There are about 215 species of Eyebright in the Orobanchaceae family. The one that grows in the Outer Hebrides is a species all of its own. I especially love the German name Augentrost which means comfort of the eyes.
It has a very important function within the ecology of the Hebrides. Euphrasia, like Yellow Rattle, another common plant here, is hemiparasitic. By attaching itself via haustoria (adapted root systems) to the roots of neighbouring strong grasses, Eyebright steals water, minerals and even carbon from grasses nearby. It is only hemiparasitic because it does photosynthesise and produce its own chlorophyll, and it is capable of surviving without other plants but it fares better when it supplements its diet.
The brilliant thing about its action is that in areas where it grows commonly, such as the machair, it weakens vigorous grasses, opening up the ground for more meadow flowers. It delivers far greater biodiversity and variety because it grows so well on poor, free draining soil preventing grass from dominating.
Medicinal
It has an incredibly long pedigree as a treatment for eye complaints. Used since Mediaeval times, it has been a staple in the Apothecary's bag. According to the doctrine of signatures, a system created by Paracelsus in the 16th century whereby plants were identified as having medicinal properties if they resembled a part of the body.
Pulmonaria (lungwort) with its spotty leaves was supposed to resemble the lungs and used for that purpose, Walnuts were believed to heal the brain and plants with red sap were identified as being suitable for cleansing the blood. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) was a favourite because if squeezed, it produced a red sap and the flowers were tinged with red for confirmation. We use Hypericum in our work, there are few things more thrilling than watching a clear oil turn red over months as the therapeutics transfer from the plant to the oil. It is brilliant for healing, soothing and calming the skin so we put it into our
Timeless Beauty Serum.
Euphrasia was identified as a treatment for the eyes because the bright purple veins on the flower were thought to be evidence of similarity to the eye. In fact, it is wonderful for the eye. Made into a tea or tincture, it is used commonly to relieve the discomfort of blepharitis, styes and conjunctivitis.
It's properties extend beyond the eye though, it is anti-inflammatory, astringent and anti-histamine so it can be used for allergic rhinitis, hayfever, catarrh and many conditions of the nasal passages and inner ear.
We pick it every year and make it into a tincture to combat sore eyes from the savage wind we have up here, it works beautifully.
