Eyebright

Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)

Also known as: Euphrasia • Bright Eye • Red Eyebright
Family: Orobanchaceae (not related to ragweed)
Origin: Native to Europe; naturalized in parts of North America
Parts used: Aerial parts (leaf, flower, stem)
Primary use: Internal & External

✨ Description

Delicate yet powerful, Eyebright is the traditional herb of clarity — used for centuries to support the eyes, sinuses, and upper respiratory system.
Its tiny white blossoms, each marked with a purple “eye,” have long symbolized clear sight and lifted perspective — both physical and spiritual.

Traditionally brewed as a tea or applied as a compress, Eyebright helps relieve eye strain, inflammation, allergies, and sinus congestion. It tones the mucous membranes, dries excess secretions, and clears fogginess from both vision and thought.

This is an herb that brightens — cleansing the eyes, clearing the mind, and awakening the senses.

🍵 Dried Herb Uses

As a respiratory and eye-supporting tonic:

• Eye Health: Used in compresses or washes for redness, irritation, or fatigue.
• Sinus & Allergy Relief: Clears congestion and soothes inflamed tissues.
• Upper Respiratory Support: Eases symptoms of colds, hay fever, and sinus infections.
• Mental Clarity: Traditionally used to lift mental cloudiness and fatigue.
• Mucous Membrane Tonic: Dries excess moisture without irritation.

Directions (Internal Use):
Steep 1 teaspoon of dried Eyebright in 8 oz of hot water for 10–15 minutes.
Drink 1–2 cups daily for sinus and allergy support.
Pairs beautifully with Nettle Leaf, Elderflower, or Peppermint during allergy season.

💧 External Uses

• Use as a cool compress or eyewash (using sterile water and strained tea only).
• Add to facial steams for sinus cleansing and relaxation.
• Infuse into soothing eye or sinus balms with Chamomile or Rose petals.

(Always use sterile, filtered water when applying near the eyes.)

🔮 Metaphysical & Energetic Uses

• Clarity & Insight: Enhances intuition and perception.
• Focus & Awareness: Helps clear emotional “blur” and spiritual fatigue.
• Vision & Light: Associated with foresight and truth-seeking.

Affirmation:

“I see clearly — through my eyes, my intuition, and my higher self.”

🌿 Pairing Suggestions

• Nettle Leaf or Elderflower – for allergies and sinus balance.
• Peppermint or Lemon Balm – for cooling relief and mental clarity.
• Chamomile or Rose – for soothing eye and skin applications.
• Mullein Leaf or Thyme – for congestion and respiratory cleansing.

🌼 Harvest & Sourcing

Our Eyebright is wild-harvested from the cool meadows of Eastern Europe, where it grows in bright, open fields.
The aerial parts are handpicked during summer bloom and gently shade-dried to preserve their fine aroma and clarity-giving potency.

⚖️ Energetics & Taste

• Taste: Mildly bitter, astringent, and cooling.
• Energetic profile: Drying, cooling, and clarifying.
• Pairs well with: Nettle, Elderflower, Peppermint, and Chamomile.

⚠️ Warnings

• Avoid applying directly into the eyes unless prepared as a sterile, filtered eyewash.
• Not for use during pregnancy or nursing without medical supervision.
• Use caution with dry constitutions — may be too drying in excess.

🌻 A Note from the Herbalist

Eyebright is more than an herb for the eyes — it’s a plant of perception.
It clears the physical vision while illuminating the unseen, reminding us to look both outward and inward with clarity and grace.
A cup of Eyebright tea is a quiet awakening — gentle, light-filled, and cleansing.