantain you mentioned first, since it is so gentle, but still quite powerful in its way. I once had a nasty stye, my eye was swollen almost completely closed. I put a plantain spit poultice on it. Later that day, my eye was completely normal again. So I can certainly attest to its ability to help soothe eye conditions. Violet might also be a good option for an eye wash.

You might find this video about herbal eye washes and eye cups useful too. I believe he gives suggestions for different herbs once could use as well as measures to ensure everything is clean and safe for eyes.

I had an experience with comfrey healing things a little "too quickly". But am very happy I used it anyway. Just would do it differently next time. I had a complete laceration of two tendons on the back of my hand. I used comfrey poultices daily during the post-operative recovery. The skin healed so quickly that the stitches started healing into the skin before they could dissolve. Instead of pulling them out as this was happening, I snipped them shorter. I should have pulled them out. The laceration & repair healed so quickly that I was left with a whole row of bumps from stitches under the skin. Eventually they dissolved. But if I ever use comfrey like this again, I'll pull the stitches early!!

Phew. I'm open to considering poultices on wounds and trouble spots. There is little to lose, much to gain, and if the experiment doesn't work you just change gears. I'm told by old family members that horseradish leaves make a good poultice on hard to heal wounds. It's pretty spicy, but maybe it works.

But honestly I'm not sure experimental DIY eyedrops are a good idea, ever, ever, ever. There is far, far too much to lose. My 2c.