Drug eyebright (Euphrasia stricta), the most common eyebright to be seen around Ontario, was brought over by settlers as an herb for making an eye wash. It’s a nonnative edible and medicinal plant with a few rarer native relations in Ontario.
Eyebright (Euphrasia spp.) like the pictured drug eyebright (Euphrasia stricta), surprisingly not in Haliburton Flora, is fairly common here. I’ve seen it in old fields, driveways, and along trails and parking lots. Taking over like ground ivy is more known for. Common eyebright (Euphrasia nemorosa) may also be spotted in our area. There are 10 Euphrasia spp. noted on iNat for Ontario.
Edible Uses of Eyebright
The bitter leaves are edible.
Medicinal Uses of Eyebright
Eyebright is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Integumentary
- Respiratory
Medicinal tags include Anticatarrhal and Astringent. See Medicinal tag key for more information.
Common usage includes astringent aerial parts, which tighten mucous membranes, used to dry up runny, watery discharge from the eyes and respiratory passages. For the eyes, it’s usually applied in a compress or eyewash, perhaps mixed with witch hazel. Be sure to see a professional for eye issues that get worse or last more than a couple days. And note sometimes weepy eyes are actually a sign of dryness, in which case you wouldn’t want to use a drying astringent. Runniness from allergies, allergic conjunctivitis, is a more apt condition for eyebright to support.
An herb more commonly found around here used for such an eye wash is yarrow.
Eyebright is gathered when in flower, and prepared fresh or dried. For anticatarrhal action it may be combined with elder flower, goldenrod or goldenseal.
Alternative Uses of Drug Eyebright
It has been used as an ingredient in herbal smoking mixes.
Growing Euphrasia SPP.
Apparently, it’s hard to cultivate eyebrights, but the nonnative eyebrights are abundant in patches here. They may be one of the herbs you see filling in driveways and trails along with the likes of pineapple-weed, wood sorrel, white clover, etc. As a nonnative it doesn’t provide much value to wildlife.
Around Lake Superior there is a native Euphrasia hudsoniana, Hudson Bay eyebright, an arctic-alpine plant that is a relic from the last glacial ice retreat. There are other obscure native eyebrights.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
My new favourite foraging book is Sam Thayer’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern & Central North America and this plant IS NOT featured in his book. Which to the least means it isn’t a popular edible. I highly recommend this thorough guide for your bookshelves!
Euphrasia Linnaeus – Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada
Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
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