7 Natural Cures for Pinkeye
For those who prefer natural remedies to what ails you, here are 7 natural cures for pink eye. I’ve also included links to research articles supporting the use of natural cures. And there is common medical information and treatments as well.
Pink eye is fairly common yet seemingly newsworthy. Do you remember how NBC’s prime-time Olympics host, Bob Costas’, double infection received as much hype as the 2014 Winter Olympics themselves? The poor guy had to take a six-day absence after contracting viral pink eye.
Pink eye is common; it is also easy to treat at home, naturally.
Updated August 2020 for Children’s Eye & Health Month.
However, when my household became a statistic, it took on a whole new meaning. I’ve never had pink eye, and up till recently, I’d only been around three people who’ve had an active pink eye infection. When two of my daughter’s contracted pink eye in addition to five or so other individuals in our circle of friends, I was prompted to research causes, symptoms, remedies, and the like.
While many of you may be able to diagnose pink eye from a mile away, in the interest of being thorough, I’ll go ahead and lay it all out in detail here. I will also list natural remedies that are sworn by to work quickly.
I can personally vouch for #3 in the natural cures tabbed chart.
SOURCE
Medically, Pink Eye (also known as conjunctivitis) is defined by redness, swelling, and itching of the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid and eye surface.
There are four types of pink eye. Two types are highly contagious. The tabbed chart provides an easy reference.
Given the highly contagious nature of the infection, if you suffer from either viral or bacterial pinkeye, you’ll want to treat both eyes as it can quickly spread from one eye to the other.
Can’t determine whether it’s viral or bacterial? You just know its red, swollen and “goopy” as we say in our house, you can still use one of the natural remedies found in the second tabbed chart below.
If your symptoms persist or worsen, though, seek medical advice.
If you are unsure of the presence of an actual infection (i.e. it’s an injury to the eye itself), it is recommended you don’t attempt a home remedy prior to seeking medical attention.
Slideshow: What Pink Eye looks like – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments (WebMD)
CONTAGIOUS
| Discharge | Duration | Symptoms | Treatment |
|
Thick Yellow, Greenish Gray causing eyelashes to stick together |
2-4 days with treatment / 7-10 days without treatment | Swelling of Upper Eyelid | Antibiotic Drops, Ointment or Pills |
CONTAGIOUS
| Discharge | Duration | Symptoms | Treatment |
|
Clear and Watery or Tearing White |
7-10 days without treatment | Most commonly – redness, itchiness, gritty feeling, discharge & tearing |
None The virus runs it’s course. Use of comfort measures beneficial |
NOT CONTAGIOUS
| Discharge | Duration | Symptoms | Treatment |
|
Clear and Watery or Tearing White |
Until Chemical Agent is Removed | Washing of Eye, and Doctor Visit if Pain or Blurred Vision Occurs |
NOT CONTAGIOUS
| Discharge | Duration | Symptoms | Treatment |
|
Tearing
|
Until Allergen is Removed | Swelling of Eyelids | Antihistamine |
Let’s consider seven natural cures for pink eye.
There are several natural cures for pink eye such as honey.
Natural cures for pink eye go beyond natural calming treatments.
Natural cures have been shown to actually eliminate the source of Pink Eye not simply alleviate the symptoms with comfort measures.
That being said though I want to emphasize that according to the CDC, “Most cases of pink eye are mild and get better without treatment. However, some forms are more severe. Severe cases need to be looked at by a health care provider and may require specific treatment and close follow-up. If you have pink eye, you should see your health care provider if you have:
- Moderate to severe pain in your eye(s)
- Blurred vision or increased sensitivity to light
- Intense redness in the eye(s)
- A weakened immune system, for example, from HIV or cancer treatment
- Bacterial pink eye that does not improve after 24 hours of antibiotic use
- Symptoms that get worse or don’t improve
- Pre-existing eye conditions that may put you at risk for complications or severe infection”
Their recommendation for newborns is to be seen by a health care professional immediately.
Now, moving on to natural remedies that many have sworn by for centuries – click on each tab in the tabbed chart below for a detailed description of the natural remedy and how to apply it.
As I stated earlier, I can vouch for Number 3 – Whey of Yogurt!
Honey has long been known for its antibacterial properties and has had a centuries-long role in treating diseases. You can read more about the medicinal properties and antibacterial activities here.
Numerous studies have been conducted and affirm its potent power. It has been used in treating afflictions from burns to eye irritations.
It’s been concluded that the application of honey reduces the number of bacteria found on and around the eyes of patients suffering from dry eyes.
Reports describe honey as effectively and rapidly clearing wound infections while promoting healing with minimal scar damage.
Raw honey is recommended in order to retain antibacterial properties.
How to Use:
- 1/4 tsp raw honey (any brand will do, as long as it is raw)
- 1/4 cup distilled or boiled and cooled water
Dissolve honey in pure luke-warm water. Note, if the water is too hot when you dissolve the honey it may alter the benefits of the honey. Use a sterilized dropper to place 1-2 drops in each eye every few hours as needed.
Silver solutions for eye infections have been used for many years. Silver nitrate drops were used to prevent certain types of bacterial infection prior to the advent of the antibiotic ointment, erythromycin.
Most doctors prefer the ointment over the silver nitrate due to possible irritation. Since silver nitrate is made through a combination of silver and nitric acid, it can cause irritation.
Generally, colloidal silver is considered less irritating since it is made with silver particles combined with water.
Some people swear by this method of colloidal silver drop to quickly heal their conjunctivitis. Those who use this remedy typically say they use 1-2 drops of 5-10 ppm in each eye three to four times per day.
I’m not entirely comfortable with this method as it potentially has adverse side effects, and the safety is not entirely known, long-range. If you choose to use this method, I recommend doing so under the medical supervision of a professional health care provider.
The colloidal silver can be purchased online or at your local health food store such as Whole Foods Market.
How to Use:
Use a sterilized dropper to place 1-2 drops 3 to 4 times daily in each eye. Not to be used for more than one week at a time.
Drum roll, please! I have to tell you that this worked for my family…more than once…with no side effects. It was fast and inexpensive! What better combination than that?
Kefir or whey, the clear liquid part of plain yogurt is cultured with beneficial bacterial strains. The whey does not need to be 100% clear to be effective. But it does need to be the whey off the top of plain, non-sweetened yogurt. I suggest whole-milk, organic yogurt as you’ll get the fullest probiotic benefit.
Powdered whey mixed with water does NOT produce the same desired effect as there are no live probiotics in this mixture. Pasteurized milk does not work for the same reason.
How to Use:
Collect the clear liquid off the top of the yogurt. Place it in a sterilized cup. Use a sterilized dropper to place 2-3 drops in each eye. Repeat every few hours as needed. You should start to see results within the first day.
You may think of Turmeric as a good remedy for inflammation and investigate no further.
Interestingly, this is a popular remedy for pink eye in Asian countries and has continued to be for quite some time.
I would suggest using organic Turmeric powder with no additives, especially given that if you choose this remedy, it will come in direct contact with your eyes!
How to Use:
- Turmeric Powder
Add 1 tsp of turmeric powder to water. Use the solution as a rinse for the eye or as a compress.
Human breastmilk is called ‘liquid gold’ for a reason!
It is probiotic-rich. It has been proven to have multiple benefits in fighting illness for babies and children.
While some may say the effectiveness of mom’s milk is an ‘old wives tale’ I’d encourage them to do some research.
Articles have highlighted that the antibody immunoglobulin A prevents the bacteria found in pink eye from attaching to the surface of the eye; thereby, limiting the growth of the bacterial infection.
Colostrum works even faster being higher in antibodies than more mature milk. The antimicrobial properties of colostrum in particular, and human breast milk in general, are well documented. Note, colostrum supplements do NOT work.
If mom happens to be breastfeeding this is a free method, easily come by! Now I wouldn’t attempt to administer a dose of breastmilk into your baby’s or child’s eye, it could prove messy at best. And I’d say it’s nearly impossible to dose yourself this way.
How to Use:
- Freshly expressed human breastmilk
Express milk into a sterilized cup. Then using a sterilized dropper, place 1-2 drops into the infected eye. Reapply every hour for a few hours. In most cases, this will eliminate the infection.
Alternately, place a few drops onto a sterilized spoon then transfer to the surface of the infected eye. Circulate the milk underneath the eyelid. Reapply a few times a day for 2 days, or until the infection clears.
Aloe Vera straight from the plant, not a commercialized gel, can be used as a compress.
The medicinal properties can reduce inflammation and redness.
This can be a good choice in the event of allergen based or chemical induced pink eye.
How to Use:
Cut a section of your aloe vera plant, open it up and scrape out the gel on the inside (or use pure juice). Place a substantial amount of gel on a clean cloth or if using juice then soak the clean cloth in the juice. Place the cloth over the eyes as a compress.
Holy Basil or Tulsi contains anti-inflammatory antibacterial and antiviral properties. These can help fight both a bacterial and viral infection.
Tulsi has been proven to help protect the eyes Modern research has revealed that Tulsi has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. It has been proven to help protect the eyes from many pathogens that contribute to infections from environmental damage and free radicals.
How to Use:
Soak Tulsi/HolyBasil leaves in water that has come to a boil for 8-10 minutes. Allow water to cool and wash your eyes with it.
Alternately, soak a clean washcloth in the warm Tulsi water, wring out the excess water, and place on the eyes as a warm compression.
Health & Well-Being Disclaimer
I am not a doctor and I don’t pretend to be one. I share these remedies only for informational purposes. It should not be treated as medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your doctor or another professional health-care provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website. Reliance on any information provided on this website is solely at your own discretion and risk. By using this website you agree to the terms of the full medical disclaimer.
