C.E. asks from Provo, UT on May 29, 2009
Natural Remedy for Itchy Eyes
My husband and I are struggling with seasonal allergies at the moment. Our eyes are itchy, and feel like they are full of something, but they aren't gunky. My mother in law suggested lime juice mixed with water as an eyewash. I love her, but I don't always trust her home remedies because some of them are old wives tales. And lime juice in my eye doesn't sound good. Do you know of a natural remedy for this? We can live with the headaches and sneezing, but the eye thing is really bothersome.
So What Happened?™
I got some local honey from the farmer's market. It tastes so much better than the clover honey from the grocery store by the way! Either the spoonful of honey every morning is working or the main culprit was my lilac bush, which is no longer blooming. Whichever it is, my eyes feel better. I can tell a difference with my throat and nose symptoms after eating the honey, so I'm going to keep that up. But just in case the eye irritation was due mostly to my lilacs, which only bloom for 2-4 weeks every year, I'm keeping a list of your suggestions for next year. Thank you all for your good advice!
Featured Answers
J.P. answers from Denver on June 02, 2009
eyebright, nettle, quercetin, and homeopathic allergy remedies. All can be found at vitamin cottage or whole foods.
J. :-)
More Answers
S.M. answers from Casper on May 29, 2009
http://www.herballegacy.com/Eye_Ailments.html
I have also heard that grape seed extract is great for allergies.
N.W. answers from Salt Lake City on May 30, 2009
Witchhazel. You can make tea if you strain it with a CLOTH - like a dish towel. Then you use an eye cup to rinse your eye. OR if you're desperate, you can use the palm of your hand.
They also make a witch hazel eye rinse. They have it near the eye drops section at the grocery store. It comes with an eye cup and directions.
Witch hazel is a natural astringent. So, in addition to rinsing your eye, it will reduce redness. It works great for both allergies and pink eye.
J.M. answers from Provo on May 30, 2009
I'm a Nutritional Herbologist and what my family uses is a formula with marshmallow root and astragalus root. It comes in capsules called Immucalm and in luquid form called Kid-e-Soothe. Both of these are made by the Dr. Christopher company and can be purchased at a healthfood store. The only difference between the two formulas is the liquid form is in glycerin for the benefit of children, and it tastes pretty good. They work equally well and we use them on adults and children alike in our home. You take both of the orally, but they do help to reduce itchy, red, irritated eyes. It's perfectly safe to take a dose every hour if needed.
K.D. answers from Denver on May 29, 2009
We do nasal rinses. They help with the headaches and sneezing, as well. As long as I'm faithful, I don't need meds. I can wear my contacts now with no problem, which used to be painful during allergy season. Hope you feel better soon!
M.W. answers from Great Falls on May 30, 2009
H.M. answers from Denver on May 30, 2009
I know you said natural, but my doctor recommended some drops for my eyes, that were absolutely driving me crazy!! I use a natural tears type drop every morning to help with the dryness, but it just wasn't cutting it and I was going nuts! He told me to get Alaway - inexpensive and at Wal-mart and the best thing ever. It worked great and I even reduced how often I was using it, to only every once in awhile, which is fabulous! Just thought I'd share - good luck!
A.A. answers from Denver on May 30, 2009
Colloidal Silver, as long as you get the right kind, is great for anything eye-related. I use it in my eyes for styes, and for pink-eye w/ my kids. You can also take it internally to build up your immune system when people around you are sick or you feel like you're coming down w/ something (or traveling on an airplane, etc).
You can get the kind I use here:
http://www.mylifeforce.net/amystarr/colloidal-silver.html
Enjoy!
A.
K.B. answers from Colorado Springs on June 01, 2009
A cold wash cloth will go a long way to ease the itch. There are also herbal allergy drops OTC called Similasan that work great. Also good OTC are Alaway or Zaditor (these are safe for long term use where as Opcon and naphcon are only for short term use.) Sometimes if it's really bad you just need a good RX from your eye doctor. There are several eye drops out there that are safe for long term use (ie over the spring, summer and fall. If you can't find relief see a local optometrist!
Email