Chamomile can be used to wash your eyes. A chilled decoction or water infusion is safe and almost never causes side effects, so this solution is quite suitable for hygiene procedures. Including chamomile decoction or water infusion, it can be used to wash the eyes of a child with conjunctivitis of various origins as additional procedures to the main treatment.
As a rule, in almost all cases of using chamomile to wash the eyes, there is no need for this remedy.
At the same time, you should not wash your eyes with chamomile for various diseases (including conjunctivitis), if such washes are considered as the main treatment. No chamomile preparations can treat infections that cause conjunctivitis, cannot cure eye diseases, and should not be considered as medications.
In other words, you can wash your eyes with chamomile, especially for a child, either simply for hygiene, or as an additional measure during full-fledged drug treatment. Nothing can be treated or cured with such washings.
What tea is better for rinsing?
Black, green, yellow teas and their mixtures are used to wash the eyes.
The most effective and potent varieties are considered to be long leaf (tea consisting of individual tea leaves) and large-leaf varieties. But teas with additives and flavorings should be treated with caution. Often, artificial additives or inappropriate components cause allergies and aggravate the painful condition.
To wash your eyes, you can use tea mixtures containing natural additives:
- pharmaceutical chamomile;
- rosehip;
- linden;
- bird cherry flowers;
- thyme (thyme).
Rules for washing eyes with tea
How to wash an adult’s eyes with tea? 2 tsp. black tea should be poured into a glass, pour boiling water and steep for a little while. Cool. For rinsing, you need to use small pieces of cotton wool or cotton pads. For each eye you need to take your own cotton pad. Before washing, you should change your clothes; tea can ruin your formal clothes.
You need to tilt your head over the washbasin, then gently wipe with a disc dipped in tea, moving towards the inner corner from the outer one. When wiping, you need to constantly change cotton swabs. Be sure to ensure that the swab is wetted evenly and abundantly; it is unacceptable to wash the eye with a wet swab. After the procedure is completed, you need to blot your eyes with a napkin. If there is a feeling of “sand in the eyes” or inflammation of the conjunctiva, this procedure will bring significant improvement.
You can use eyelid baths. You need to fill a small container with tea, bring it to each eye in turn and try to blink.
You may be interested in: Herbal tea for kidneys, herbal medicine for kidney diseases
How is it useful?
All types of tea have pronounced bactericidal and bacteriostatic (inhibiting the proliferation of bacteria) properties, contain substances that help relieve swelling and improve the condition of the mucous membranes, and increase skin turgor.
External use of tea leaves has virtually no contraindications, allowing the procedure to be performed on adults, children of any age, and newborns.
How to wash your eyes with tea?
Treating your eyes with a tea drink can be harmful if done incorrectly. To carry out therapy you need:
- welding;
- sponges (cotton wool);
- water.
Brew a strong drink and let it brew until it cools. Next, you need to heavily moisten the cotton wool or sponge in the tea leaves. Each eyelid uses its own sponge. The neck is wrapped with cling film or a towel so as not to get dirty with the tea drink. It is advisable to bow your head in front of a basin or washbasin, as drops of the product drip and leave stains on clothes. Then move the moistened sponge from the outer corner to the inner one.
This action is repeated 2-3 times. The infusion should be instilled onto the inflamed area. Next, wipe the skin with light movements with a paper napkin, without rinsing with water. This procedure can also be performed on an infant. If a foreign body gets into your eyes, you just need to rinse your eyes with strained green or black tea. The benefits of the procedure will be noticeable immediately after completion.
How to use tea leaves correctly?
First of all, the tea must be brewed correctly.
There are several ways:
Why do tears sting my eyes?
- Tea is poured into a porcelain or ceramic teapot at the rate of 2 level teaspoons or one bag per glass of water. Pour boiling water over it, cover with a “hot water bottle” and leave to steep until the tea leaves cool to just above room temperature. This tea has a rich, deep color.
- The remaining tea leaves are poured with boiling water again and left to steep overnight. Use cold. Such light, unsaturated tea is popularly called “sleeping” or “married.”
To avoid tea leaves or tea dust from getting into your eyes, be sure to strain the tea leaves through a strainer or several layers of gauze.
Important! You cannot use tea leaves that have stood for more than two days. It becomes acidic and bacteria begin to multiply rapidly.
Strong, freshly brewed tea is used as a lotion on closed eyes. “Married” - for washing. It should be remembered that freshly brewed strong tea contains a large amount of tannins that can cause excessive dryness of the mucous membrane of the eye.
The brew is ready, you can start washing your eyes. To carry out the procedure you will need:
- welding;
- small basin or bowl;
- soft natural fabric or paper napkins;
- a cotton ball (disk, stick, sponge, gauze pad) individual for each eye;
- cape to protect clothes from tea drops.
Depending on the indications, there are several options for washing eyes with tea:
- Baths. Wash your hands and face thoroughly. Pour the tea into a suitable container, place your face in it and blink several times. Blot the area around the eyes with a soft cloth or paper napkin. This method is often used when foreign particles and dust get into the eyes.
- Washing. For each eye, use a separate piece of cotton wool (not gauze!), soak it well in the tea leaves. Tilting your head towards the eye being treated, carefully wipe first one eye, then the other, moving the swab from the outer corner of the eye to the inner one. Repeat several times. The procedure is carried out during the treatment of infectious diseases, when debris gets in, or when there is a “sand in the eyes” effect.
- Burial. To prevent eye infections (blepharitis, conjunctivitis) and dry eye syndrome, instill 2-4 drops of sleeping tea into each eye.
- Lotions. For cosmetic procedures, removing puffiness of the eyelids, eliminating bags and black circles under the eyes, and when the eyes are tired from prolonged strain, it is easier to make lotions. A cotton pad or gauze napkin, folded several times, is moistened in a strong, warm brew. Take a comfortable half-sitting position, tilt your head back, relax the eye muscles if possible, apply a wet napkin to the closed upper eyelid for 3-5 minutes. You can use brewed and cooled tea bags, after making sure they are intact.
- Compress. A gauze or cloth napkin is folded several times, moistened generously in a strong, warm tea solution, and wrung out lightly. Lie on your back or take a semi-sitting position. Apply a napkin to closed eyelids for 10-15 minutes.
The procedure for washing the eyes with chamomile for conjunctivitis
In order to understand how to wash your eyes with chamomile for conjunctivitis, it is necessary to take into account the age and condition of the patient. If a person can control himself, then the best way to treat the conjunctiva with chamomile infusion is to rinse the eye with the solution.
To do this, pour the warm liquid into a wide vessel, and then bring the eye closer to the surface of the infusion so that the eyelids touch the surface tension film. After this, you should blink frequently. As a result, the infusion will be distributed over the entire surface of the conjunctiva.
This should be done with each eye in turn. Before the procedure, the eyes are wiped with gauze soaked in warm boiled water. This removes pus and other impurities.
However, this procedure is not available to everyone. A particularly big problem with eye processing occurs in young children. Some parents doubt whether it is possible to wash the eyes with chamomile in infants. Experts say chamomile is safe and beneficial for people of all ages and conditions. The only limitation is allergies and atypical individual reactions.
We recommend that you read: The difference between white and red beans
You can wash the eyes of small children in different ways, with the exception of what has just been described. If the treatment is complex, based on the use of different drugs, chamomile can become a solution that can be used to cleanse the eyelids, eyelashes and conjunctiva from pus and other inflammatory products.
To do this, you need to take an infusion diluted with boiled water 2 times. Gauze is moistened in the solution and used to wipe the eyelids. If conjunctivitis is severe, accompanied by the discharge of pus, then after treatment of the eyelids it is necessary to change the material. The edges of the eyes are wiped with fresh gauze - first the outer, and then the inner.
If chamomile infusion is used as the only means of fighting infection and inflammation, then 2 drops can be instilled into the third eyelid area. Here the liquid is retained longer, and when blinking it is well distributed over the entire surface of the conjunctiva.
It can also be instilled when prescribing other medications that act directly on the surface of the eye. However, in this case, it is necessary to distribute the time of the procedures so that at least 2 hours pass between procedures. Otherwise, one product will wash away the other, which will reduce the effectiveness of each of them.
The frequency of treatment for any method of use should not be less than 3 times a day. Herbal remedies act slowly. To create an effective concentration, it is necessary that the therapeutic effect lasts as long as possible.
During periods of exacerbation or threat of spread of infection, treatment in any form must be carried out frequently. Recommended frequency: 5 times a day.
The duration of treatment is not strictly regulated. Rubbing, washing or instilling must be done until the symptoms of inflammation completely disappear. It is allowed to use chamomile infusion for prophylactic purposes.
However, it is not recommended to do this constantly, as it can cause irritation of the mucous membrane and skin. In addition, the disinfecting ability of chamomile is low, so its frequent use can help microorganisms become accustomed to this product.
We recommend that you read Chamomile Enema
Treatment of diseases
Eye rinsing with tea is indicated for:
- prevention of excessive tearing;
- redness of the corners of the eyes, which serves as a warning about the possibility of several diseases (canaliculitis, dacryocystitis, obstruction of the lacrimal ducts, blepharitis, angular and allergic conjunctivitis, computer vision syndrome);
- before using ophthalmic medications;
- if foreign bodies or chemicals come into contact with the eyes.
Important! For blepharitis, it is recommended to regularly wash the eyes with tea leaves and milk mixed in a 1/1 ratio.
Tea rinsing is also recommended in the complex treatment of conjunctivitis of various natures and barley.
For conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eyeball and eyelids, is one of the most common eye diseases, which affects both children and adults. Among its symptoms:
- photophobia;
- decreased visual acuity;
- unpleasant sensations in the eyes (burning, heaviness, dryness, “sand”);
- redness of the conjunctiva;
- mucous discharge;
- swelling of the eyelids.
Treatment is carried out comprehensively using (as prescribed by a doctor) pharmacological agents and disinfectant rinses, including tea.
Important! Rinsing with tea helps with conjunctivitis caused by foreign bodies or viruses. If the disease is bacterial or allergic, it can only temporarily alleviate the condition. In any case, consultation with a doctor and comprehensive treatment are required.
To relieve discomfort and cleanse the eyes of mucus and pus, repeated rinsing throughout the day is recommended:
- cooled or freshly brewed, quickly cooled tea solution;
- infusion of tea and chamomile flowers (2-3 tablespoons of chamomile are steamed with a glass of freshly prepared tea leaves, left for 1 hour, filtered, diluted to a light golden color, or ready-made tea leaves with additives are used);
- warm, strong brew from a mixture of black and green tea, taken in any proportions, with the addition of a tablespoon of dry wine per glass of solution.
Treatment of barley
Acute purulent inflammation of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid, popularly called stye, is manifested by the formation of a small reddish swelling on the edge of the eyelid, turning into extensive swelling of the skin and mucous membrane of the eyelid. 3-4 days after the first signs appear, the stye “ripens”: a purulent plug appears in the upper part of the edema, oozing pus when opened.
Important! Self-medication for acute purulent inflammation is unacceptable. If pus gets on the mucous membrane, it can penetrate into the blood vessels, which can lead to sepsis and meningitis.
At home, hot tea compresses are used as part of complex therapy. The algorithm is as follows:
- prepare a weak brew from tea (preferably green) and chamomile;
- a multi-layer gauze napkin is generously moistened with tea leaves, lightly wrung out, and applied to the closed eyelid;
- hold for 15-20 minutes, periodically, as it cools, wetting the napkin in the hot solution.
Why rinse and what is the benefit?
Washing your eyes with tea leaves is useful in the following situations:
- severe fatigue;
- swelling;
- redness;
- deterioration of vision and appearance of the eyelid due to a cold;
- allergy.
To treat barley (conjunctivitis), a tea drink is often used. It helps cure inflammation and improve the appearance of the visual organs.
Tea brewing will help cope with the symptoms of conjunctivitis.
The properties of black tea allow it to be used not only internally, but also as a cosmetic product. You can wash your eyelids with green tea, the benefits of which are similar. This procedure can be performed by adults and children without worrying about the consequences. Before use, it is better to consult a doctor and get recommendations on the treatment regimen. Tea helps relieve the symptoms of conjunctivitis, but it is also important to drip medications, since black and green tea, as well as fireweed, are unable to cope with the disease on their own.
Eye wash for children
Eye rinsing is an integral part of a newborn baby’s morning toilet routine. The main thing is not to get an infection during the procedure, wash your hands thoroughly and use sterile material.
If the eyes are clean, there is no need to use special solutions or infusions. It is enough to rinse the baby’s eyes with warm water and a very weak brew of black or green tea.
For children, use only loose tea leaves, not bags.
If your baby's eyes are very watery, prepare herbal teas based on chamomile, calendula, sage, and linden. To do this, pour 1-1.5 tablespoons of a medicinal plant or a mixture of herbs into a glass of boiling water and leave for about an hour. Then wash each eye, following the eye wash algorithm for adults.
For children older than 3-4 months, wiping can be replaced by instillation.
Important! If crusts appear on the eyelids, redness of the mucous membranes, purulent discharge, or swelling of the eyelids, consult a doctor immediately.
Starting from 5-6 years of age, children are taught to carry out the necessary hygiene procedures with their eyes on their own. Lotions and regular rinsing with tea are especially necessary when school begins, when the strain on the eyes increases.
What eye problems will it help with?
The main task of chamomile is to prevent inflammatory processes in the eye. It is prescribed for washing if a child or adult is at risk of contracting eye diseases (for example, one of the family members suffers from conjunctivitis).
Such procedures can be performed during the period of adaptation to kindergarten or school, during trips to nature, when it is not possible to maintain sufficient personal hygiene.
For medicinal purposes, chamomile is prescribed for conjunctivitis, blepharitis, barley, viral and fungal eye infections. Chamomile is used as an aid to keep the conjunctiva clean. After recovery, it can be used to prevent re-infection of the eyes.
If, while washing your eyes with chamomile, signs of inflammation, an allergic reaction or other eye damage appear, you should stop the procedure and consult a doctor. You can resume rinsing if the doctor considers it safe.
When should it not be used?
Tea has a minimum number of contraindications:
- individual intolerance;
- mechanical injury to the cornea;
- some infectious diseases.
Rinsing with tea helps relieve eye fatigue and improve their appearance at no extra cost. But it should be remembered that this procedure can only be used as a cosmetic, hygienic and prophylactic remedy. Tea is not an ophthalmic drug and can only be used as an additional remedy in the treatment of eye ailments.
Side effects
Chamomile often does not cause side effects or allergic reactions, but as with other remedies, you need to be careful when using it. Before rinsing, a cotton swab dipped in the broth should be swiped over the eye. If itching and burning occur, stop using the solution. With prolonged use of decoctions, the skin around the eyes may acquire a yellow tint, which means that the product has been absorbed into it. In case of individual intolerance, washing the eyes with chamomile decoction can lead to irritation and redness of the eyes. the occurrence of itching and burning. If such manifestations occur, you should stop using the product.
From dust and dirt
If necessary, the visual organs should be cleaned of dust. This should be done after walking in windy weather. This simple procedure will help prevent a number of infectious diseases.
Welding
To cleanse your child’s eyes, you can use regular tea leaves, it doesn’t matter whether it’s black or green tea. The brew cleanses the mucous membrane well and has a slight anti-inflammatory effect. This solution can be used from the baby’s first days. For each procedure you need to take a fresh portion of tea leaves.
Chamomile
Chamomile decoction has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. This decoction can be used both in the absence of eye problems and in cases of a number of infectious diseases.
Chamomile is brewed at the rate of a full teaspoon of plant material per glass of water. Bring to a boil, leave covered for 15 minutes, then filter.
Sage
Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The herb is brewed using the same recipe as chamomile. You can prepare the decoction for several days at once and store it in the refrigerator. Before use, the required amount of the composition is poured and slightly heated.
For brewing, it is convenient to use sachets with herbs, which are sold at the pharmacy. One sachet is poured with an incomplete glass of water, brewed and infused, after which it is used for its intended purpose.
Why is it necessary to rub your eyes?
You cannot neglect the treatment of a newborn’s eyes. Starting from the very first day, every mother should know that the baby’s eyes are a vulnerable place, they need to be looked after as carefully as the umbilical cord and folds on the skin. You need to wipe your newborn’s eyes for several reasons:
- protection against infections;
- freeing the tear ducts from secretions;
- hydration, since newborns do not have tears in the first weeks of life.
Rubbing the eyes of a newborn is not only a hygienic, but also a preventive procedure.
During the birth process, the baby passes through the birth canal, which is often infected with various diseases. And due to weak immunity, the infection can enter the mucous membrane and develop in the lacrimal canals of the child’s eyes. Daily eye treatment is not only a cleansing procedure, but also the prevention of various diseases, such as conjunctivitis.
