Background

Eyebright (Euphrasia rostkoviana) is an herb with small white or red flowers. It's traditionally used as medicine in Europe.

Eyebright contains chemicals that might reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.

People use eyebright for hay fever, eye strain, common cold, cancer, cough, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse eyebright with clary sage, which is sometimes called clear eye. These are not the same.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Eyebright is commonly consumed in foods. It's used as a food flavoring in Europe. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if eyebright is safe when used in larger amounts as medicine. Side effects might include headache, nausea, and constipation.

When applied into the eye: Eyebright is possibly unsafe. It can be contaminated and cause eye infections. It might also cause tearing, itching, redness, vision problems, and other side effects.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if eyebright is safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Surgery: Eyebright might lower blood sugar in some people. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using eyebright at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

Traditionally, eyebright is used dried and as a tea. But as medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of eyebright might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Eyebright might lower blood sugar levels. Taking eyebright along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Eyebright might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.