Watery, itchy and red eyes? Have you caught an eye infection? We have the best home remedies for conjunctivitis.
The eyes water, itch and burn, are red, swollen and stuck together by secretion. Hello, dear conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis can affect any of us. If you have been badly affected, you should definitely see a doctor.
For mild itching and burning, home remedies for conjunctivitis can also help you.
Table of contents
What is conjunctivitis?
The conjunctiva covers the inside of the eyelids and overlays the sclera to the edge of the cornea. It is a thin and well perfused mucous membrane that moistens the eye and protects it from pathogens.
Conjunctivitis is a disease that can have various causes.
Often it is an infection by viruses or bacteria the cause. But it can also be an allergic reaction. Draught, dust or smoke can also cause eye inflammation.
Before you try home remedies for conjunctivitis, you should know the cause. Consult an ophthalmologist for this.
When home remedies for conjunctivitis can help
Conjunctivitis triggers various symptoms. They can appear in one or both eyes.
- Strongly reddened eyes
- increased lacrimation
- white-yellowish, purulent eye secretion
- Itching and burning
- Foreign body sensation in the eye
- Pain
Tip: If you wear contact lenses, do not wear them if you have conjunctivitis until your eyes are completely healed.
Home remedies can help with all these symptoms. Provided that the inflammation is not yet so far advanced. If it does not get better after 2 days: go to the doctor!
Attention: Your pollen allergy can promote eye inflammation!
The best home remedies for conjunctivitis
Not every eye inflammation needs to be treated with medication. Often it heals on its own after a few days. Home remedies for conjunctivitis support the healing process and alleviate the symptoms.
1. honey has antibacterial effect
If you are looking for a natural home remedy for conjunctivitis, honey is one of the best.
Melt a small amount of honey in warm water. Put two drops in the eye with a clean dropper.
The honey has an anti-inflammatory effect and soothes the eye. Apply the solution twice a day on both eyes. Even if not both eyes are affected.
Tip: Works best Manuka honey*. You can order it from Amazon.
2. eye douche with saline solution
Put a teaspoon of salt in a cup of boiling water. Dip a handkerchief or cotton pad into the salt water and wipe your eyes with it.
Attention: Use a new cotton pad each time you wipe again.
To rinse your eye properly, pull your eyelid down and put a few drops of saline solution into your eye. Gently rinse your eyeball with it. Bend over a sink while doing this.
The saline solution cleanses the affected areas and soothes irritation.
Tip: To facilitate rinsing with, get yourself an eye bath tub. You can order them from Amazon.
Attention: This is how long a cold is contagious!
3. apple cider vinegar as a home remedy for conjunctivitis
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most effective home remedies.
It has a strong antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effect. Which is why it also helps with eye inflammation.
Dilute one teaspoon of vinegar with 300 ml of water. Apply the solution to the closed eye. Repeat the application up to four times a day.
Here you will learn everything about the best home remedies:
4. turmeric for inflammation of the eye
Turmeric originally comes from traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine. The powder prevents inflammation.
Mix two teaspoons of turmeric with 250 ml of water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Then let the turmeric water cool down a bit and pass it through a coffee filter. Dip a washcloth into the turmeric water and gently wipe your eyes.
5. quark compresses as a home remedy for conjunctivitis.
Quark pads are used to cool and relieve swelling. Dip a clean cotton cloth in cold water and squeeze it. Put the curd on the cloth.
Put the cloth on your closed eyes.
Attention: Do not apply the curd directly to the skin or eye. This may aggravate the conjunctivitis.
Leave the quark pad on the eyes for about 30 minutes. Remove the pad and now carefully wash the closed eyes with lukewarm water.
In case of severe eye inflammation, take down the overlay already after 20 minutes.
6. eyebright against inflamed eyes
Eyebright is a medicinal plant that has anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effects.
You can use fresh or dried eyebright herb. For fresh, use one tablespoon. For dried, use one heaping teaspoon.
Pour 250 ml of boiling water over the herb and let the tea steep for ten minutes.
Then pour the water through a very fine sieve or coffee filter. This way there are no more fine plant particles that could irritate the eye.
Take a separate washcloth for each eye. Dip the washcloth in the tea and apply it as a compress.
If your eye is stuck, you can also wipe it gently.
Leave the eyebright pad on the eyes until the cloth is cold. Repeat this several times a day with freshly prepared tea and clean compresses.
7. anti-inflammatory compresses with marigolds
Calendula has an anti-inflammatory effect and stimulates wound healing. As with eyebright, you simply prepare a decoction from the plant parts. Apply the compress and leave it to work until it is cold.
Attention: If you have eye inflammation, it is better not to use camomile compresses. It often causes allergic skin rashes and irritations. Unlike chamomile, calendula does not cause allergic reactions.
8. fennel seed against painful eyes
Another home remedy for conjunctivitis is fennel seeds. Crush the seeds in a mortar. Also prepare a decoction for a compress.
In fennel honey, the seeds with their disinfectant action are also curative for coughs.
Equally helpful for the treatment of mild eye inflammation are Rose petals*- or sage pads.
9. cucumbers as a home remedy for conjunctivitis
Cold cucumber slices are ideal not only for beauty masks. Their mild anti-inflammatory effect and vasoconstrictor cold relaxes the tissues and makes puffiness of the eyes subside.
Instead of cucumber slices, you can use fresh potato slices from the refrigerator.
10. onion milk wash as a home remedy for conjunctivitis.
Onion has an anti-inflammatory effect and is therefore a proven home remedy for conjunctivitis.
Peel the onion, chop it and then boil it in 250 ml of milk. Add a little honey to it.
Let the milk cool and wash the eye several times a day with the onion-milk mixture.
11. mashed potato pack soothes the eyes
An old but often forgotten home remedy for conjunctivitis is a mashed potato pack.
To do this, heat milk, mash potato and mix it together with an egg yolk to form a porridge.
Let the mashed potatoes cool down a bit. Then put it on a cloth and then on the inflamed eye.
12. oak bark soothes the inflammation of the eyes
Especially for inflammation caused by cold wind, oak bark is well suited as a home remedy for conjunctivitis.
To do this, bring a teaspoon of oak bark to a boil with water. Strain the liquid and pour it with cold boiled water.
Soak a cotton cloth in the decoction and apply it to the affected eye. Repeat this several times a day. Always take a fresh decoction for this.
13. herbal eye drops against conjunctivitis
Homeopathic eye drops are also helpful for eye inflammation. You can get them at the pharmacy.
How you can prevent eye inflammation
Infectious conjunctivitis is contagious. To prevent the spread, use your own towels and washcloths.
Also change them daily. Do not touch your eyes with your fingers and wash your hands regularly.
Our conclusion
Home remedies for conjunctivitis relieve pain and speed up healing. Pay special attention to hygiene in case of eye inflammation. Wash your hands regularly.
After a few days your eyes should calm down and the conjunctivitis should disappear.
Get well soon!
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