Euphrasia officinalis

Latin name: Euphrasia officinalis

Short name: Euphr

Common name: Eyebright | Meadow Eyebright | Euphrasia | Herba Euphrasiae | Red Eyebright

Primary miasm: Psoric Secondary miasm(s): Sycotic

Kingdom: Plants

Family: Orobanchaceae

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Symptomatology
Remedy Information
Differentiation & Application

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Head

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.

Eyes

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.

Ears

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.

Nose

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.

Face

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.

Mouth

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.

Throat

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.

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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.

Widely used in traditional herbalism as an eyewash or eye tonic to treat conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and styes. Sometimes infused in teas to relieve colds and sinusitis.

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

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

In open air
Blinking or closing the eyes
Night (some complaints, e.g. cough)
Lying still, with eyes covered
Expectoration in morning

Indoors
Wind or exposure to light
After coughing
Evening and early morning
Bright light, reading, or screen use
Suppressed discharges (especially eye secretions)

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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.

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.

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

Euphrasia officinalis

Mind

Sleep

Dreams

Generalities

Fever

Chill Heat Sweat

Head

Eyes

Ears

Nose

Face

Mouth

Throat

Chest

Respiration

Stomach

Abdomen

Urinary

Food

Female

Back

Extremities

Skin

Mind

Sleep

Dreams

Generalities

Fever

Chill Heat Sweat

Head

Eyes

Ears

Nose

Face

Mouth

Throat

Chest

Respiration

Stomach

Abdomen

Urinary

Food

Female

Back

Extremities

Skin

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