Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that covers the inside of the eyelids and part of the eyeball.
In most cases, conjunctivitis is not serious, but the symptoms can be annoying and even painful. Here's how to get quick relief.

What type of conjunctivitis are you dealing with?

Reddened eyes, a burning sensation, itching, discharge, sometimes eyelid edema...
These symptoms are typical of conjunctivitis, but there are many reasons for the inflammation.
There are four types of conjunctivitis:

• Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an allergen coming into contact with the eye (animal hair, pollen, etc.).
  It causes redness, itching, light tearing, eyelid edema and a runny nose.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis gives the impression of having dust in the eye.
  The eye is red and the eyelid is often swollen. Another sign is the presence of purulent discharge.
• Viral conjunctivitis is similar to bacterial conjunctivitis. It starts with an itchy, red eye. The other eye is affected within a day or two.
• Irritant conjunctivitis occurs when the eyes are exposed to an irritant (smoke, chemical product, foreign body in the eye, etc.). The affected eye becomes very red, and you may feel a burning sensation of varying intensity.
  Tearing is also symptomatic of this type of conjunctivitis.

If your eyes are affected by a chemical (a household product, for example), you should always wash them with plenty of water for several minutes and call for emergency medical attention, as this can be very serious.

The natural treatments you're about to read about are suitable for all types of conjunctivitis (except those caused by chemicals), but if symptoms don't improve or get worse, you'll need to use eye drops specifically adapted to your type of conjunctivitis.
Your doctor will then take over.
In most cases, however, you should feel relieved within two to three days.

What are your first reflexes?

Here's what you need to start doing at the first sign of trouble:

• Do not wear your contact lenses again until your conjunctivitis has healed;
• Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching them. eyes ;
• When outdoors, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from light.

Once these few steps have been taken, your first remedy will simply be saline solution, available at any pharmacy. It's a saline solution, containing sodium chloride in the same proportion as that found naturally in tears. If you have scabs on your eyelidsStart by gently rubbing your closed eyes with a compress soaked with sérum.

Then wash your eyes, avoiding touching them with the pipette tip. These pipette-equipped bottles are single-dose, so use the whole bottle (don't save half for the next day!).
Cleansing is the basic procedure, and should be carried out two or three times a day.
If your conjunctivitis is allergic and caused by pollens, perform an enema when you've been outside for a while and you get home.

Baths and compresses to the rescue

What plants should I use for conjunctivitis?

It's advisable to treat both eyes, even if only one is affected by conjunctivitis. This prevents contamination of the healthy eye. However, don't use the same compress for both eyes, and clean your eyepiece thoroughly before bathing the other eye.

• Cornflower hydrolate (pure, organic and preservative-free)

Cornflower soothes irritated eyes and helps deflate eyelids.
You can make a bath as explained above, or apply a soaked compress 3 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes.
Les hydrolats pure are sensitive to bacterial growth, since they contain no preservatives.
They should therefore be kept refrigerated as soon as opened, and used within two or three days.

• Les chamomile hydrosols and lavender officinalis

Mix equal quantities of the two hydrosols and proceed as for the cornflower.
Roman chamomile will soothe itching, while lavender will have an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action. 
You can also make an infusion.
For this, use one tablespoon of lavender flowers and one tablespoon of lavender blossoms. chamomile in boiling water (the equivalent of three glasses of water).
Leave to infuse for 10-15 min, then place in the fridge.
Once the infusion has cooled, it is ready to use.

• Plantain

Plantain has many virtues anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, healing and protective properties.
You can make an infusion from its leaves and apply it to your eyes.
There are also 100% plantain eye drops available from chemists.

• Euphrasia(euphrasia officinalis)

This plant is anti-allergic, antiseptic, antibacterial, astringent, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Everything you need to treat conjunctivitis!
You can find it in herbalists' shops to make infusions.
And don't forget the homeopathic version: Euphrasia 7CH.
Take 3 granules five times a day for the duration of symptoms.

• Goldenseal(Hydrastis canadensis)

This plant, whose root is used, comes from the forests of North America.
It is used in traditional medicine as it contains broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral compounds.
It is therefore ideal for viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.
You can also use it in homeopathic form.
3 granules of Hydrastis Canadensis 5CH 3 to 4 times a day.

Discover more ideas below 

We don't always know it, but breast milk has antiseptic properties that are effective against conjunctivitis. If your baby suffers from conjunctivitis, don't hesitate to apply pure breastmilk to the eyes using a sterile compress.

Finally, to complete your treatment, you can, in addition to local applications, drink a plantain-based infusion of fenneland euphrasia three times a day. All three are available from herbalists. Place the equivalent of one tablespoon of each plant in 250 ml of cold water, heat until simmering and leave to infuse for 5 to 6 minutes. Strain and drink three cups a day.

In the case of severe inflammation, a course of cassis can be useful (especially in cases of allergic conjunctivitis).
Take 5 drops diluted in a glass of water up to three times a day for 10 days. This supplement acts in the same way as cortisone, so it's advisable to check with a doctor if you're taking cortisone. As a precaution, we recommend that you do not take bud for high blood pressure.