What is Pink Eye?
Also referred to as conjunctivitis, pink eye is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane that covers the white part of the eyeball and lines the inside of the eyelids. The conjunctiva helps to keep your eyes moist.
Most pink eye is caused by either a viral or bacterial infection or an allergic response. It can be quite infectious and may be generally characterized by symptoms from one or both eyes, such as:
- Itchiness
- Infection
- Release
- Tearing
What causes pink eye?
Like ear infections, most cases of pinkeye are also viral in nature. But some are bacterial and others are in reality an allergic response.
Viral Pink Eye Is…
Typically marked with clean, watery drainage
Contagious
Probably to start in 1 eye and proceed to another
Not treatable with antibiotics. “Most viral pinkeye cases Don’t Have Any specific remedy you just have to Allow the virus run its course, which is usually four to seven days” (1)
Frequently somewhat relieved by some of these relaxation measures listed under. Immune system support might also be helpful.
Often Tough to discern from bacterial pink eye (2)(3)
Bacterial Pink Eye Is …
Typically marked with greenish yellowish drainage
Contagious
Probably to start in 1 eye and proceed to another
Usually treated with antibiotic eye drops. Some who would rather steer clear of antibiotics use some of those organic approaches below.
Often Tough to discern from viral pink eye (2)(3)
Allergic Pink Eye is …
“Allergic pinkeye (caused by seasonal pollens, animal dander, cosmetics, and perfumes) and compound pinkeye (from chemicals or liquids( such as bleach and furniture polish) aren’t contagious.” (1)
Clear, watery drainage is normal
Usually involves both eyes
“Allergic pinkeye symptoms should improve when the allergen source is eliminated and the allergy is treated. Chemical pinkeye requires prompt washing of the affected eye(s) for 5 minutes and a direct call to the physician.” (1) Treatments for your allergy might include an antihistamine. Nettle capsules or tea are considered by many to be a natural antihistamine, and preliminary studies suggest that this could indeed be the case. (4)
Of course, these descriptions are general in nature and may not use in most situations. We are going to get to some natural remedies to get pinkeye in just a sec, but first please remember the”Best Boo-Boo Kisser South Of Puckett’s Gas Station” is about as official as things get for me professionally. I’m not a physician, this is not medical information, these statements haven’t been evaluated by the FDA and aren’t intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease, along with also your medical decisions are entirely up to you. Should you want some convincing with this, read my entire disclaimer at which I say it over and over again. Alright, moving on!
Natural Home Remedies for Pink Eye – Inflamed, crusty eyes? Listed below are 5 house remedies moms swear by. Plus the distinction between viral, viral, and allergic pinkeye.
Apple cider vinegar to get pink eye therapy
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is vinegar made out of a dual loaf of apples. This fermentation process yields lactic acid the main ingredient of kinds of vinegar.
It is possible to discover a number of sites online suggesting that ACV should be used when treating pink eye by using a vinegar/water solution on the outside of the cheek or placing a few drops of a vinegar/water solution directly on your eye.
There is not any clinical research to back up these suggestions.
If you are considering using ACV as a home treatment for conjunctivitis, get your doctor’s opinion before proceeding. In the event, you choose to use vinegar as an eye therapy, be very careful. In accordance with the National Capital Poison Center, vinegar may cause redness, irritation, and corneal injury.
Traditional pink eye therapy
Pink eye is most commonly viral, so that your physician may suggest that you depart from your eye(s) alone and allow conjunctivitis clear on its own. It may take around three weeks.
If your doctor diagnoses you with a pink eye caused by the herpes simplex virus, they may recommend an antifungal medication. Bacterial pink eye is often treated with topical antibiotics, such as sulfacetamide sodium (Bleph) or erythromycin (Romycin).
Pink eye avoidance
Pink eye can be contagious. The best way to restrict its spread is to practice decent hygiene. For example, if You’ve Got pink eye:
- Wash your hands regularly.
- Avoid touching your eyes with your hands.
- Change out your face towel and washcloth with fresh ones daily.
- Change your pillowcase daily.
- Stop wearing your contact lenses and disinfect or replace them.
- Discard your contact lens accessories such as cases.
- Discard all of your mascara and other eye makeup.
- Do not share eye makeup towels, washcloths, or other personal eye care articles.
Recommended home remedies
Though these methods won’t treat pink eye, that they can help with the symptoms before it clears up:
Damp compresses: use another one for every infected eye, and repeat several times each day using a fresh, clean washcloth every time
over-the-counter (OTC) lubricating eye drops (artificial tears)
OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
Honey
Frank Dougan of Glasgow spent eight years searching for relief from blepharitis, a chronic fungal infection of the eyelid. ‘Lots of doctors gave me eyes [sic] drops, I have a whole refrigerator full and I’ve spent a fortune but nothing else worked,’ he advised the UK-based Daily Mail. (5)
So what did eventually do the job? According to Frank, it was a jar of honey in the regional Tesco. His optician affirmed she was no more able to discover any traces of blepharitis.
Countless studies have confirmed honey’s favorable properties. In reality, as demonstrated by a Cochrane analysis of 19 clinical trials, this cabinet staple could work better compared to anti-inflammatory creams for burns. (6) Here’s the way I use it in my first aid kit.
So what exactly do we know about its effectiveness using a pink eye? I’m unaware of any studies which have looked at this issue, but there are a couple of studies that have explored the use of honey for various eye irritations. Here’s what they concluded:
Studies which can support the use of honey for some kinds of eye discomfort
In 1 study, the program of honey significantly reduces the number of germs located on and around the eye of patients who suffer from dry eyes. (7)
Another analysis notes honey is being”‘rediscovered’ by the medical profession, especially where traditional contemporary therapeutic agents have neglected.
Recently published reports describe the effectiveness of honey in quickly preventing wound disease with minimal adverse effects, and also possible in encouraging recovery with minimal scar formation. Honey also has antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of bacteria and parasites, both in laboratory studies and in humans.
Its use in the eye ranges from treating post-herpetic corneal opacities, local conjunctival lesions, and corneal edema with varying results.” (8, emphasis mine)
Also, even though it is not a study, “there is evidence that the ancient Egyptians used honey to cure eye diseases, the Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with being one of the first to document medicinal use of honey for the eyes as far back as 350 B.C. Honey was also widely used in India to treat eye disease also has been used by traditional healers in Mali to avoid scarring of the embryo in cases of measles. There is also proof that honey was used from English to treat eye diseases.” (9) (10)
What type of honey is best?
The exact kind of honey used in the studies cited above was not specified. Nonetheless, in the sphere of organic remedies, I understand manuka honey is frequently sought because it contains high levels of this chemical dihydroxyacetone. But, I did not have some on hand once I woke up with pink, irritated eyes last year so I used this instead.
How I use it:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon raw honey
- 1/4 cup distilled or reverse osmosis water (or water that has been boiled for 5 minutes and Permitted to cool)
- Pinch of sea salt (optional this is what I use)
Instructions:
Dissolve uncooked honey and discretionary salt in pure hot water. Do not get the water too hot or it might change some of the valuable properties of this honey. Using a sterile dropper, put 1-2 drops in each eye every few hours as required.
Breast Milk
According to one post, a”specific antibody from the breast milk, also known as immunoglobulin A, prevents the pink eye bacteria from attaching to the mucosal surface of the eye. This limits the development of the bacteria, helping to finish the eye disease.” (11)
So what does the medical data say? Even though there are no studies which address pink eye right, this report examines three studies which look at the effects of colostrum on toddlers eye infections. The antimicrobial properties of colostrum and breast milk are well-documented and there does seem to be some evidence of advantage to use with eye infections, but at least among those studies in which the evidence seems overwhelmingly positive was not well constructed.
On the flip side, moms swear by it.
Bonus awesome breast milk reality: A couple of years ago researchers found that cancerous lung cells in a test tube expired connected with breast milk so that they isolated the vital chemical responsible and started injecting it into tumors. So far, trials with rats have shown that”after just seven weeks an extremely invasive brain cancer called glioblastoma was seven times smaller in those treated using HAMLET [the nickname to its breastfeeding chemical ].” (12)
The way to use it
Using a sterile spoon, put a few drops on the surface of the eye. “Lift your eyelid slightly to assist the breast milk to circulate beneath. Repeat this therapy three times each day for a few days, or before the eye disease has cleared. If your symptoms persist or worsen, however, seek medical guidance ” (13)
Silver solution
The use of silver solutions for eye infections is not anything new. Until the development of erythromycin, an antibiotic ointment, silver nitrate drops were regularly used in newborn’s eyes to stop particular types of fungal disease. In some hospitals, they’re still used, but most doctors favor the ointment because silver nitrate may cause irritation. (Please be aware that in mentioning its regular use in newborns is not an endorsement. I advise that you research prior to consenting to any other toddler process.)
Silver nitrate is made by mixing silver with nitric oxide, while colloidal silver contains just silver particles suspended in water. It is my understanding that colloidal silver is usually considered less bothersome.
What have doctors said about it? Not much it seems, but I did find some comments from M.D.’s who said simply that their patients swear by it and that it could be well worth trying. (13) (14)
In accordance with Ray Sahelian, M.D., “I’ve come across several men and women who swear colloidal silver when used as eye drops 1-2 drops 3 to 4 times every day quickly cured their conjunctivitis or sty, or decreased the severity of pharyngitis when gargled in plain water. Perhaps colloidal silver is effective against viruses and some bacteria. So, considering all factors, if I had to make a decision, I’d say colloidal silver is well worth a try for a couple of days in most cases of conjunctivitis or sty or perhaps other moderate infections, but it should not be used for more than 1 week at one time. Its use should be performed under medical supervision by a healthcare provider who is familiar with its properties. I, personally, haven’t used it with patients”
The way to use it
As referenced by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D. at the quotation above, those who rave about this treatment typically say that they use 1-2 drops of 5-10 ppm (that’s the immersion ) colloidal silver in each eye a few times every day.
Herbal Tea Poultices
In accordance with Prescription For Nutritional Healing, “Calendula, chamomile, fennel and/or eyebright teas may be used to create hot compresses. Eyebright may also be taken orally in capsule or tea form. It is fantastic for any eye discomfort or swelling. The tea can also be used to rinse the eyes”
Caution: Don’t use chamomile or calendula if you’re allergic to ragweed. Some sources, such as Prescription For Nutritional Healing, say to not use during pregnancy or nursing. (p. 421) But, many herbalists and OB-GYN’s say chamomile is perfectly fine during pregnancy and while nursing. (15)
Some individuals include a pinch of salt to their tea as it brews to boost the astringent quality of the poultice.
The Way to use it
According to some sources, distilled water is recommended because any impurities in the water can exacerbate the disease. You will find instructions for producing lavender and calendula eye soothers in Mother Earth News.
In Prescription for Natural Cures: A Self-Care Guide For Treating Health Problems With Natural Remedies, that was also composed of James F. Balch, M.D., combined with Mark Stengler N.M.D, along with Robin Young Balch, N.M.D, eyebright is cited with a Bit More clarification. It is advised for the two pink eye and irritation due to allergies. From the section on allergies, it is suggested that readers”use as a solution to bloated eyes by incorporating 3-5 drops of eyebright tincture into an ounce of contact lens (saline) solution in a disposable cup. Rinse each eye with separate cups and then toss the cups following use. Do this once or twice per day to relieve irritated eyes and eliminate redness.”
Salt Water Wash
Based on Chris A Knobbe, M.D., irrigating the eye’s surface using sterile saltwater (saline) solution several times each day may provide extra relief. (16)
Some eye drops include lubricants along with other medications for various conditions, however, there are options out there that just contain salt and sterilized water.
Wondering whether it’s possible to create your own saline solution? Just like using the teas, using water that has not been boiled or sterilized in some way is not suggested. But, based on Chemistry expert Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., it is possible to create she explains exactly how here.
Warm Or Cold Compress
“To decrease pain and also to remove the discharge of viral or bacterial pinkeye, use a chilly or hot compress on the eyes. Be sure that you use another washcloth for every eye to avoid spreading any disease. And use clean washcloths every moment. Wash out the eye by wiping from the inside to the outside of the eye region.” (17)
Raw Potatoes
Fresh slices of raw, cold potato are also said to be soothing.
Takeaway
You may hear anecdotal info regarding apple cider vinegar and other home remedies for treating pink eye. It’s probably in your best interest to adhere to the recommendation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology: “Never put anything in mind which isn’t accepted by a physician.”
Other All-natural Remedies For Pink Eye
Because the pink eye can be quite contagious, it is usually advised that individuals address both eyes if one has aggravation.
