The swelling and redness is accompanied with itching and pain. Though scratching the eyelid helps in relieving the discomfort to some extent, there is a risk of spreading the infection. Stye is actually a bacterial infection. It can affect the oily glands present on the underside of the eyelid. It can also affect the pores of eyelashes. The oil from oily glands present on the inside surface of eyelids helps in lubricating the eye balls. These glands can get infected due to improper hygiene.
The pores can get clogged and that may give rise to infection resulting in sty. The hair follicles on the eyelids can also get infected due to improper hygiene. When you are touching the hair follicles without washing your hands first it may give rise to an infection of the pores. This will result in formation of bumps with redness around the pores resulting in sty. Whatever may be the kind, a sty is a cause for discomfort, but it can be put to rest with some simple remedies. There are a plenty of herbal remedies that can give you relief from sty. Let us explore some of these remedies.
Herbal Remedies For Stye
1. Tea Bags
Tea is a herb that contains an antibacterial element known as tannin. It has been seen that tannin is very useful in reducing inflammations, swelling and pain. You can apply wet tea bags on the eyelids. This will release some tannin on the infected areas and cure infection. Take a tea bag, soak it in warm water and when the water starts to take a colour take out the bag. When the bag has cooled off place it on the eyelids. Let it sit on the place for some time. You will get relief from the itching and pain.
2. Raspberry Leaf
The raspberry leaf treatment for sty is part of the folklore. It contains a lot of chemicals such as citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid etc along with a lot of minerals. All these make it an antiseptic, astringent and a tonic herb. These qualities come good in treating bacterial infections such as stye. Steep some dried leaves in a cup of hot water and let it soak. After about half an hour strain the water. Soak a piece of cotton or clean cloth in this water and place on the eye.
3. Goldenseal
This herb has been used since a long time due to its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used in preparation of medicines for the eye. For treating stye you can use goldenseal extract. It is available in local pharmacies. You can mix it with distilled water or some eye wash. You can also use it alone by applying few drops of it on the eye. You will get cured within a few days.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile herb is generally used for its tremendous anti-inflammatory effect. When your eye is infected it is inflamed too and that results in swelling and redness of the infected area. You can treat it with chamomile. Take one teaspoon of dried chamomile and steep it in a cup of hot water. Let it steep for at least 15 minutes and then strain it. Now take a clean piece of cloth, soak it in the water and pace it on the affected area. Keep it there as long as it is dry. Take it out, soak it up in chamomile water and again place on the eye. You will be cured of sty.
5. Eyebright
This is another herb that has been used since a long time for treatment of eye problems. There are some chemicals in it that make it a great anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Use an infusion of this herb to treat sty. You can use it either as an eyewash or compress. If you are using it as a compress you can mix some colloidal silver with it. This will help in killing the bacteria as colloidal silver particles attach themselves to the bacteria and deactivate them.
6. Echinacea
This is a herb that the native Americans used for a variety of infections and as a healer of wounds. Echinacea was used as an antibiotic until antibiotics themselves were invented. It is also helpful in boosting the immune system. Therefore, this herb can be quite helpful in treating stye. It will be able to suppress the infection as well as boost your immunity to fight the infection. It is available in various forms such as tincture, extract, tablet etc. You can use the extract as an eye wash.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.