Home Remedies for Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Pink eye is also known as conjunctivitis is an irritation of the outermost eyeball layer or conjunctiva that lines with the eyelids which later spreads on the white part of the eyeball. Pink eyes are due to bacterial and viral infections. Several other causes such as chemicals, irritants, etc. lack of tears, dry eyes due to exposure to the sun, allergy towards contact lens etc. are responsible for pink eyes. Some symptoms of pink eye include blurred vision, itchy eyes, redness, swelling of eyelids, fluid discharge from eyes etc. Pink eye causes pain in the eyes, but it doesn’t affect your vision. However, it is contagious and it should be treated in the early stages itself. So, try following few natural home remedies that help in treating conjunctivitis after seeking your doctor’s advice.
Here is the list of the home remedies that help treat pink eyes:
Ice cubes:
This is one of the easiest and soothing remedy to treat pink eyes. Following this remedy helps in providing an instant relief from redness, itchiness, and swelling. Use distilled water ice cubes for treating this condition.
How to use?
Take an ice cube tray and fill it with distilled water. Refrigerate for an hour or two. You should better use distilled water as it is free from impurities. Take a muslin cloth and put two ice cubes in it. Make sure the ice cubes cover your eye and use it as a compress. Follow this remedy several times a day to get rid of the itchy eyes, redness, and swelling.
Caution:
Use only a clean cloth and distilled water ice cubes while following this remedy.
Honey:
Honey can be used for treating conjunctivitis and can even ease the pain. Raw organic honey has antiviral and antibacterial properties that help kill the infection-causing pathogens responsible for the pink eye.
How to use?
Dilute 5ml of honey in a glass containing water which is boiled and later cooled. Now put two-three drops of this solution in both the eyes using a sterilized eyedropper. This solution can cause itchiness and discomfort initially for a few minutes. This amazing natural remedy will help in reducing the inflammation, pain, and discomfort caused due to pink eye. Follow this remedy thrice a day for effective results.
Caution:
Sterilize your eye dropper before using it. This honey solution can initially cause discomfort and itchiness, but if this persists for a longer time you need to consult your doctor.
Tea bags:
We often throw away used tea bags, but they are really effective in treating dark circles and acne. Moreover, used tea bags help in treating acute conjunctivitis as well. You need to use cold tea bags while trying this remedy. It provides you a great relief from itchy eyes and redness.
How to use?
You can use a used tea bag or a fresh one while trying this remedy. Dip a tea bag in a bowl of water and squeeze off the excess water from it. Chill the tea bag in your freezer for 10-15 minutes. Now place this tea bag on the infected eye. Relax for a few minutes. You will be getting an instant relief from the redness and itchy eyes. Follow this remedy three or four times every day till it is no longer needed.
Caution:
This remedy has no side-effects and works effectively.
Coffee:
Coffee is an excellent home remedy for treating conjunctivitis at home. A homemade coffee solution made by using the coffee granules can be used for soothing the symptoms such as redness, itchiness etc. caused due to conjunctivitis.
How to use?
To prepare this coffee solution, add coffee granules to a cup of hot water. Strain this solution. Allow it to cool. You can even refrigerate this coffee solution. Use this solution to rinse your eyes. You will be sensing a great relief from the discomfort and the painful symptoms of the pink eye.
Caution:
Make sure you use only the chilled coffee solution for cleaning. Rinse your eyes with water after following this remedy.
Fennel Seeds:
Fennel seeds contain compounds that are helpful in treating a pink eye. Few studies have mentioned that fennel seeds have certain compounds that help treat conjunctivitis. You need to prepare fennel seed solution and use it to clean your eyes. This remedy helps in soothing the symptoms associated with the pink eye.
How to use?
To prepare this solution, add 5-10gm of slightly crushed fennel seeds in a pan containing one-liter water. Let it simmer and then let it cool. You can even put this solution in the freezer. Strain the solution and use it to clean your eyes. This remedy helps in soothing the painful symptoms of the pink eye such as redness and itchiness. Follow this remedy for a week until it is no longer necessary.
Caution:
You need to strain the fennel seed solution and only use it after it cools.
Potato:
Potato is an incredible kitchen food and has anti-bacterial and astringent properties that are helpful in treating conjunctivitis which is a contagious disease. The juice extracted from a potato helps in treating this condition effectively.
How to use?
Take a medium sized raw potato and grate it. Squeeze the juice extracted from the grated potato pulp. Now, put this grated pulp in a clean cloth. Tie its ends and make it a compress. Put this compress over the infected eye. Leave it for a few minutes. You will be experiencing a great relief from the redness and inflammation of the eye. The compounds in this juice help soothe the infected eye. Follow this remedy several times every day until you experience better results.
Caution:
Use a clean muslin cloth while following this home remedy.
Warm compress:
To get an instant relief from the irritating symptoms of the pink eye, you need to use a warm compress. Using a warm compress on the infected eye can help in improving the flow of the blood to the eye, thus improving the condition.
How to use?
Dip a clean cloth or a towel in a bowl containing warm water. Squeeze of the excess water and immediately place it over the infected eye. This remedy helps in providing relief from the pain and itchiness caused due to conjunctivitis. Follow this remedy as many times as you can to get rid of the painful symptoms of the pink eye.
Caution:
Make sure that the cloth or towel you use for this treatment is clean. Also, the water must be warm enough to experience better results while treating this condition.
Breast Milk:
A special hormone known as immunoglobin A is present in the breast milk. It helps in preventing the bacteria from getting attached to the eye’s mucosal surface, thus inhibiting the growth of the bacteria and preventing eye infections such as conjunctivitis. The antimicrobial properties in the breast milk help in treating an infected eye and provide a soothing relief.
How to use?
Adding two or three drops of breastmilk in the child’s eye who is having conjunctivitis helps in providing relief from the irritating symptoms of this condition. This remedy works effectively in infants. The redness and the inflammation will be gone within a day itself after following this remedy.
Caution:
This remedy works effectively for infants. However, if irritation persists for a longer time you need to seek your doctor’s suggestion.
Salt water:
Cleaning your eye using salt water is a great way to treat a pink eye. This remedy helps in providing relief from the discomfort caused due to the pink eyes.
How to use?
Add 2-3 grams of salt in a cup of warm water. Stir it well and let this solution cool down. Use distilled water for better results as tap water contains impurities. Use a sterilized eyedropper to rinse the eye with this cooled solution. It even acts as a nasal solution in treating your sinus and other allergies. Rinse your eye several times daily using this solution until you experience good results. After cleaning your eyes, apply a gentle eye cream to the soothe skin of the eyelids which is swollen due to conjunctivitis.
Caution:
Make sure that the salt solution you use is cool. Also, when you apply a night cream to your eyelids, don’t let it enter the eye as it can cause irritation. Prepare this solution once every day to avoid any bacterial contamination.
Yogurt:
Yogurt is an excellent substitute to breast milk which is not readily available. Yogurt or raw cow milk has healthy probiotics that help combat bacteria which could be the reason behind conjunctivitis. The antibiotic compounds in yogurt help in treating this condition easily.
How to use?
Apply two or three drops of cow’s milk or yogurt to the infected eye. You can use it to the other eye as well to prevent it from getting infected with conjunctivitis.
Caution:
Use small quantities of yogurt or cow’s milk for treating this condition. If you experience pain or swelling better avoid trying it and consult your doctor.
Cod Liver Oil:
If you are having chronic conjunctivitis, then you could be a victim of vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to eye problems such as pink eye. Hence, you need to intake vitamin A-rich foods or use vitamin A supplements topically to get rid of pink eyes. You can use fermented cod liver oil for treating your pink eye as the latter has a healthy dose of vitamin A.
How to use?
Apply one or two drops of cod liver oil on the eyelids and gently massage over it. Leave it overnight. Follow this remedy every night before going to the bed until you experience great results.
Caution:
Don’t let the oil enter the eye as it can cause irritation which might further worsen your condition.
Green tea poultice:
Green tea is found effective in treating conjunctivitis. All thanks to the presence of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in it. Also, the caffeine in the green tea helps in constricting the blood vessels and following green tea poultice helps in reducing the pain and inflammation of the pink eye.
How to use?
You can place a cooled green tea bag on your eyes. You can use this tea to rinse your eyes as well. Add a green tea bag in a cup filled with hot water. Leave it for a few minutes. Take out the tea bag and allow it to cool. Place it on your eyes. Alternatively, you can use chilled green tea to rinse your eyes.
Caution:
Make sure that the tea is cool. Even the tea bag you use to place on your eyelid should be cool enough.
Garlic:
Garlic is one of the best sources of antibiotics found in nature. It helps combat several infections due to the presence of the compound allicin in it. This compound is antibiotic and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used for treating pink eye. Garlic juice can cause irritation in the eyes as it is strong in nature. So, better use it in minute doses.
How to use?
Remove the skin of the garlic and chop it so that juice comes out. Use it to rub on the upper eyelid of your infected eye. Garlic works well in killing the bacteria responsible for the pink eye infection.
Caution:
Garlic causes a stinging sensation when used topically on the infected eye. So, use it in small doses.
Turmeric:
Turmeric is an excellent spice that has antioxidant, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory compounds that help in reducing the redness and itching of the eyes caused due to pink eyes. You can even add a little honey for improving the ability of this mixture.
How to use?
Mix 5 grams of turmeric and a little honey. Apply it on the eyelids and leave it for a few minutes. You will be experiencing relief from the inflammation caused due to the pink eye. Follow this remedy twice every day until you experience effective results.
Caution:
This remedy has no side-effects. However, don’t let the mixture enter the eye as it can cause irritation.
