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Euphrasia, Eyebright

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491
Herbarum Vivae Eicones, Otto Brunfels, 1530

Masclef, Atlas des plantes de France, 1893
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:
-sore, red, inflamed eyes; conjunctivitis
-poor eyesight from straining or old age.
-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.
-skin conditions including weeping Eczema and Herpes.


DOSE:
In Decoction: 3–6, up to 9 grams
Of the Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 2–4 mls, up to 6 or 8mls.
The warm strained decoction or distilled water is used as a eyes wash.

Main Combinations:
1. Poor Eyesight:
i. Eyebright with Mace (as in Eyebright Powder) for poor Eyesight and to strengthen the Memory.
2. To strengthen the Brain and Eyes and quicken the Sight, Eyebright with Fennel seed, Clove, Cinnamon, Long Pepper, formed into an Electuary with Honey in which juices of Fennel, Rue and Celandine have been boiled
3. Red, Sore and inflamed Eyes:
i. Eyebright with Elder flower
ii. Eyebright, Self Heal, Balm
iii. Eyebright, Chrysanthemum, Peppermint
iv. Liver Heat, Eyebright, Blessed Thistle
v. Eyebirght, Ground Ivy, Cleavers
4. Catarrh:
i. Eyebright with Angelica, Yarrow, Cinnamon
ii. Eyebright, Fennel seed, Mace
iii. Eyebright, Nettle, Elder flower
iv. Eyebright, Yarrow, Elder flower, Rosehip
5. Allergic Rhinitis,
i. Eyebright, Nettle, Golden Rod, Blessed Thistle
ii. Eyebright, Nettle, Echinacea, Elder flower, Licorice
iii. Eyebright, Ephedra, Licorice
6. As an eye wash, Eyebright with Fennel, Rue, Celandine, Vervain, Betony, Rosemary, Fennel seed, Calamus, prepared as a distilled water.
7. A steam bath for the Eyes, Eyebright with Valerian, Camomile, Vervain, Elder flowers in white wine (Treben)
8. Eye drops for red and inflamed eyes; add a little tincture of Eyebright to Rose water.
9. Eye water; Rose water, Eyebright water (60 parts each), Aloe (4 parts), Sugar (1.25)
10. Eyebright Drops of Kneipp: Aloe (0.2), Fennel seed, Eyebright (10 each), Spirit (20), Distilled Water (80); digest, filter. Take a teaspoonful 3 times daily.
11. Headache, Migraine, Eyebright with Betony, Rue, Rosemary, Sage (as in Syrup of Betony)

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, and a Wine