Eyebright
Scientific names: Euphrasia rostkoviana, Euphrasia officinalis, Euphrasia stricta
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Alternate names: Aufraise, Augentrostkraut, Casse-Lunettes, Eufrasia, Euphraise, Euphraise Officinale, Euphraise de Rostkov, Euphrasia, Euphraisia Eye Bright, Euphrasiae Herba, Eye Bright, Herbe d'Euphraise, Luminet
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Hepatoprotective
Background
Eyebright is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine.
Eyebright is taken by mouth for swelling (inflammation) of the nasal cavity and sinuses (rhinosinusitis), allergies, hay fever, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Despite serious risk of infection, some people apply eyebright directly to the eye for conjunctivitis, eyelid swelling (blepharitis), and eye fatigue.
In foods, eyebright is used as a flavoring ingredient.
Eyebright is taken by mouth for swelling (inflammation) of the nasal cavity and sinuses (rhinosinusitis), allergies, hay fever, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Despite serious risk of infection, some people apply eyebright directly to the eye for conjunctivitis, eyelid swelling (blepharitis), and eye fatigue.
In foods, eyebright is used as a flavoring ingredient.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Eyebright is LIKELY SAFE when taken in the amounts found in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if eyebright is safe when taken in amounts found in medicines. It might cause confusion, headache, nausea, constipation, cough, trouble breathing, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and other side effects.
When applied into the eye: Eyebright is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can be contaminated and cause eye infections. It might also cause tearing, itching, redness, vision problems, and other side effects.
Diabetes: Eyebright might lower blood sugar in some people. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use eyebright.
Surgery: Eyebright might lower blood sugar in some people. In theory, eyebright might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using eyebright at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When applied into the eye: Eyebright is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. It can be contaminated and cause eye infections. It might also cause tearing, itching, redness, vision problems, and other side effects.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if eyebright is safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Diabetes: Eyebright might lower blood sugar in some people. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use eyebright.
Surgery: Eyebright might lower blood sugar in some people. In theory, eyebright might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using eyebright at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis). Early research shows that about 82% of people with pink eye who use eyebright eye drops have symptoms resolve within 2 weeks. But pink eye usually resolves on its own within 2 weeks. So, it's unclear if eyebright has added benefit.
- Allergies.
- Colds.
- Coughs.
- Earaches.
- Headache.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the nasal cavity and sinuses (rhinosinusitis).
- Other conditions.
Dosing & administration
The appropriate dose of eyebright depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for eyebright. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Eyebright might lower blood sugar in some people. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking eyebright with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
Some medications for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Eyebright might lower blood sugar. Using it with other herbs and supplements that have this same effect might increase the risk of blood sugar dropping too low. Some of these herbs and supplements include devil's claw, fenugreek, guar gum, Panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and others.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Action
The chemicals in eyebright might act as astringents and kill bacteria.
Products
View all productsRRP: $52.95$42.36Save: 20%
No longer stocked by vital.ly
Create account
Practitioner product
RRP: $41.95$29.37Save: 30%
Create account
Per 1 mL:
- Euphrasia
- Pulsatilla pratensis
- Echinacea purpurea ext. 13.34 mg
- Sambucus nigra ext. 22.22 mg
- Zinc glycinate 670 μg equiv. zinc 200 μg
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 24.33 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 20 mg
- Gelsemium sempervirens
- Rhus toxicodendron (Poison Ivy)
- Mentha x piperita ext. 13.33 mg
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) 0.25 μg equiv. vitamin D 10 IU
- Allium cepa (Onion)
RRP: $20.99$16.79Save: 20%
Create account
Per 0.52 mL:
- Euphrasia
- Sinapis nigra
- Sticta pulmonaria
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Arsenicum album (Ars alb)
- Sabadilla
- Ambrosia artemisiaefolia
- Arsenicum iodatum (Ars iod)
- Kalium iodatum (Kali iodatum)
- Naphthalinum
RRP: $23.99$19.20Save: 20%
Sold out
Create account
return unknown
Per serve:
- Euphrasia
- Mixed pollens and dust mite
- Histaminum muriaticum
- Arsenicum album (Ars alb)
- Paloondo
- Sabadilla
- Pheniramine
- Allium cepa (Onion)
Practitioner product
Per 0.52 ml:
- Euphrasia
- Mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni
- Sodium chloride
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Atropa belladonna
- Gelsemium sempervirens
- Potassium dichromate
- Potassium iodide
- Anemone pulsatilla (Pasque flower)
- Calcium sulphate (Calc sulph)
- Sambucus nigra (Elderberry)
- Schoenocaulon officinale
Practitioner product
Per 10 mL:
- Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright) ext. equiv. dry 1.05 g
- Sambucus nigra ext. equiv. dry 2.1 g
- Echinacea purpurea ext. equiv. dry 1.05 g
- Plantago lanceolata ext. equiv. dry 840 mg
- Achillea millefolium ext. equiv. dry 700 mg
- Tilia cordata ext. equiv. dry 700 mg
- Calendula officinalis ext. equiv. dry 420 mg
- Cinnamomum verum ext. equiv. dry 210 mg
- Pimpinella anisum (seed) oil
- Water
- Glycerol
- Alcohol
Practitioner product
Per 10 mL:
- Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright) ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Crataegus monogyna ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Rehmannia glutinosa ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. equiv. dry 533 mg
- Urtica dioica ext. equiv. dry 888 mg
- Petroselinum crispum ext. equiv. dry 888 mg
- Trifolium pratense ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. equiv. dry 711 mg
- Avena sativa ext. equiv. dry 355 mg
- Equisetum arvense ext. equiv. dry 355 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus ext. equiv. dry 107 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext. equiv. dry 71 mg
- Cinnamomum verum ext. equiv. dry 71 mg
- Syzygium aromaticum ext. equiv. dry 18 mg
- Mentha x piperita oil
- Pimpinella anisum oil
- Glycerol
Practitioner product
Per serve:
- Euphrasia
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Kalium bichromicum
- Sabadilla
- Natrium chloratum
- Kalium sulphuricum
- Ferrum phosphoricum
RRP: $19.10$14.89Save: 22%
Create account
Per 1 mL:
- Euphrasia
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 4.87 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 4 mg
- Allium cepa 6 C
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A) 240 μg equiv. vitamin A RE 20 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 70.63 μg equiv. pyridoxine 40 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 0.06 μg
- Anemone pulsatilla (Pasque flower)
- Ferrous phosphate (Iron)
- Potassium dichromate
- Potassium iodide
- Sodium chloride (Salt)
RRP: $20.99$16.79Save: 20%
Create account
Per 1 mL:
- Euphrasia
- Echinacea purpurea ext. 6.7 mg
- Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka honey) 65 mg
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A) 150 μg equiv. vitamin A RE 25 μg
- Cholecalciferol 0.25 μg equiv. vitamin D3 10 IU
- Zinc glycinate 443 μg equiv. zinc 125 μg
- Mentha x piperita ext. 13.3 mg
- Sambucus nigra ext. 41.7 mg
- Hedera helix ext. 5 mg
- Honey 325 mg
- Gelsemium sempervirens
- Sodium chloride (Nat mur)
- Anemone pulsatilla (Pasque flower)
- Allium cepa 3 C
RRP: $20.99$16.79Save: 20%
Sold out
Create account
Due back 26/04
Per 0.52 mL:
- Euphrasia
- Sodium chloride
- Sambucus nigra (Elderberry)
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Galphimia glauca
- Schoenocaulon officinale
- Ailanthus altissima
- Ambrosia artemisiaefolia
- Aralia racemosa
- Ampelodesmos mauritanicus
Practitioner product
Per serve:
- Euphrasia
- Atropa belladonna
- Hamamelis virginiana (Witch hazel)
- Aesculus hippocastanum (Horsechestnut)
- Porcine lachrymal glands
- Porcine lens
- Porcine optic nerve
- Ruta graveolens
Practitioner product
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 19/02/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 01/12/2014 22:58:10. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.