Latin name: EuphrasiaGenus: Pharyngeal Plant, Brown Root PlantsPopular names: St. Augustine’s wort, grassflower, autumn flower, milk thiefPlant description: Eyebright is a semi-parasitic plant that absorbs ready nutrient solutions from the roots of surrounding grasses. Annual plant, 20 to 30 cm high, soft-hairy, ovate and sharp-toothed leaves. Flower light purple to white, important feature is the yellow spot on the three-lobed lower lip. Flowering time: Late summer to autumn. Origin: Occurs on meadows throughout Europe, preferably in central and southern Germany and in Italy.
Medicinally used plant parts
The whole flowering herb (without roots)
Ingredients
Little essential oil, antibiotic aucubin, tannins and bitter substances, flavonoids.
Healing effect and use of eyebright
Eyebright, as the name suggests, is used for irritations of the eyes such as inflammation of the eyelids, conjunctivitis, barley grain, overstrained eyes, photophobia and burning sensation in the eyes. Rinse or compresses with eyebright have a pain-relieving and healing effect. In homeopathy, Euphrasia officinalis is used to treat inflammation of the eyes.
Preparation of eyebright
Briefly boil 1 teaspoon of chopped eyebright and 1 pinch of table salt with 1 cup of water and strain. Soak eye compresses with this hot decoction for eye wraps.
Combination with other medicinal plants
Decoctions of equal parts (for example, 20.0 g each) of eyebright herb, chamomile flowers and crushed fennel fruits. Pour 1⁄4 l of boiling water over 2 heaped teaspoons of this mixture, leave to stand for 15 minutes, strain. When cooled down, the decoction can be used for eye rinsing or you can soak eye compresses with it. Prepare the decoction fresh each time.
Side effect
none known