Eyebright Herb Aerial
Alterative, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, digestive, decongestant, expectorant, febrifuge, hepatic, ophthalmic, tonic, vulnerary
Medicinal Uses
The flower of eyebright somewhat resembles a bloodshot eye, which may have been part of the reason ancient peoples valued this plant for treating eye ailments. Appearances aside, eyebright is beneficial for the treatment of many ailments of the eye. It stimulates the liver to clean the blood, dries dampness, curbs discharge, and reduces inflammation, thereby clearing the eyes and head and relieving conditions that congest visual clarity. It has an antihistamine-like effect and is a specific for mucus discharge from the eyes, ears, and nasal passages. Eyebright is used to treat allergies, blepharitis, cataracts, catarrh, conjunctivitis, cough, earaches, eye inflammation, eye irritation (itchiness and watering), eyestrain, hay fever, headache with congestion, head cold, hoarseness, jaundice, leukorrhoea, memory loss, ophthalmia, photophobia, rhinitis, sinusitis, sore eyes, sore throat, styes, vertigo, and weak vision.