Natural Cures for Blepharitis

Blepharitis can be caused or exacerbated by histamine allergies. Foods that are high in histamines are: alcohol, aged cheeses, fish, tomatoes, and bananas. The body uses an enzyme called DAO to process excess histamines in the body; alcohol inhibits the production of DAO. So if you have chronic blepharitis, try not drinking alcohol for a while. You can also minimize consumption of foods that are high in histamines. There are also DAO supplements you can take. For me, not drinking alcohol and taking the DAO supplements has allowed my eyes to get back to normal. I also plan to use the other suggestions in here for keeping my eyelids clean.

Thanks, Lilac! You can rinse after the eye bath if you like. For me it was just more effective without rinsing. This morning there was a little bit of itching again and in the rush of getting my kids ready for school, I forgot to do the eye bath. No problem! I'll do it after I drop them off. The itching has subsided anyway, and I'm so happy I've got this thing managed.

Beautiful. Thank you for posting this. The salt water makes sense, since blepharitis is caused by bacteria, and salt kills bacteria. I think WARM salt water would be best, since the heat helps the circulation, and that helps get rid of infections too, and warmth is known to help blepharitis. I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to rinse off the salt water with plain distilled water after the treatment. I don't know...I'll try both ways. I'll use Celtic salt, which is really high quality. Regarding your long lashes, it may be from controlling the bacteria. My eye doctor told me my eye lashes have fallen out as a result of my blepharitis. You used your creativity. Bravo. I'm going to try it.

I have suffered from blepharitis on and off since 2007 and it has been such a pain. Red, teary eyes, itchin' like a b*tch. This last bout has been the worst.

I'd been thinking about real, natural salt without additives being a great cure-all, and I wanted to try this on my condition. At this point, I was willing to try anything.

I dissolved a teaspoon of Sea Salt in a cup of lukewarm distilled water, and used this as an eye bath. At first, I did it 3 times a day. After about 5 days, I reduced that to twice a day, and then after several more days I noticed I'd forgotten to do the eye bath in the morning. My eyes were 90% itch-, redness-, and tear-free! The eye bath burns a little, but not bad. It's just like swimming in the ocean. ;)

This morning I did the eye bath again 'cause I felt some itching, and it quickly made it go away. By the way, this is important: after the salt water eye bath, I let my eyes dry for a few minutes and then apply VIRGIN COCONUT OIL to my upper and lower inner eyelids. I simply dip a Q-tip in the coconut oil, let the excess drip, and swab my lids gently. I only use 1 Q-tip for both eyes (one end per eye). It makes your vision blurred for about 15 minutes, and then you see clearly again.

As a side effect, I also found that my eyelashes had become freakishly long! I believe it's the coconut oil that's responsible for this.

At present, I would say my blepharitis is under control with the salt water eye bath and coconut oil method. Try it--it might work for you!

Re: Remedies for Blepharitis. Red clover and cleavers are suppossed to help the cond, but have not tried them yet. The manuka honey sounds promising. The baby shampoo only helps a bit.

Hello Meiday,

Re your eyelid condition;

On this EC website, if you look under Ailments, you'll see the introduction which states the cause of Blepharitis is a bacterial or viral infection that impacts the oil gland of the eye lid.

In that case, assuming an infection is the cause; if me, I'd consider applying Colloidal Silver to eye lid using an unscented handkerchief. I do this three times daily for four or five days. If improved in a few days, I'd continue until infection resolved.

I use CS when I get Pink Eye; two drops in each eye, twice daily for two days. Knocks out PE quickly...at least for me. So even if I get a bit of the CS in the eye when applying to eye lid, I know that won't hurt the eye.

Hi Meiday,

Do you have allergies to dust, outdoors, grass, pollen etc.-- meaning airborne allergies? You should see if that is the cause. I have had airborne allergies all my life and then about 3 years ago I developed blepharitis in both eyes, which was due to my allergies. My eyes were burning, peeling, crusty, wrinkly and made my eyes droop. It was horrible! I tried castor oil, that made it worse for me. I kept changing out washcloths and even put frozen foods on them hoping it would help the burning, but it didn't. I also used an eyewash they sell at the drugstore, but that didn't matter either. Somehow I finally stumbled on MSM pills and after 3 days I was better. I bought MSM pills (it's the sulfur content) from CVS (1000mg per capsule), took 2 capsules 3 times a day, and that helped completely-- no more burning eyes! And then for the crusty, flaky, droopy part, I just used Cetaphil face lotion, just something really moisturizing, and really piled it on at night, and that took care of that. After about a month or two, I reduced my dosage to 2 capsules 1 time a day. I still take this dose today everyday on an empty stomach in the morning with some water and it keeps my blepharitis away. If for some reason I don't take it for a few days, my eyes start to feel the burn. Also, I had read that MSM and Vitamin C works well when taken together, but this wasn't so for me. For some reason for me, the Vitamin C canceled out the effects of the MSM, and made my eyes burn again. So I suggest that you take the MSM on an empty stomach with water, and not with orange juice or any kind of Vitamin C. Good luck!

I have been diagnosed with Bleparitis. Only one eye. Warm compresses and eye lid scrubs are not working. I was using antibiotic/steriod ointment for one week and it appeared to help, but off of it for one week and it is all red, irritated and swollen again with tearing now. Doc keeps saying the same thing over and over. I can't even go to work it hurts so bad. I see that folks use coconut oil and honey to help. Mine is in the inside of the eyelid, so it involves the oil gland. I am also on a lot of flax seed oil. There has to be a better way!

Many thanks for the advice to use Honey - it is brilliant - my eyes are cured. Much love, Wendy

I just read an Article on Google about a man who had this condition for 8 years. Well, I've had mine for 1 and its so painful and irritating hurts, well this man cured it in himself with... guess what it is? Honey. So I'm all for natural treatments and in Australia I'm learning about the aboriginal cures they work so I'm looking into plants also natural but mananuka honey has in fact got an antibacterial ingredient in it. Any honey, but pure is better the "mananuka" tree or flower in Australia, has the quality, if it worked for him it will work for me, I'll get back to you guys on what works, ok? But the honey twice a day I'm trying, he said that he cured it, 100% and he looks happy. Thank you.

(I hope folks are not using drugstore castor oil processed with hexane. Hexane can cause blindness so everyone be sure to use only hexane free castor oil from the health food store or online.)

Castor oil has only very slightly helped my eyes. I've noticed that my symptoms are usually held at bay while I'm wearing foundation and either putting fresh foundation on before bed usually works at keeping it under control. However, this winter it's been worse than ever and so I've been washing with baby shampoo and using psoriasis lotions very lightly around my eyes (burns like the dickens for a few minutes) which helps tremendously but hasn't completely relieved it. I've also noticed when I eat fungus promoting foods like I did last night, it's absolutely horrible by morning (no matter what I put on my eyelids before bed) with much more redness, swelling, itching, burning etc than usual. Those foods would be sugar and grains for starters. I had popcorn and chocolate last night and I'm paying for it this morning!!

Hi Kerri, can your doctor offer you a non-steroid medication? Some people are very sensitive to steroids and have a very bad reaction. Unfortunately, most doctors will not acknowledge that steroids are not a wonder drug for everyone. Please search and read about other people's eye experiences with steroids. You may or may not identify with what you read, but if it is a bad reaction steroids it will only get worse as long as you use the steroids. Think back to what ointment you have used around your eyes - did it have a steroid in it? From what you posted it sounds like a bad reaction to steroids. I think you should look into this possibility. There is a usually a long healing period with multiple flares where you get worse again before you get better. Good luck!

This is what I am on; TOBRADEX? (tobramycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) is a sterile, multiple dose antibiotic and steroid combination for topical ophthalmic use.

Between what I read online and what dr's say or don't say I get scared. I am not feeling good on top of this today. I am beginning to think my obgyn could help me better!

I don't see the email to send photos.

Hi Kerri, I don't know if your medication has steroids in it, but if it does or if you have ever used a product with steroids in it please do a search for "international topical steroid awareness network", their forum has a section on steroid induced eye irritations, or "topical steroid addiction", or "topical steroid withdrawal". Good luck.

Okay I saw my eye Dr. again the other day. I was told that this blepharitis has to do with the weather and that it is common. Why do I get all this crappy stuff? I was told to use the Systane drops a few times a day and to use the Tobramax (I think I spelled it right) all around my eyes. This thing has got me so irritable and moody and I can't cry because it hurts! I don't know if I can post pics here or not and don't see a link. I told someone I feel like/look like a reptile zombie. It is all red, sore, peely/blistery and I look horrible! I want it to ease already. :-(

Well I will try that. I have to give my Dr a call because I am so tired of this.

Wendy,

You could try both. Put a little bit of the honey wherever you have irritation. You can also dilute 1 teaspoon of the honey in a Tablespoon of warm water and use that as drops. I would use purified, filtered or distilled water, if possible.

I hope you have relief soon!

~Mama to Many~

I have bought a jar of Manuka Honey - please let me know how to make the eyedrops or can I just smear a small amount on my upper and lower lids?

Kerri, the only way I have seen it (honey or castor oil) applied, is dabbing it ON the eyelids, not INSIDE the eye. It probably works a bit slower than inside the eye, but to me it sounds safer. I imagine you can dab it on during the day and wash it off in an hour or so.

I use an eye ointment at night now. How am I supposed to use the castor oil or the honey? I just find it strange putting honey there. How do you do it and how much? I am fed up with everything. The other day I thought it was clearing and then bam! It is back. My skin is tight again and it is going to start to peel. This isn't a way to start the New Year off.

Kerri, some have had relief from dabbing Castor oil on the eyelids nightly, and some have done so with honey.

I have been dealing with this since October. I had it years ago and it never got past redness part. I felt like I had something in my eyes, they burned, when I cry it makes it worse so I don't cry and believe me I would like to! It started in one eye, then went to the other and now both. Some days it feels like it is going away and the next its back.

I have oily eyelids, flaking and then peeling gross skin off my eye area, redness, soreness, itchiness, eyelashes here and there fall out and an ache or pain in my eye.

My Dr. gave me at first eye drops, ointment, but it didn't seem to clear and then I went on an oral antibiotic and just did the ointment and I have OTC drops. I went back 2 days before Christmas and he said looks good, the next day I started getting tough skin in the eye area and then it flaked and peeled off and it was gross. I am on a new eye ointment and one oral antibiotic a day.

I have too much going on I don't need another issue. I think that is all for now. I know now I am not alone, but it still stinks.

Yes the honey works brilliantly for blepharitis. We treated my father-in-law with honey drops and they succeeded in keeping it completely pain and irritation free. His belpharitis was connected to his glaucoma and he was told he would always have it. He was given many different types of eye drops from the hospital, non of which worked, so the honey was a blessed relief for him. I would heartily recommend it.

I tried a million different treatments for blepharitis and dry eye for many months and this was a real b-----. I tried warm compresses, tea bags, supplements, still more misery. But here is something that worked for me. I did some research and found out about "Demodex mites" that infest the eyelashes ( I know it's gross but you can look it up and see if it matches your symptoms). The remedy for these is tea tree oil. Of course it would hurt like hell if you put it on your eyes "straight" but bc I don't like to use petroleum products (for ecology reasons, but especially near my eyes) I got some Waxelene and put one drop of tea tree in a bit of it, then applied it to my lid margins with a wet q-tip. It stung a little, but actually when the proportions were right produced a kind of warm pleasant relief. Did my eyebrows too, and also as recommended I started washing my hair with tea tree oil infused shampoo every day too. Also wash your face with a tea tree soap ( I just put a few drops in Dr. Bronners eucalyptus liquid castille soap.) Kept doing this procdure, no warm compresses, nothing else. Voila--much relief!

I tried the potato packs on my blepharitis, but they did not seem to work. In fact, they seemed to make my eyes redder. My blepharitis is causing really red eyes and pain. I do put warm compresses on my eyes every day. I use homeopathic eye drops. I have tried the castor oil, but it seemed to actually cause the blepharitis to get worse, though made my eyes feel better. Any other insight as to how to deal with this issue is much appreciated. Thanks!

I tried putting castor oil in my eyes for a couple weeks. At first, I thought it was working, but then my eyelids became puffier. Very sad this did not work, because at first my eyes themselves felt so much better. I am 43 and I thought I was relatively healthy - not on any prescriptions, but for some reason I have not had any luck with getting rid of this blepharitis/dry eye issue. I even moved from SW Colorado to Eugene, OR for more moisture! I may try the castor oil again, but would love if someone would post additional remedies - homeopathy, herbs, etc. Also, my blepharitis is just redness, I can't see any scaling, but it does cause red, dry eyes.... doesn't help that I am a computer programmer.

I completely back up the baby shampoo comment. I use coconut oil, though, and take particular care to not put any of my other skin regimen on my eyelids. Before the shampoo, coconut oil, hot compresses, and occasionally topical antibiotic mixed with cetaphil soap- my eye-lid was SO bad that even philosophy miracle worker burned it. I remember a scab on my eyelid. It was so bad that I had to stop my latisse. Any one with this problem should try any and all of the above remedies, along with the other posters suggestions.

Hi Mark, have you had any progress with this? I've struggled with this for 9 years now.. It's basically ruining my life.

I have had blepharitis for about three years now tryed everything suggested on earth clinic and with the exception of cider vinegar and hydrogen peroxide which only partly works at best. Decided to try Edgar Cayces suggestion of grated potato packs for half hour to hour each day (this draws out the infection)on both eyes. Even after the first treatment I saw a big improvement. Three days later swollen and red eyelids have almost returned back to normal.

What a frustrating condition! I was a fool when I was younger and used an incredibly strong product to remove my eye makeup and oh, it did the job! As well as beginning the onset of my insanely frustrating issues with blepharitis! For at least 3 years I struggled with this condition and the only thing that I could find to clear it up was a prescribed topical, but it would only last for a short while before coming back full force. I tried everything! It wasn't until I was doing research and saw some info about baby shampoo being gentle and helping out people with this condition. I had already tried everything and was willing to try anything else, so I gave it a go and it was wonderful! I not only washed my eyelids with baby shampoo daily, but I moisturized my eyelids and the skin under my eyes with baby lotion right afterward. Sometimes I use different variations of the lotion, like the night-time baby lotion or I'll mix the creamy baby oil with the baby lotion and use that.. But I always make sure to use a baby lotion product and it's absolutely fabulous! It has been at least 5 years since I've had to deal with blepharitis! I continue to incorporate the baby shampoo (which removes eye makeup like a charm by the way! ) and lotion into my daily regimen. Other than it keeping that horrible condition away (which is enough reason in itself to use the baby products) - I attribute it to my lack wrinkles around my eyes when all of my friends my age have them. I hope this combination helps someone else out there as it has me! :)

I recently came down with an eye infection. At first, I assumed it was Pink Eye but my actual eyeball was not red at all. There was swelling from the inner corner of my eye to the middle of the lid and my eyelid was pretty red. By the next day, my eye hurt really bad whenever I blinked. When I realized it was probably Blepharitis, I put coconut oil on it. I did that only trying to keep the scales from forming on the lid. Some of the pics I saw online were disgusting and some of the people had major crust forming around the lashes. I figured that coconut oil would probably keep the skin from collecting.

To my surprise, I found that as long as the coconut oil was on my lid, there was no pain. I never saw any scales form and within 2 days, my eye was not swollen anymore. You have to keep putting the coconut oil on (2-3 times a day), you will notice when it dries because your eye will be itchy and will hurt again. So happy it worked!

I also had terrible eye pain-mucus, redness, unbearable itchiness.... I thought it was pink-eye, except for it lasted 11 days!! So I finally saw an opthomologist who diagnosed me with Blepharitis (super irritated angry eyelids that don't produce enough oil).

The eyedrops he gave me worked alright; but my eyes would still "flare up" and become extremly irritated. My eyes always seemed to have a red tinge to them-which really really annoyed me.

I tried castor oil, and after only a few nights it seemed to provide a lot of relief! I use a cotton swab to dab the oil on my eyelids, and drop a few drops into my actual eye before bed. It does blur your vision a bit, so before bed is the best option.

:D

I have tried the hot towel method with no results. It is too hard to maintain the heat and moisture at the levels needed. What I have found effective is using castor oil; I found a good video on youtube that elaborates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOqHBz0FOy8

Blepharitis-prevention. I have not had it in over 5 years. AM-I lie down and put a warm washcloth on eyes. Leave it there for 10 minutes. Shower and put the warm washcloth on my eyes while standing up for 3o seconds. Rub eyes with washcloth 7 x back and forth.Put baby shampoo on eyes and wash for 30 seconds. Rinse. Done. PM-I take a shower and repeat shower instructions. No meds needed greatest prevention.

ACV with honey and distilled water cured my eye inflammation.

I had blepharitis in both eyes, with painful ulcerations on my eyelids. It was like I had toxic tears. Dr. said to use a 10% solution of baby shampoo in water and use it to scrub eyelashes with cotton swab. Condition worsened.

Mixe together 5 parts distilled water, 2 parts organic honey, and 1 part ACV. One drop in each eye 2x each day. The solution does not need to be refrigerated. I made it in a clean liquid measuring cup, then transferred it to a droppper bottle. The solution packs quite a sting. More if the inflammation is more severe. It is important to get the solution all over the eye by moving the eye left, right, up and down while closed. It will sting each time, but IT WORKS!!! For me after 2 weeks the inflammation was completely gone. I'm thinking of trying it once a week for maintainance.

Found this receipe in a book: Healing for the Age of Enlightenment by Stanley Burroughs.