Euphrasia, Eyebright

Picture Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530

Picture Masclef, Atlas des plantes de France, 1893

Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Euphrasia officinalis

Parts used:


Herb in flower

Temperature & Taste:


Cool (Warm in the west), dry. Pungent
astringes, discusses

Classifications:


2S. STRENGTHENING
4b. OPTHALMIC

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Benefits the Eyesight: (West, Tibet)
-sore, red, inflamed eyes; conjunctivitis
-poor eyesight from straining or old age.
-Tearing Eyes, Ophthalmia
-also Constant Winking or Paralysis of the Eyes (The medical genius – a guide to the cure, Jones, 1887)
–A number of writers including Hildamus claimed it to have cured the sight of many people over the age of 70 years.
-topically for ‘Clouds, Mists, Pearls, Suffusions of the Eyes’ (Salmon)

2. Benefits Brain and Memory, Settles Wind:
-traditionally regarded as being strengthening to the Brain, Memory and other senses.
-Epilepsy, Dizziness, Vertigo, Headache, Migraine

3. Clears Phlegm and Heat, Resists Poison:
-Head colds, Influenza
-sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, catarrhal deafness
-Poisons, including excess use of alcohol and tobacco (Kranichfeld, cited in Clarus, Handbuch Der Arzneimittelmeditl., 1860)

4. Clears Stomach Heat:
–Kneipp praised it as a stomach-bitter

5. Externally:
-as an eye wash (decoction), or the juice or distilled water for red, sore, swollen and itchy eyes, conjunctivitis, styes, blepharitis etc.
-Cataract is treated by touching the eye repeatedly with the chopper fresh herb, or else by placing a seed in the eye and closing the eye for a prolonged time. The seed was said to get bigger, the cataract, smaller. (Tibet)
-skin conditions including weeping Eczema and Herpes.


Dose:


 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


1. Poor Eyesight:
i. Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
2. To strengthen the Brain and Eyes and quicken the Sight, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
3. Red, Sore and inflamed Eyes, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
4. Catarrh, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
5. As an eye wash, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
6. A steam bath for the Eyes, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
7. Eye drops for red and inflamed eyes; Eyebright with … available in PRO version
8. Eye water, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version
9. Eyebright Drops of Kneipp: Eyebright   … available in PRO version
10. Headache, Migraine, Eyebright with  … available in PRO version

Major Formulas


Eyebright Powder
Confection of Eyebright (Confectio Humain) (Mesue)
Powder to Clarify the Eyes (Nicholas)
Powder for Weakness of Sight
Powder to Cleanse the Sight (Wirtzung)
Powder to Benefit Eyesight (Riverius)
Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Eyebright Wine
Wine of Eyebright and Fennel
Tincture for Vertigo
Electuary to Strengthen the Sight (Wirtzung)
Pills to Clarify Pilulae Lucis Majores Mesue
Water of Emperor Frederick for the Sight

Cautions:


Generally Safe.

Main Preparations used:


Conserve of the whole Herb in Flower, Distilled Water of the Herb, Wine