Euphresia officinalis, Eyebright

Common names

Euphrasy, Eyebright

History

According to the Doctrine of Signatures ' the purple and yellow spots and stripes of the Eyebright doth very much resemble the diseases of the eye, as bloodshot..... by which signature it hath been found out that this herb is effectual in the curing of the same

Medicinal uses

anti-catarrhal, astringent, anti-inflammatory, tonic (please see Glossary)

Benefits

Nasal catarrh, sinusitis, conjunctivitis (locally as an eye lotion) and hayfever

Euphrasia is primarily used to treat eye irritation and inflammation, and is particularly beneficial for sore, itchy eyes which may have a discharge. It can be applied as a compress or eyewash or taken internally as an infusion. Its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties make it relevant in many conditions, particularly those involving the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Taken internally, it has a powerful anticatarrhal action and may be used in nasal catarrh, sinusitis and other congestive states. It is particularly valuable where there is profuse watery nasal discharge and is therefore indicated in hayfever and colds as well as measles when accompanied by these symptoms. It may be taken as a mouthwash or gargle, for inflammation of the mouth or throat.

Warnings

None known

References

Bartram, T. 1995 Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 1st edn.,Grace Publishers, Bournemouth.

Bremness, L. 1994 Herbs, Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Handbook, London.

BHMA 1983 British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, BHMA, Bournemouth.

Chevallier, A. 1996 The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, Dorling Kindersley, London.

Grieve, M. 1931 A Modern Herbal, (ed. C.F. Leyel 1985), London.

Hoffmann, D. 1990 The New Holistic Herbal, Second Edition, Element, Shaftesbury.

Hyperhealth 1996 Natural Health and Nutrition Databank, v.96.1 CD-ROM, ©In-Tele-Health, available from Healthworks, Leeds. ISBN 0-646-30942-0

Lust, J. 1990 The Herb Book, Bantam, London.

Mabey, R. (ed.) 1991 The Complete New Herbal, Penguin, London.

Mills, S.Y. 1993 The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine, Penguin, London (First published in 1991 as Out of the Earth, Arkana)

Mills, S.Y. 1993 The A-Z of Modern Herbalism, Diamond Books, London.

Ody, P. 1993 The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal, Dorling Kindersley, London.

Polunin, M. and Robbins, C. 1992 The Natural Pharmacy, Dorling Kindersley, London.

Vickery, R. 1995 A Dictionary of Plant Lore, Oxford University Press.

Weiss, R.F. 1991 Herbal Medicine, Beaconsfield Arcanum, Beaconsfield.

Wren, R.C. 1988 Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations, C.W.Daniel, Saffron Walden.

Special thanks to www.purplesage.org.uk