Eyebright: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

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.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Eyebright overview.

Side Effects

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 and 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.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Eyebright
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.

Dosing

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.

View References

REFERENCES:

Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. 3rd ed., Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press, 1993.

Wichtl MW. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Ed. N.M. Bisset. Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers, 1994.

Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.

Chang, I. M. Liver-protective activities of aucubin derived from traditional oriental medicine. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol 1998;102(2):189-204.

Bermejo, Benito P., Diaz Lanza, A. M., Silvan Sen, A. M., De Santos, Galindez J., Fernandez, Matellano L., Sanz, Gomez A., and Abad Martinez, M. J. Effects of some iridoids from plant origin on arachidonic acid metabolism in cellular systems. Planta Med 2000;66(4):324-328.

Ersoz, T., Berkman, M. Z., Tasdemir, D., Ireland, C. M., and Calis, I. An iridoid glucoside from Euphrasia pectinata. J Nat Prod 2000;63(10):1449-1450.

Stoss, M., Michels, C., Peter, E., Beutke, R., and Gorter, R. W. Prospective cohort trial of Euphrasia single-dose eye drops in conjunctivitis. J Altern.Complement Med 2000;6(6):499-508.

Lee, D. H., Cho, I. G., Park, M. S., Kim, K. N., Chang, I. M., and Mar, W. Studies on the possible mechanisms of protective activity against alpha- amanitin poisoning by aucubin. Arch Pharm Res 2001;24(1):55-63.

Porchezhian, E., Ansari, S. H., and Shreedharan, N. K. Antihyperglycemic activity of Euphrasia officinale leaves. Fitoterapia 2000;71(5):522-526.

Chang, I. M., Ryu, J. C., Park, Y. C., Yun, H. S., and Yang, K. H. Protective activities of aucubin against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. Drug Chem Toxicol. 1983;6(5):443-453.

Ulubelen, A., Topcu, G., Eris, C., Sonmez, U., Kartal, M., Kurucu, S., and Bozok-Johansson, C. Terpenoids from Salvia sclarea. Phytochemistry 1994;36(4):971-974.

Recio, M. C., Giner, R. M., Manez, S., and Rios, J. L. Structural considerations on the iridoids as anti-inflammatory agents. Planta Med 1994;60(3):232-234.

Mokkapatti R. An experimental double-blind study to evaluate the use of Euphrasia in preventing conjunctivitis. Brit Homoeopath J 1992;1(81):22-24.

Salama O and Sticher O. Iridoid glucosides from Euphrasia rostkoviana. Part 4. Glycosides from Euphrasia species. Planta Med 1983;47:90-94.

Rombouts JE and Links J. The chemical nature of the antibacterial substance present in Aucuba japonica Thunbg. Experientia 1956;12(2):78-80.

Chang I. Antiviral activity of Aucubin against Hepatitis B virus replication. Phytother Res 1997;11(3):189-192.

Teotia, S. and Singh, M. Hypoglycemic effect of Prunus amygdalus seeds in albino rabbits. Indian J Exp.Biol. 1997;35(3):295-296.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2025 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.