Home Remedies for Conjunctivitis
Home remedies for conjunctivitis, or pink eye, are usually based on soothing the inflammation and getting rid of the crusting that is common to this condition. Because the infection is centered around the eyes, it’s very important to clean the crusting and pus away frequently to allow the area to heal. It’s also crucial to not let anyone else handle or use your towels, face cloths or anything else that has touched your eyes since conjunctivitis is highly contagious.
If you have conjunctivitis, do not put contacts in your eyes. This traps the infection on the eyeball and can lead to an abscess or worse. Instead, rest your eyes as much as possible, avoiding reading for long periods or anything else that will strain your eyes.
Home Remedies for Conjunctivitis
Warm, moist compresses applied for five to ten minutes at a time will soothe the inflammation and keep the area relatively free of crusting. You can apply them three or four times daily with sterile or bottled water, or you can add some simple herbal ingredients in order to make them more effective.
One of the most popular compresses is made by infusing marigold leaves in hot water, then chilling the mixture in the refrigerator after straining out the leaves. You can use this mixture for cool compresses if you find that a cool compress feels better than a warm one.
Another excellent home remedy for conjunctivitis is chamomile. You can simply moisten chamomile tea bags in warm or cool water (whichever feels best to you) and relax while these are placed on your eyelids for about fifteen minutes. Fresh tea bags used up to four times a day can make a real difference.
If your eyes are especially red, inflamed and painful, toss a handful of dried coriander into a cup of hot water and steep for three to five minutes, then use this to gently wash away crusting and pus. After you’ve thoroughly cleaned the area you can use another cloth soaked in the coriander solution as a compress.
One of the most effective home remedies for conjunctivitis is an herbal eye wash made by adding two teaspoons chamomile flowers and one teaspoon Oregon grape root to two cups of boiling water. When it has cooled to a comfortable temperature, dip a clean, soft rag in it and wash the eye area. This also feels good if you use it after it’s been cooled a bit, which can also help with the inflammation.
Drink Home Remedy for Conjunctivitis
To speed the healing process and make sure the infection doesn’t spread to other parts of the body, you should consider drinking some of the home remedies that have been used for centuries to help clear up conjunctivitis from the inside out.
Drinking a 50/50 mix of spinach juice and carrot juice is an excellent way to treat conjunctivitis. You should drink a full glass daily until the infection has cleared up. If you prefer, you can drink a cup of gooseberry juice with two teaspoons of honey added. The honey is a natural antibacterial that will quickly help get rid of any lingering germs while the gooseberry juice is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Whatever home remedies for conjunctivitis you choose, be sure you also keep your hands away from your eyes as much as possible and resist the urge to scratch or rub the eyes.