The Benefits of Eyebright: How This Herb Supports Vision Wellness

Native to the European continent, Eyebright or Euphrasia Officinalis is a white Alpine wildflower with purple and yellow spots as well as stripes in the Orobanchaceae family.

During the Middle Ages, eyebright was recognized as a treatment for ‘all evils of the eye’ by combating conditions such as irritation or inflammation.

However, its medicinal properties were initially rejected, until the 16th century when an herbal practitioner named Paracelsus validated the healing allegations.

Furthermore, with Americans becoming more health conscious, the desire for conventional medicine has declined which has contributed to the rise in herbal formulations.

This article will discuss the benefits of eyebright to assist you in the evaluation process when considering the implementation of this herb.

An allergic reaction is the negative response demonstrated by the body when it inaccurately identifies a foreign substance as a threat, thereby producing antibodies.

A runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing are some of the symptoms associated with hay fever that 11% of the United States population experiences during seasonal changes.

Unfortunately, procuring an OTC medication containing antihistamines is the most popular option in terms of alleviating symptoms when allergic rhinitis becomes unbearable.

Moreover, eyebright has been shown to substantially decrease allergies when ingested as soon as symptoms arise.

For example, eyebright prevented adverse reactions to allergens when the herb was used as an antidote.

The average age eyesight begins to diminish is 40 to 45 with some individuals experiencing eye deterioration as soon as they hit thirty.

In other words, you are less likely to see words clearly without the assistance of reading glasses, considering that the eyes become more rigid as you age.

Further, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes are four common ailments that negatively affect eye clarity.

Instead of purchasing medication recommended by an ophthalmologist, eyebright’s effectiveness is noteworthy compared to similar herbs for eye health.

Specifically, eyebright was shown to facilitate eye strength, in vitro according to scholarly research.

After the first sign of a respiratory infection appears, you can expect your nasal passages and lungs to become restricted.

COVID-19, the common cold, flu, or pneumonia have a high probability of being the culprit especially when flu/cold season is prevalent during the fall and winter.

Despite that, integrating astringent herbs such as eyebright into your diet can prevent respiratory infections from occurring in the first place.

Eyebright’s ability to draw moisture from its tissues rapidly rids the body of respiratory infections when your immune system is under attack.

To apply eyebright as a remedy, drink eyebright tea 1 to 2 times a day as soon as you encounter respiratory difficulties.

Since eyebright is a cooling herb, you may notice that your body temperature drops below its normal capacity when consumed on a regular basis.

For most individuals, the average body temperature resides within the 97°F to 99°F range, with 98.6°F being the standard.

This is one of the fundamental reasons some individuals have seen a positive outcome after ingesting the herb when their temperature is elevated.

Ultimately, to decrease the fever by 1 degree, take eyebright expeditiously at the onset of an illness.

Inflammation of the sclera (white part of the eye) that is accompanied by a pinkish/red hue, in addition to burning, itching, and pain is classified as conjunctivitis.

Your ophthalmologist may prescribe medication for conjunctivitis depending on the severity of your symptoms and the type of infection (viral/bacterial), or if it is an allergic reaction.

Even more, the preservatives in most medications have a negative impact on the structure of the eye when used for a long time.

If you desire a natural method for conjunctivitis, eyebright has been shown to effectively treat this condition when applied as eye drops 2 to 3 times a day for a week.

This section provides the most common practices herbalists and homeopaths employ when healing eye ailments;

Generally speaking, eyebright is safe for topical use and consumption when adopted as an herbal medicine.

Nonetheless, if you experience any of the signs specified below, please contact your doctor immediately or visit an urgent care center.

Complaints include but are not limited to;

Although eyebright can be acquired locally in some locations, everyone does not have the privilege of visiting an herbal store.

Therefore, we have provided five online vendors of Euphrasia Officinalis below:

If you’re looking for variety and competitive pricing, Amazon is the finest online shop to accommodate your needs.

Starwest Botanicals, Frontier Organic, and Herba Organica are some of the top contenders that sell eyebright with five star reviews from countless customers.

The average price point is approximately $20.00 for ¼ of a pound and prices vary depending on whether you procure loose leaf or tea bags.

Not to mention, if you are an Amazon subscriber, delivery can be expected within 1 to 2 days, which is faster than 99% of their competitors.

Finally attaining the age of majority this past June (as of 2023), Etsy is another platform that offers an extensive collection of herbs from small sellers.

Eyebright can be found in the form of capsules, tinctures, extracts, and bulk, just in case you’re uncertain as to which type is right for you.

In addition, shipping costs are typically $5.00 to $7.00, and most sellers have a fair return policy if the order is not in accordance with your expectations.

As a side note, finding promotions and coupon codes on the site is a common occurrence when the fourth quarter is underway.

The oldest website on this list with 54 years of expertise in the health and wellness industry is Swanson Vitamins.

According to its loyal customer base, their quality products and superior customer service are some of the reasons their retention rate is higher than most.

In spite of that, the website should be explored often to view updated inventory, taking into consideration that it has a limited selection of eyebright products.

Needless to say, we still deem this company a credible option given the fact that shopping with them is satisfying and effortless.

With a score of 2.4 on trust pilot and 1.7 on site jabber, it is apparent that customers do not hold this company in high regard after reading some of the reviews pertaining to its products and services.

Nevertheless, its vast array of eyebright products and affordable prices are the sole purpose for including this company amongst the top five.

iHerb has over 500 products in its catalog of eyebright and orders are usually dispatched within 24 hours of cleared payment.

Also, they have subscription-based plans as well as affiliate programs if you are interested in saving money on your purchase or making additional income.

Last but not least, this list would not be complete if we failed to mention Monterey Bay Herbco, located in the northwestern hemisphere of the world: California.

With kosher and organic certifications from accredited organizations, it is easy to identify why this company has been operating since the Clinton era.

Moreover, the website is organized, descriptive, and beautiful, which engages customers to establish a connection with the brand.

Most importantly, check the company out for yourself and tell us about your shopping experience with Herbco.

Allergies - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2022, August 5). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/symptoms-causes/syc-20351497

Eyebright Uses, Side Effects & Warnings. (n.d.). Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/mtm/eyebright.html

Herbs: An A-Z Guide : Gardening, Cooking & Health. (2013).

Mission, O. H., & Guarantee, O. O. Y. Top 5 Natural Antihistamines

Paduch, R., Woźniak, A., Niedziela, P., & Rejdak, R. (2014). Assessment of eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis L.) extract activity in relation to human corneal cells using in vitro tests. Balkan medical journal, 2014(1), 29-36.

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2023, January 5). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pink-eye/symptoms-causes/syc-20376355