![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Even slices of cooling cucumber will do something to help draw inflammation out of the eye area - and you get a bonus spa moment. Got a cucumber? It's a cliche, but not one without its basis in truth. Simply make a cup of tea as you normally would, but when you take the tea bag out don't wring it out all the way: leave it a little soggy and apply it to your closed eye for a few minutes, allowing the tea to soak into your eye area as best you can. In a pinch, I've also used a green tea bag (chamomile also works well) as a warm herbal eye compress. Kitchen cupboard resourcefulness to the rescue. Running low on herbal kitchen supplies? No problem. With any of these herbal allies, you want to be sure your herbal extracts or teas are well-strained of particulate matter which could further irritate the eye. I have never had any issues with the very small amount of alcohol in the extracts irritating sensitive eyes. I simply add a few drops of these herbal tinctures (I was taught no more than 10-20 drops of total tinctures per oz) to one oz or two of boiled, distilled water, or saltwater, or straight saline solution (and let it cool if you did the boiled water, obviously). It's a little tingly but a very useful anti-infective. I’ve used a drop or so of echinacea, too.Yarrow as a catch-all for all of the reasons listed above.Ground ivy as a very traditional ally for a range of eye issues, including soreness and weakness.Goldenrod for drying and easing itch and redness (extract available by special request - order Breathe Light and in the notes at checkout state 'please bottle goldenrod only').Plantain as a drawing, anti-inflammatory, and clarifying agent (extract available by special request - order Lung Support and in the notes at checkout state 'please bottle plantain only').Calendula for overall health and as an anti-inflammatory ( extract available by special request - order Lymph Love and in the notes at checkout state 'please bottle calendula only').Chickweed (pictured below) for moistening and clearing.Some of my favorite herbal extracts for eyewashes that we have in the shop are: There are a few herbs with affinities for and a long-standing tradition of addressing the eye area. With any of these methods, it's best to use distilled, filtered, or sterilized and boiled water to eliminate any opportunity for bacteria to get into the eye area. You can also just use water if you don't have salt on hand (though it may irritate the eye more than saltwater will). Use a premade saline solution or sterilized eye solution as your base and add your drops of herbal tinctures into that. Let that cool and then add in your herbal extracts. I make fresh homemade saline with one cup of boiled, filtered water to 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirred together so that the salt dissolves. Make a saline solution and add your herbal tinctures into that. A cooled tea of yarrow, horsetail, calendula, green tea, or chamomile makes a fantastic base for an eye formula. Make a strong base of an herbal tea or infusion and add herbal tinctures into it to make your eyewash. There are a couple of different methods I use when making an herbal eyewash: I love making up little batches of herbal eyewash for those mornings when you wake up with eyes that are red and crusty, inflamed, dry, or sore. I purchased this little vintage ceramic eyecup a few months ago for doing eyewashes and just recently got the chance to use it. ![]() Try making an herbal eyewash next time you have an eye irritation. ![]()
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