 Eyebright
Euphrasia comes from the Greek and means gladness or wellbeing. It soon becomes clear when you look into the plant’s little face. |
Eyebright
| Synonyms for Eyebright: |
Euphrasia, Eyewort. |
| Scientific name: |
Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne |
| Family: |
Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon family) |
Description
This meadow-dwelling annual, which reaches a height of 10 to 30 cm, is easily overlooked amidst the sea of summer flowers. At first sight the white to pale violet flowers, which are no more than 1 cm long, resemble field pansies. With their violet-veined throat and three-lobed lower lip they might also be taken for small orchids. A prominent sign is the bright yellow spot on the lower lip, the shining eye of the flowers which adorn the many branched stems from late summer to autumn. Invisible to the observer are the root suckers with which eyebright draws nourishment from the roots of neighbouring grasses, this semiparasitic behaviour giving it an advantage over the other plants in the crowded meadow.
Habitat
Europe, particularly central and southern Germany, Italy, the Balkans and areas of Russia.
Constituents
Aucubin and other iridoid glycosides, lignans, flavonoids, tannins and a little essential oil.
Uses
The name truely reveals the use of this old medicinal herb: Eyewashes or compresses made from the tea relieve various inflammations of the eyes and eyelid margins. Warm compresses of eyebright tea provide relief for sties. Eye fatigue, photophobia and burning at the angle of the eye can be treated with eye drops containing eyebright. Eyebright tea can be taken internally to support the action of the eye drops.
In addition to these healing effects focussed entirely on the eyes, eyebright has another, amazing side: it has a fortifying effect on a generally weak constitution associated with frequent infections and photophobia. A course of treatment with teas over a prolonged period can lead to disappearance of the symptoms.
Eyebright in Dr.Hauschka Skin Care
In Dr.Hauschka Skin Care products the soothing powers of Eyebright are found in the refreshing and fortifying Dr.Hauschka Eye Solace as well as in our Eyeliner Liquid, Mascara and Volume Mascara.
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