Tinctura Euphrasiae Tinktura vidca 30ml (Euphrasia rostkoviana)

Euphrasia, or eyebright (Euphrasia rostkoviana) is a genus of about 450 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae (formerly included in the Scrophulariaceae), with a cosmopolitan distribution. They are hemiparasitic on grasses and other plants. The common name refers to the plant's use in treating eye infections. Traditionally, it is also named "eyes of the Mother of God", "Saint Lucia's rose". Alternative names, mainly in herbalism, are Augentrostkraut, Euphrasiae herba, Herba Euphrasiae and Herbe d'Euphraise.

Many species are found in alpine or sub-alpine meadows where snow is common. Flowers usually are borne terminally, are zygomorphic, and have a lower petal shaped like a lip. The most common flower colours are purple, blue-white, and violet. Some species have yellow markings on the lower petal to act as a guide to pollinating insects.

 

Medicinal properties of eyebright (Euphrasia rostkoviana) and its preparations, specially mother tincture (Tinctura Euphrasiae, eyebright tincture) are well known for numerous  beneficial properties for human eys;

• eye infection
• allergic reactions
• iritis (inflammation of the iris)
• blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid)
• keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
• inflammation of the eyelids
• inflammation of the tear ducts
• short-sightedness
• dry eye or eye fatigue
• irritation - smoke, smog, eye fatigue due to prolonged computer use
• glaucoma and high eye pressure

 

History of eyebright

 

The herb commonly known as eyebright has the Latin name Euphrasis officinalis.  The French name is Casse-lunette and the German name is Augentrost which means consolation of the eyes.  The name Euphrasis is derived from the Greek word Euphrosyne which means joy. In Greek mythology, one of the three graces who was known for her joy and mirth was also named Euphrosyne. The herb may have been named after the grace Euphrosyne because the herb also brings joy and gladness to the person who is suffering from eye problems as this herb has many medicinal properties that are beneficial to the eye.

Another old tradition writes that the Greek word Euphrosyne was given to the small finch known as a linnet. The story goes that the linnet was the first to use the leaf of the herb to help clear the sight of her young. The linnet then passed this knowledge on to mankind who named the herb in honor of the bird.

Although the eyebright herb has a name of Greek origin, the ancient herbalists such as Dioscorides and Pliny make no mention of this herb.  It is not until the fourteenth century that we see it mentioned in Gordon’s “Liticium Medicina,” 1305, where it is considered medicine for the eye ‘outwardly in a compound distilled water and inwardly as a syrup.’  Matthaeus Sylvaticus, a physician of Mantua, recommended this herb for disorders of the eyes.  A treatise on the virtues of eyebright, entitled “Vini Euphrasiati tantopere celebrati,” was written by Arnoldus Villanovanus who said; "It hath restored sight to them that have been blind a long time." Hildamus also believed that it would restore the sight of many people who were seventy or eighty years old.

In the sixteenth century the herbalists such as Tragus, Fuchsius, and Dodoens regarded eyebright as a specific in diseases of the eyes.  In 1616, in the book “Countrie Farm,” Markham says: "Drinke everie morning a small drought of Eyebright wine." this was claimed to help the dimness of sight and restored old men’s sight to read small letters without their spectacles when they could hardly read large letters with their spectacles before. In 1671, Salmon said that eyebright strengthens the head, eyes and memory and clears the sight.  The famous seventeenth century herbalist Nicholas Culpepper said: "If the herb was but as much used as it is neglected, it would half spoil the spectacle maker’s trade and a man would think that reason should teach people to prefer the preservation of their natural before artificial spectacles, which that they may be instructed how to do…Being used in any of the ways, it strengthens the weak brain or memory." He also said eyebright helped, "all infirmities of the eyes that cause dimness of sight." In the eighteenth century eyebright tea was used, and there was a kind of ale called "Eyebright Ale" used in Queen Elizabeth’s time.  Euphrasia was used as a 14th-century cure for "all evils of the eye," and an eyebright ale was described in the Elizabethan era. It was a component of British "herbal tobacco," which was smoked for chronic bronchial conditions and colds. 

Poet’s such as John Milton used Euphrasis in their poems and described the benefits of eyebright on the eye. In his poem “Paradise Lost”, an angel gives Adam rue and eyebright to purge his sight. The Doctrine of Signatures was also credited as having prompted the use of eyebright for eye problems. One writer pointed out, "the purple and yellow spots and stripes which are upon the flowers of the Eyebright doth very much resemble the diseases of  the eye, as bloodshot, etc., by which signature it hath been found out that this herb is effectual for the curing of the same."  

 

The benefits of the use of eyertight (E. rostkoviana) in herbal preparations 
 

 

Herba Euphrasiae (Orobanchaceae), commonly known as eyebright grass, is a composition of very similar plant species, broadly defined as Euphrasiae officinalis, which are widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy. E. officinalis is an annual, herbaceous, semi-parasitic plant which exhibits numerous biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antifungal, antiviral, hypotensive, hapatoprotector, anti-epileptic, and anti-catarrhal activities. In traditional medicine, E. officinalis has also been effectively used for the treatment of eye disorders like conjunctivitis, hordeolum, etc. Eye drops made from E. officinalis are considered to be useful and safe in the treatment of ocular allergy symptoms. Folk medicine commonly uses eyebright aqueous extracts to treat eye disorders. Additionally, methanolic extracts of Euphrasia genus and its methanolic fractions have been evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The biological activity of aqueous tinctures and alcohol extracts are based on the accumulation of highly active compounds like iridoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids or etheric oils. It is supposed that E. officinalis preparations for the treatment of eye disorders are generally based on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Moreover, as full extracts are used on the principle of the historical tradition, selective extracts are employed mainly for reason of their specific activity.