Euphrasia officinalis

A small flowering plant native to Europe, commonly found in meadows and grassy slopes. It belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family and is known for its delicate white or violet-veined flowers. Traditionally used for eye disorders.

Proved by Hahnemann and published in Materia Medica Pura. Expanded through clinical observations by Hering, Allen, and Clarke.

Euphrasia captures the exteriorisation of irritation, particularly through burning, acrid tears and catarrhal inflammation. It is a surface-level remedy, excellent in acute eye conditions, hay fever, and mucous membrane affections where secretions are irritating and unrelenting. The Euphrasia patient is overwhelmed by sensory input, seeking relief through withdrawal from light, wind, and stimulation. It excels in eye-based pathology and symbolises the desire to shut out the world to soothe inflamed perception.

• Eyes – mucous membranes, conjunctivae, lids
• Nose and sinuses – especially during coryza and hay fever
• Respiratory tract – coughs associated with acrid eye discharges
• Mucous membranes – irritation and acrid secretions
• Head – frontal headaches accompanying catarrhal states

The Euphrasia mental state is not dominant but shows a disposition to sadness, especially during physical illness. The patient feels mentally dulled, with difficulty focusing, particularly when there is ocular discomfort or excessive weeping. Some may feel annoyed by their sensitivity to light and wind, and can become irritable from long-standing discharges or hay fever. There may be a tendency to avoid eye contact due to discomfort or shame from ocular complaints. Rarely, the patient feels weepy without cause, paralleling the excessive eye watering.

Disturbed sleep due to eye irritation or coughing, especially in the early hours of the morning. Children may be restless at night due to photophobia or weeping eyes. Dreams not well marked.

Not characteristic; may reflect the daytime complaints such as burning, watering, and light sensitivity.

Worse from wind, light, evening, and warm rooms. Better in open air and at night (especially cough). Complaints tend to focus on the mucous membranes, particularly the eyes, with associated catarrh. Distinct pattern of acrid eye discharge and bland nasal mucus is diagnostic. Ailments tend to be one-sided, commonly left-sided, and generally follow a catarrhal or allergic pathogenesis.

Fever may arise from catarrhal inflammation, especially during acute hay fever or cold. Alternates between chill and heat, often mild. Heat in the face accompanies eye complaints. Symptoms typically worse in the evening.

Chilly on exposure to wind. Heat in face and head during eye inflammation. Sweat minimal or absent. In rare cases, sweat relieves head or eye symptoms.

Headaches are commonly frontal and dull, often accompanying ocular inflammation or nasal catarrh. The pain may feel pressing or congestive, and is worse for light, reading, or exposure to cold wind. Headaches may come on after extended weeping or eye strain, especially in dry indoor environments. [Clarke] describes them as heavy and stupefying, often improving once the eye symptoms subside. Head pain is usually secondary to the affections of the eyes or sinuses.

This is the primary sphere of Euphrasia’s action and its chief claim to fame. The hallmark is profuse, acrid lachrymation that burns the cheeks, in contrast to bland nasal discharge—a key modality for differentiating it from Allium cepa. The eyes are red, swollen, and sensitive to light, especially artificial or bright sunlight. Conjunctivae are inflamed, and there is a persistent sensation of sand in the eyes, causing frequent blinking or rubbing. The eyelids are agglutinated in the morning, and may ulcerate if the inflammation is severe or prolonged. The discharges can be thick, yellowish, or scalding, particularly during coryza or hay fever. Vision may blur intermittently due to mucus or tears. [Boericke] notes a tendency for styes, especially on the lower lids. Euphrasia is also used for traumatic eye injuries, such as post-surgical or post-foreign body irritation, where burning, photophobia, and watering are prominent. It suits eyes that are worse from wind, reading, or artificial light, and better in open air with closed lids.

Not a primary focus, but secondary symptoms may arise from catarrhal blockage. Occasional earache during colds or hay fever, with itching in the Eustachian tube. Hearing may be dulled due to mucous congestion. Rarely, discharges from ears accompany upper respiratory tract catarrh.

Fluent, bland coryza that drips profusely—especially outdoors or in wind. This is painless, watery, and frequent, often soaking handkerchiefs. The nasal passages feel open despite the discharge. Sneezing is frequent and worse in morning and evening, or on entering warm rooms. Catarrhal cold or hay fever frequently present with this symptom profile. Nasal discharge contrasts with the acrid eye watering, completing the key Euphrasia pattern. [Kent] highlights this as a fundamental keynote.

Red, inflamed, and excoriated from the burning tears. The cheeks may become sore or raw from constant wiping. Eyelids puffy, red, and congested. Facial neuralgia or dull frontal sinus pain may occur during catarrhal episodes. Expression appears sensitive and defensive, especially in children.

Tongue coated white or yellowish during colds or hay fever. Mouth may feel sticky on waking. Taste may be bitter in the morning. Dryness of mouth and throat not uncommon during episodes of catarrh or with prolonged eye strain.

Mild soreness or scraping, especially when post-nasal mucus drips downward. Tickling sensation may provoke coughing. Throat feels raw, worse from coughing and in morning. Voice may become hoarse due to catarrhal spread. Mucus accumulates in the posterior nares and throat, especially in the morning.

Dry, tickling cough worse during the day, especially while walking or talking, but relieved at night—a rare and notable modality. Cough often results from post-nasal drip or irritation from catarrhal secretions. Cough may be triggered by exposure to wind or by suppressed eye discharges. In children, the cough may appear suddenly during colds with weepy eyes. The expectoration is generally scanty and occurs mostly in the morning.

Sensation of tickling in the larynx, compelling the patient to cough. In cases of hay fever, there may be tightness in the chest with a tendency to sigh or gasp. Breathing feels freer in open air. Sensitive to wind and perfumes that may trigger attacks.

Occasional nausea accompanying headaches or visual strain. Rarely, patients report loss of appetite during upper respiratory tract infections or severe allergic flare-ups.

Unremarkable, unless the catarrhal condition extends with general malaise. No marked abdominal symptoms.

No consistent urinary complaints; possible increased frequency during febrile states or from excessive tear drainage creating mild dehydration.

No prominent cravings or aversions. Appetite may be diminished during acute episodes. Warm fluids often preferred to soothe throat and relieve catarrh.

Some relief of hay fever or eye symptoms after menses. May be used occasionally for hormonal aggravation of sinus or eye complaints, but not a primary female remedy.

No characteristic back symptoms, though some dull aching during fevers or coryza may occur.

Aching and weariness during feverish colds. Some patients feel chills in the limbs from draughts or after tearing. Restlessness or mild weakness possible during hay fever states. Not a prominent sphere.

Excoriation around the eyes and cheeks from acrid lachrymation. Useful for eczema of the eyelids, especially when discharge is burning. Sometimes used for styes, blepharitis, and eruptions linked to suppressed discharges. Skin symptoms are localised and secondary to mucous membrane inflammation.

• Allium cepa – Reverse modality: Allium has acrid nasal discharge and bland eye watering; Euphrasia has acrid tears and bland coryza
• Pulsatilla – Thick yellow eye discharges and weepy emotional state, but less burning and excoriating
• Arsenicum album – Burning discharges but with restlessness, thirst, and prostration
• Mercurius sol. – Profuse discharges with salivation, offensive odour, and moist skin
• Sulphur – Burning and itching in eyes and skin, but more generalised, systemic, and psoric in scope

• Complementary: Pulsatilla, Nux vomica
• Antidotes: Camphor, Belladonna
• Follows well: Aconite (acute coryza), Natrum mur.
• Precedes well: Sulphur, Hepar sulph.

• First remedy for conjunctivitis, especially with acrid lachrymation
• Indispensable for hay fever when eye symptoms predominate
• Useful in eye trauma or foreign body irritation
• Helps in styes, blepharitis, and eczema of eyelids
• Works best when eyes burn, water profusely, and are light-sensitive

Eyes

• Lachrymation, acrid
• Photophobia, intense
• Inflammation, conjunctiva, catarrhal
• Vision, blurred, from mucus
• Eyelids, swelling, morning agglutination
• Eczema, lids

Nose

• Coryza, fluent, bland
• Sneezing, morning
• Catarrh, alternating with eye symptoms

Cough / Respiratory

• Cough, day only
• Cough, with tickling in larynx
• Expectoration, only in morning

Skin

• Excoriation from discharges
• Eruptions, lids
• Styes, lower lid

Generalities

• Light aggravates
• Wind aggravates
• Open air ameliorates

Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Original proving details, especially for eye symptoms and modalities

James Tyler Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Emphasis on key modalities and remedy relationships

John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Expanded symptomatology for eye, nasal, and chest affections

William Boericke – Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Clinical notes on conjunctivitis, hay fever, and cough

C. Hering – Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica: Clarified cough modalities and catarrhal nature