You can’t stop rubbing your eyes. They feel incredibly itchy. When you go to examine them in the mirror, you notice they are also bloodshot and inflamed. Oh no, it sounds like conjunctivitis!
Fortunately, homeopathy offers a safe and effective way to address the symptoms and the underlying cause of this pesky condition.
What is conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is an inflammation of the conjunctivae – the membrane that covers your eye. It can be caused by a bacterial infection, but people may also get it from a virus, allergy or hay fever. It usually affects both eyes and makes them:
red
burn or feel gritty
produce pus that sticks to the lashes
itch
water
How can I treat it?
Fortunately, conjunctivitis will usually sort itself out but there are things that you can do at home to help ease the symptoms.
Boil water and let it cool down before you gently wipe your eyelashes to clean off crusts with a clean cotton wool pad (1 piece for each eye).
Hold a cold flannel on your eyes for a few minutes to cool them down.
Do not wear contact lenses until your eyes are better.
Wash your hands regularly with warm soapy water.
Wash your pillow cases and face cloths in hot water and detergent.
Do not share towels and pillows.
Do not rub your eyes.
Which homeopathic remedies can I use?
Aconite
Sudden onset. Can start after being in dry cold winds, injuries, surgery, or a foreign body in the eye. Beginning stages of conjunctivitis with a dry hot feeling in the eye. Eyes feel as if there is sand in them – red, bloodshot & sore. Eyelids swollen hard and red. Fear, anxious with restlessness. Worse for light, night, and tobacco smoke. Better for open air.
Argentum nit
Great swelling of eyes, red and sensitive to light. A lot of smelly, creamy yellow discharge with eyelids glued together. The corners of eyes and eyelids can be red, swollen & inflamed. Aching, tired eyes - can’t keep eyes fixed. Better for cold or cold compress, pressure, closing eyes, cool air. Worse for warmth. Anxious & nervous.
Arsenicum alb
Watery, burning with red inflammation of the eyelids. Corrosive tears, makes cheeks & eyelids sore. Eyelids feel hot, intense burning • Stuck together with crusts. Intense photophobia with conjunctivitis - esp. sunlight • Restless, anxious about health & disease. Worse for light, around midnight (11pm-2am) right side and taking cold. Better for external warmth, company, sitting up, elevating head and open air.
Euphrasia
Eyes constantly water with hot, burning tears down cheeks. Thick sticky, yellow mucus collects at the corners. Feels as if sand in eyelids. Swelling of lids with burning. Might be accompanied with a bland discharge nose. Worse in sunlight and in a warm room, indoors, wind, or coughing • Better for wiping eyes, blinking, dark, open air and walking around slowly
Hepar sulph
Follows Aconite. Eyelids are swollen, inflamed and very sensitive to least touch & cold air. Aliments from getting chilled sitting in a draft dry cold wind. Splinter-like feeling in the eyes, as if something in them like sand or grainy or scratched. Sensation as if eyes are being pulled back into head. Eyes and eyelids red, inflamed with thick, yellow discharge- like old cheese. Very chilly, irritable & bad tempered. Worse for slightest draft, open air, touch, on waking and cold. Better for damp weather, heat and eating.
Pulsatilla
Following a cold or flu. Not much pain but lids inflamed and stuck together. Itching & burning of eyes - must rub them. Mild weepy, emotional with changeable symptoms. Better for company & sympathy, open fresh air, crying and motion. Worse for stuffy warm room.
How to take your remedy:
Start with 30c potency. If symptoms do not start to improve in 2-3 hours assess the symptoms and look for a new remedy. Alternatively, contact me and we can arrange an acute consultation.