How to use chamomile tea to treat conjunctivitis (or pinkeye)!
Chamomile is incredibly effective at treating conjunctivitis. This herb is known for it’s anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties.
We have used this for years now and it really works, every time. No need to spend a fortune at the chemist or put chemicals in your kids’ eyes! I really love simple remedies too – things you can easily find at the local health food store.
So this is what you need:
filtered water
So, this is how you do it:
Boil the filtered water. Make up the tea with about a quarter to one half a cup to one tea bag or one heaped teaspoon of tea. Let brew for about five minutes. Take out the tea and let it cool down to room temperature.
Wash your hands and dry thoroughly. Dip a cotton pad into it. Squeeze a little out and wipe from inner eye to outer eye in one sweep. Discard pad. Wash hands again and use a new cotton wipe for the next eye. Repeat every couple of hours throughout the day for as long as you need it.
I love Hilde Hemmes’ for herbals and their chamomile is brilliant. Any chamomile is fine though – just make sure it is plain chamomile with nothing else added.
You can keep a batch of tea in the fridge for a few days or make it fresh daily.
I double checked this remedy was okay with the amazing naturopath Mim Beim in her book, Natural Remedies and she recommends it too!
Have you tried this? Would you give it a go?
Want to know a great natural remedy for dandruff?
Thank you! This post could not have come at a better time my 6 month old son woke with conjunctivitis in the night and it has already made a huge improvement. Just wondering if anyone out there would have examples/ideas for an alternative first aid kit? Ideas like this one?
Oh that was lucky! Poor little mites – it’s not fun to have. Glad it is working for you! Pretty cool, huh? I would love a natural remedies first aid kit too ! I guess it’s just a matter of collecting ideas and writing them down somewhere and making sure you have the stuff at home? I will ask on the Facebook page if you like, someone might know? Sonia x
Wonderful to see information like this being shared. Compile more of these tips and publish a book, or perhaps be entrepreneurial and launch that natural remedies first aid kit!
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I will leave it to the people that are qualified…..I just share stuff that I do myself at home and that has worked for me. The Eco Mum has a book and working on a natural first aid kit I believe! 🙂
Thanks for the info! I hate those nasty eye drops that the doc. prescribes for pink eye. I found you on Frugally Sustainable and I’m “pinning” this on Pinterest so I remember it in case we get pink eye again!
thanks for dropping by Rebecca! the less chemicals on our kids, the better!! It really works too!
Great! I am going to try this on my daughter today, as I hate prescriptions from the gp! Do you happen to know if acv (diluted of course) would be safe to use in the same way to treat conjunctivitis in children?
Jen, I don’t know, but I would think no, because it would sting like heck! Salt water is another method, but the tea works best.
Thanks Sonia. I’m happy to report that it worked a treat! I even used it on my own eyes a couple of times while she had it – just in case!
Just out of curiosity, do you prefer warm or cold? My daughter said the warm stung, but is enjoying a cold cham tea compress. Wondered if that was common.
I usually wait till it’s at room temperature.
I have worked for a pediatrician for a number of years and this is the only method they recomemded all parents to do.
I have tried it on my 3 children though out the years and has worked wonders. I tell all parents I know. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Maria – that’s interesting to know – you have a progressive pediatrician!!
This happened to my girl last week and I used chamomile tea..she still had it after a week so I had to get the darn cream from the chemist 🙁 I dont know why she had it for so long I washed her sheets every day.. Do you think the cream would do much damage? Its chlorsig eye ointment..
Interesting read! Can you tell me the reason to avoid chamomile while pregnant or breastfeeding? I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding for over 3 years now and drink it regularly. I thought it was good while bf to help bubs wind and that you could even give to them directly (not that i have). Thanks!
I just came across it in my research Kate – I can’t remember now. It probably is to do with large quantities but definitely look into it!
Chamomile tea can cause contractions during pregnancy but I’m unsure about while breastfeeding.
I am from Europe and grew up with many home remedies. I actually use the dried flower buds of the camomile as they are much stronger in their healing properties than the tea! The only thing that you need to do, is strain it before you use it. I use it also for eye infections on my animals. Another tip for women that just gave birth: If they had to cut you, mix the camomile water, some of your milk with warm water and take a sit bath in a bowl once a day. It will help you heal much faster! By the way, the best additive for your baby bath is also Your milk! No dry skin ever! So Gals, if you produce plenty, use it 🙂
G’Morning and thank you for this post. Both my toddlers woke with conjunctivitis early this morning & I needed a natural remedy. I’m glad I came across your site. I put them to bed with chamomile tea bags over their eyes and within an hour or so, their eyes were clear!! I’m administering every couple of hours as suggested using cotton balls. Thank you.
Awesome Candace – so glad it helped!! xxx
I had a cataract operation about 5 weeks ago, and all was well until I woke with conjunctivitis 2 weeks ago. The dr prescribed an antibiotic over the phone, which made it worse, and another dr prescribed a different one over the phone – and the eye just got redder, sorer, itchier and wept constantly. Yesterday I popped in to a pharmacist who told me to stop using anything in the eye, but to use chamomile tea. 24 hours later and there is definitely an improvement. It’s less red, and not quite so watery. Thank goodness for chamomile tea.
that’s awesome 🙂
Thanks for this ? Can I ask how long the mixture lasts for please? Do I need to make a fresh batch daily and do I need to keep it in the fridge?
Hi Suzy, I would be making small, fresh batches just to avoid any contamination.
Thank you!
I tried a little chamomile tea on a cotton wool pad to wipe a
stye in the outer corner of my eye. Even though I was very careful not to let it touch my
eye I had an almost immediate stinging reaction and in minutes the left side of my eyelid and white of my eye were puffed up.
I am very allergic to ragweed and read (later) that chamomile is related to it.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Hey Adrian, I haven’t heard about this at all but I guess you can be allergic to anything! Sorry you had that reaction.