Eyebright — Euphrasia officinalis

Eyebright

Latin name: Euphrasia officinalis

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Part used: Aerial parts

Habitat: meadows in Britain and Europe

Main constituents: iridoid glycosides (aucuboside), tannins (aucubin), phenolic acids, volatile oil

Energetics: bitter, sweet, drying

Main herbal actions: astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, expectorant, decongestant

Minor herbal actions: tonic

Main medicinal uses: cold and flu, sinus and nasal congestion, congestive conditions of the eyes, external and internal conjunctivitis,

Minor medicinal uses: allergies

Preparations: infusion: 1-2 tsp/cup water, 30- 60 grams, dry herb weight (Khalsa); 1:4 tincture: 10-60 gtt qd-qid; can also use as a lotion around the eye

Contraindications: unknown

Toxicity: unknown

Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations

Module 2 reading

Eyebright is one herb whose folkloric reputation outstrips its actual usefulness. Despite its name and its history of use for the eyes, it’s not very effective, and there are certainly substances that produce more significant and consistent results. Eyebright is better as an upper respiratory tea than it is as an eye tonic. Dr. Dever and many other colleagues concur.