Medicinal Qualities of Eyebright

Eyebright is slightly tonic and the actions are anti-catarrhal, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and astringent. The anti-catarrhal property of eyebright works first on the upper portion of the respiratory tract and then on the mucous structures of the throat and bronchial tubes. It is very beneficial if the discharge is thin and watery. The common cold, hay fever, and even measles are helped by eyebright. The bronchial and pulmonary irritation caused by measles is relieved by the use of this herb. When there is an earache, headache, or distress across the eyes, as in acute catarrhal affections, eyebright has a direct influence upon the lachrymal apparatus. It has been recommended for use in epidemic influenza and when there is intestinal catarrhal as well.

The aucubin found in eyebright has an anti-inflammatory action which is useful when there is a cough, hoarseness, or sore throat. This also accounts for eyebrights well known reputation for soothing tired and inflamed eyes as well as improving weak eyesight with its cooling and detoxifying effect The other key nutrients responsible for this are niacin, riboflavin, cobalt, and silica.

The tannins act as astringents to help dry up secretions and relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes. This is helpful when treating conjunctivitis an inflammation of the protective membrane of the eyes, blepharitis an inflammation of the eyelids, and the catarrhal
conditions of the sinuses and nasal passages such as sinusitis and hay fever. The tannins and quercetin, a flavonoid found in eyebright are thought to reduce allergic responsiveness by inhibiting the release of histamines. ‘It's a very good herb for relieving runny eyes, especially
when they're caused by allergies,’ confirms Claire Gibson, N.D., a naturopathic physician based in Oakland, California.

The caffeic acid acts as an antiseptic in eyebright similar to goldenseal. This antiseptic property helps in fighting styes which is an inflammation of one or more of the sebaceous glands in the eyelid which is caused by the build up of toxic poisons and it will help other eye infections as well. The aucubin content also helps fight bacterial infections and liver toxicity. For this reason some herbalists use eyebright to treat jaundice and liver problems. Some studies say that eyebright has even been used to improve appetite, improve memory, help with vertigo, and cure epilepsy.

The vitamins B, C, E, beta carotene, copper, and selenium found in eyebright have been shown to improve clarity of eyesight by one or more lines on the eye chart over a 6 month period. The Vitamins B, E, and selenium were also shown to reduce cataracts over 5 months. In macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy the disease was slowed by 70% by using the Vitamins A, C, E and selenium all of which are found in eyebright.

The antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, and beta carotene all lower the risk of cataract formation and are all found in eyebright. Even a slight deficiency of vitamin A can cause tired eyes, sensitivity to light, dry eyelids and susceptibility to infection. The vitamin A found in eyebright may be why it is said to decrease sensitivity to light. Vitamin A is also crucial to the formation of visual purple for darkness adaptation so eyebright would help with night time vision as well. A severe deficiency in vitamin A can cause ulceration and distortion of the cornea and result in blindness.

The antioxidant vitamin C protects the lens proteins and proteases from damage by sunlight as well as helps in the production and maintenance of collagen which is important in glaucoma. Vitamin C works best with the flavonoid quercetin both of which are found in eyebright. The antioxidant vitamin E which is found in eyebright has been used to improve visual acuity in nearsightedness, crossed eyes, macular degeneration and reduce cataract risk by 50%.

When the body is deficient in the vitamin B complex, eye muscles may become paralyzed, light sensitivity may develop as well as itching, burning, bloodshot, and watery eyes. Nearsightedness can result from stress and the B vitamins help protect the nerves from damage that is due to stress. Vitamin B-5 or pantothenic acid is an anti-stress vitamin. Vitamin B-1 or thiamin is important for intracellular eye metabolism and vitamin B-2 or riboflavin deficiency has been linked to cataracts. All of these B vitamins are found in eyebright and contribute to its remarkable effects on the eyes.

Zinc, copper, and selenium help protect against cataracts because they act as antioxidants. The selenium also is used in the production of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase that protects red blood cells and cell membranes from free-radical damage. Zinc also helps stop macular degeneration because it is vital for the normal lens function, night vision, and maintaining the retina of the eye since there is a higher concentration of zinc in the retina then in any other organ. All of these minerals are found in eyebright.

Eyebright has some unusual characteristics that other herbs don’t possess. The volatile oil properties in the flowers are activated by sunlight and saturate the conjunctiva, cornea, sclerotic, chorloid, ciliary muscle and process, iris, suspensory ligament, both the posterior and anterior fluid chambers, lens, retina, optic nerve, and other miscellaneous tissue membranes.
The herb will then strengthen all of these and provide an elasticity or more resiliency to the optic nerve and devices responsible for sight. If any of these tissues have a laxity then it will help to tighten them up to normal again or if any are too tight it will help relax them. Eyebrights chemical constituents regulate the tensile strength of all the fibrous mass in the eyes by either tightening up or relaxing them as the case merits. Sunlight is the key to the eyebright herbs remarkable chemical conditioning performance. In the dark this chemical conditioning doesn’t function.