Some Common Eye Tea Remedies

These days herbs and herbal teas are used as part of our wellness and curative regimens. The same is true for herbal remedies and the eyes.

One easy Eye tea preparation I can across was with Bilberry. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), which should not be confused with Red Bilberry or Alpine cranberry, is an excellent herb to be used for eyesight. Its active ingredient is a flavonoid anthocyanoside or anthoscyanidin. The medicinal properties in it seem to help degeneration of vision in older people, cataracts, retinopathy and glaucoma. Studies have shown that Bilberry improves circulation and oxygen to the eyes. Anthocyanosides act as a collagen stabilizer and is a great antioxidant. Bilberry has several common names it is known by. Blackberry, Wortleberry, Blueberry, Burren Murtle, Dyeberry, Huckleberry, Hurtleberry, Whinberry and Wineberry are all used as Bilberry�s common names.

The part of the Bilberry plant that is used is the berries and the leaves. It is taken internally to treat the eyes as an eye tea. You take 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried leaves and or berries together or 3 teaspoons of the fresh leaves and or berries and steep them in one cup of boiling water. One to two cups daily can be taken as a medicinal eye tea.

Another Herb that can be made as an eye tea and used externally is Red Eyebright. Red Eyebright or Euphrasia Officinalis is used in treating eyestrain, tired eyes and eye inflammation. You can purchase the herb loose or in teabags. It is easier to use the tea bag for external use because you prepare it as an eye tea by steeping the tea bag in boiling water. When it cools you squeeze out the excess water and put the eye bag on your eyes as a remedy. You can drink the tea as well. It will not harm you; some people are sensitive to it and experience minor side effects. If you feel any discomfort do not continue to drink it.

Althea or Althaea Officinalis can be made into an eye tea wash to soothe irritated eyes. It is also called Marshmallow, Mortification Root, Sweet Weed and Wymote. The flowers, leaves and roots are used in making herbal treatments. It can be made into an eye tea wash that can be used hot or cold. If you cannot get it as a tea bag then you can put 1 tablespoon of the leaves or flowers into boiling water for 5 minutes and strain. You can also put One tablespoon of the plant or teabag into water and let it sit for 8 hours. You can use sterile gauze or a sterile cotton ball to wipe your eyes as needed with the eye tea. You can use it three to 4 times a day until your eyes feel better.

For eye puffiness there are eye tea bags you can purchase in the health food store or online to put on your eyes. You prepare them as you would a tea but instead of drinking it you put the tea bags on your eyes. It can also be done with Chamomile or Green tea bags as well.A slice of Cucumber place over the eyes can then complete the treatment to soothe the eye area with any of the above recipes.

Chinese Medicine