Treat Pink Eye Effectively & Safely With Natural Methods

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Conjunctivitis or "pink eye" is inflammation of the conjuctiva, the mucous membranes that line the inner surface of the eyelids and the front of the eyeball.

It usually affects both the eyes but does not effect the vision. Symptoms may include feeling as if sand is in the eye, tearing, burning or itching and extreme sensitivity to light. The eyes get red and the lid and the surface of the eye may get swollen. There may also be watery mucus secretion, in the case of bacterial infection a thick discharge may be coming out of the eyes. The discharge in some cases may be so strong that you may wake up in the morning with the crust over the eye and thinking that your eyes are nearly glued shut.

What Causes Pink Eye

Sometimes, the cause of pink eye comes from sources you wouldn’t normally associate with inflamed eyes, while other factors play an obvious role. To make matters worse, you could encounter more than one ailment at a time when pink eye strikes, including blepharoconjunctivitis (when conjunctivitis combines with blepharitis inflammation of the eyelids) or keratoconjunctivitis (a mixture of pink eye and keratitis inflamed corneas). The most common causes of pink eye includes:

 

VIRUSES AND BACTERIA Rubbing or touching the eyes is one of the most common ways that people can spread bacteria or transfer a virus. People with colds are also susceptible to contracting viral conjunctivitis. Viral pink eye should go away in about 10 days by itself.

 
STD A sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia, can cause conjunctivitis.

 
ALLERGIES Also known as allergic conjunctivitis, direct contact with an allergen can bring about a case of pink eye. Sometimes, the allergen makes contact with your eyes through the air like when pollen takes to flight during the changing seasons. Other times, the allergen may adhere to your hands and become transferred when you touch your eyes. Typical allergens include pet hair, fungal spores, and dust.

 
CHLORINE Avid swimmers have been known to suffer pink eye, due to the chlorine found in pool water.

 
SHAMPOO The irritating ingredients found in most shampoos can cause a case of pink eye to erupt.

 
IRRITATIONS Anything known to cause irritation to the eyes can trigger conjunctivitis. Dirt and dust can become trapped in the eye, creating the perfect environment for the condition to strike. Sit too close to a cigarette smoker and some people react with irritated eyes. A chemical splash can also cause conjunctivitis to develop.

 
FOREIGN OBJECTS  A wayward pencil, finger poke, or paper cut to the eye can all cause pink eye.

Ways to Treat Pink Eye

calendula
Use calendula (also called marigold) in bacterial or viral conjunctivitis to reduce itching and inflammation, heal and soothe. It's an antiseptic perfect for irritation due to pollutants and allergies. Use it as a local compress and eyewash. It is available in eye drops as well.

chamomile tea bag compress
This is one of the best pink eye remedies. It is very effective and a preferred method of many. Simply place cool, moist chamomile tea bags on each closed eye for about 10 minutes. Repeat this every couple hours. You can buy these tea bags at any supermarket. Make sure chamomile is the only ingredient. If you have bulk chamomile flowers, simply use a muslin tea bag. 

 
black or green tea compress
Black or green tea makes a great remedy as it is high in tannins. Tannin acts as an astringent and help to reduce swelling which is usually common if you have allergic conjunctivitis. Bacterial conjunctivitis and viral conjunctivitis normally produce discharge or mucus and tannin may help reduce it. Fill a small 6-ounce juice glass halfway with filtered water, tea bags and lemon juice if you wish, and steep for about 20 minutes. Using an eyepatch to hold in place, take one teabag out of the mixture and allow it to drain into the infected eye. At first, stinging may occur for a couple of seconds, but after an hour or so improvements are seen. Repeat overnight to enhance the soothing relief.

Using tea as a natural cure for pink eye is rather common. Another remedy combines teabags (chamomile, candelua, black tea), honey, and about teaspoon of salt. After steeping two teabags to create one cup of tea, remove the bags and allow them to cool. Pour the tea into a shot glass or small jar, adding the honey and salt. After the salt has dissolved and the liquid is completely cooled use a Q-Tip to apply two to three drops of solution into infected eyes sweeping the base of the eyelashes. Finally, cover the eyes with the teabags, using a warm washcloth to hold them in place. Honey offers antibiotic results, while the salt works as an astringent.

eyebright
Eyebright is an effective and common pink eye remedy. Use Eyebright herb in drops. It’s excellent for conjunctivitis.

 
apple cider vinegar
One of the compounds present in organic and pure apple cider vinegar with the "mother" is malic acid. Malic acid is able to fight bacterial infections. When you have eye infections such as conjunctivitis, dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water, wet a cotton ball and wash your eyes with the solution.

turmeric
For this pink eye treatment you use turmeric which has antiseptic action. Put one teaspoon of turmeric in one glass of water. Boil it, and then filter it. Let it cool down and wash your eyes with it. Use it three to four times a day

raw honey
The very best honey to use is Active Manuka Honey. Apitherapy is the name given to treatment with natural honey. These treatments have been used by many different cultures throughout history and are now being reconsidered by a modern world in light of new research into the properties and uses of active manuka honey.
For pink eye home remedies dissolve three tablespoons of honey in two cups of boiling water. Allow to cool and use as an eye wash and as a compress.
You may experience a little burning sensation with this method.

protect your eyes
Avoid touching your eyes especially if the pink eye is caused by bacteria or virus because it is very contagious. And wash your hands before and after you touch your eyes. It's also important to ensure that you don't share personal belongings such as handkerchiefs and towels.

When you are having conjunctivitis, avoid sunlight and other irritants such as chlorine, dust, pollen and smoke. If you go outdoors wear a pair of sunglasses. Closing your eyes as much as you can will give them a rest.

Diet for Pink Eye

Some of the foods you need to avoid include starchy foods, processed and junk foods,  and foods high in sugar.

Fresh raw juices like carrot and spinach have been proven to be very beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis. Increase in vitamin A and B2 have also shown great benefits. Rich sources of vitamin A include tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, squash, carrots, mangoes and papayas. You can get vitamin B2 from citrus fruits, almonds and bananas. You can also have some juice of the Indian gooseberry with honey which is also full of vitamin C and has great anti bacterial properties.