There is an optical-enhancing flower used for hundreds of years to both enhance eyesight, and soothe tired, sore or inflamed eyes.
Open your eyes to eyebright; one of Dr. Sebi’s favorite flowers!
With Eyebright as its key ingredient, Dr. Sebi's Eyewash cleanses and nourishes your eyes, retinas and lenses. Kiss watery, red or swollen eyes goodbye, and give a warm welcome to beautifully bright peepers!
“It is the food that you eat that would reconnect you with the energies of life,
and then the words are unnecessary because you could see.” - Dr. Sebi.
Eye See You
Eyebright’s botanical name is Euphrasia, a large plant family containing nearly 450 different species. Eyebright is also called:
- Aufraise
- Augentrostkraut
- Casse-Lunettes
- Christ's Eyes
- Christ's Sight
- Eufrasia
- Euphraise
- Herbe d'Euphraise
- Luminet
Unsurprisingly, eyebright’s name comes from its ability to treat eye infections and improve vision - making your sight brighter. Eyebright is a flower native to Europe, and flourishes particularly well in the grassy meadows of Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and the UK (it’s now become naturalized in the US too). Eyebright is often found in picturesque snow-covered alpine landscapes.
Depending on the species of Euphrasia its color can be violet, red, white, or dark purple. In the late summer and fall, Eyebright produces its eye-catching flowers, and the whole plant (leaves, stem, and flower) is used for medicinal purposes. Its leaves are oval-shaped and often have teeth on the edges. It also produces small, capsule-shaped seeds in the fall.
The herb can grow in dry soil, but will remain quite small (just a few inches tall). However, when it grows in richer, more nutrient-dense soil it grows much bigger and often develops into a shrub with branches, preferring shaded alkaline soil to reach its full potential.
Eyebright’s Properties
Eyebright contains a multitude of beneficial compounds, here are some of the most potent:
- Antioxidants - help the eyes to absorb more nutrients.
- Caffeic Acid - a natural antiseptic that soothes infections.
- Essential Fatty Acids - known for preserving eye health.
- Flavonoids - like quercetin (reduces allergy symptoms) and rutin (strengthens blood vessels).
- Iodine - reduces swelling in and around the eye.
- Iridoid Glycosides - are a group of compounds that protect against harmful bacteria.
- Minerals - like copper, iron, selenium, silicon and zinc protect against cataracts.
- Tannins - dry up mucus secretions from the eye.
Eyebright is best known for reducing the symptoms of eye problems, but it has also been used to treat an extensive list of different health issues like:
- Allergies
- Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
- Bronchial Conditions
- Cancer
- Chest Congestion
- Colds
- Coughs
- Conjunctivitis
- Earache
- Epilepsy
- Excess Mucus
- Eyestrain
- Hay Fever
- Headaches
- Hoarseness
- Inflamed Nasal Passages
- Jaundice
- Pink Eye
- Runny Nose
- Seasonal Allergies
- Sinusitis
- Skin Conditions
- Sore Throat
- Styes
Looking into the History
Eyebright has a long and interesting herbal lineage:
- Eyebright is semi-parasitic (it doesn't just create food through photosynthesis) so it takes nutrients from nearby plants.
- Euphrasia is named after Euphrosyne, the Greek goddess of joy and mirth who along with her two sisters used Eyebright to make life for mortals more pleasant.
- Traditional herbalists have used it for millennia, but it wasn’t officially recognized until 1305.
- In European folklore, it was believed that carrying eyebright could improve your psychic abilities.
- It is associated with the Zodiac sign of Leo (the lion) due to its ability to strengthen the brain.
- In the Middle Ages, eyebright was dried and smoked with tobacco as a treatment for lung issues.
- Famous poets John Milton and Edmund Spenser gave a shout-out to Eyebright in their poetry.
- Eyebright is associated with the ‘third eye’ or Ajna chakra and is considered a masculine plant.
- It was believed that dropping eyebright infusion onto your eyelids would help you see hidden truths in the daytime, and give you prophetic dreams at nighttime.
Empower Your Eyes
Are you ready to elevate your sight with this visionary herb?
Harvesting Eyebright
- The best time to harvest eyebright is when it is in full bloom towards the end of summer.
- Simply cut the whole plant from the stem.
- Dry it by hanging it upside down.
- Consume it within 1 year.
Making Eyebright Tea
- Add 2 teaspoons of dried eyebright leaves to a cup of boiling water.
- Let the leaves infuse for 10 minutes.
- Drink and enjoy!
- You can also use this infusion as a compress.
Dr. Sebi’s Eyewash contains eyebright combined with prodigiosa to further reduce eye pain or inflammation, and protect against cataracts. Rich in antioxidant flavonoids this herbal duo protects the eye’s delicate tissues to ensure the long-term health of your vision.
Dr. Sebi’s Eye Wash
- Boil 8oz of distilled water.
- Add ½ tsp of Eye Wash Powder.
- Steep for 15 minutes, strain, and let cool to room temperature.
- Pour mixture into an eye cup and bring it close to your eyes.
- Tilt the cup back and forth, covering the eye completely. For best results, repeat this process twice a day.
- Refrigerate the remaining mixture in an airtight container for the next use.
Overlooking Your Eyes?
Eyesight is a critical sense that provides vital information about our environment and the people we meet. It’s often the first sense we become aware of upon waking, and we shut off our sight when we want to sleep. Sadly, most people don’t consider the health of their eyes until there is a problem.
Nourishing your eyes with Dr. Sebi's Eye Wash, and eating alkaline, can dramatically reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration. This means you can continue to read, admire nature or look into a loved one’s eyes for many years to come. Dr. Sebi relied on this visionary herb to maintain his own clear sight.
It’s never too late to treat your eyes to a fresh new look! What would you like to see more clearly?
