In our previous article on conjunctivitis (eye inflammation), we provided some explanations on the disease: what it is, types of conjunctivitis, how to recognize it, ways to avoid catching it, and what a medical Doctor can prescribe to treat it. In this article, we’ll discuss home remedies also known as “grandmother’s remedies” often used to treat this condition.
Some examples of home remedies
Indeed, home remedies are widely used, especially in Africa. This is because some people prefer “natural” treatments, and others may want to see an eye medical Doctor (called an Ophthalmologist), but cannot do so due to financial constraints or the Ophtalmologist‘s unavailability. Many people have recently asked for our opinion on using these home remedies for conjunctivitis. Here are some mentioned remedies: breast milk, saliva, semen, menstrual blood, urine, Aloe vera pulp, neem oil, morning dew on taro leaves (cocoyam leaves), cassava leaf juice, juice from the plant called “king of herbs” in Africa, a balm applied around the eyes, sugary water, and salty water.
What you need to know
- In general, it is dangerous to introduce things other than eye drops prescribed by a medical Doctor into the eyes:
- Firstly, because the eye is a delicate organ that can easily be injured by things introduced into it. Since eyes with conjunctivitis are already red, it will be difficult to know if what has been introduced has caused injuries.
- Secondly, because the things introduced into the eye may carry microbes from various contagious (such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B) or non-contagious diseases. By adding microbes to an already diseased eye, you risk worsening the situation.
- Thirdly, because the things introduced into the eye can be toxic to it and lead to serious complications such as blindness (the person may become visually impaired or blind).
- Specifically:
- Breast milk: It contains elements (called antibodies) capable of fighting microbes in the baby’s body, BUT ONLY WHEN THE BABY DRINKS THIS MILK. Putting breast milk in the eyes does not help treat conjunctivitis at all. On the contrary, it can lead to serious complications by worsening inflammation. Also, if the milk comes from a mother with diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B, the risk of contracting these diseases is extremely high for the person receiving this milk in the eyes with conjunctivitis.
- Saliva: It contains microbes that are naturally present in the mouth, and putting saliva in the eyes is equivalent to introducing these microbes into the eyes, which can worsen inflammation. There is no benefit to putting saliva in the eyes; on the contrary, it increases the risk of complications and transmission of other more serious diseases.
- Semen: There is no advantage to putting semen in the eyes. On the contrary, it may contain microbes from sexually transmitted diseases that can infect the person receiving it in the eyes with conjunctivitis. Moreover, semen contains sugar (fructose), and sugar promotes the multiplication of microbes. Also, certain chemical characteristics of semen, (specifically what is called “alkaline pH” or “pH higher than 7 out of 14”), mean that semen can have an effect somewhat like soap in the eyes. All of these possibilities will worsen inflammation, which is why putting semen in the eyes is a bad idea.
- Menstrual blood: It may also contain microbes from sexually transmitted diseases that can infect the person receiving it in the eyes with conjunctivitis. There is no advantage to putting blood in the eyes, regardless of the origin of the blood.
- Urine: Urine has a chemical composition that can be very dangerous for the eye. Let’s take an example: Have you ever heard of ‘diaper rash’ in babies? Medically called ‘diaper dermatitis,’ ‘diaper rash’ is often the result of urine on the baby’s skin when the diaper is not changed promptly. If urine can irritate the baby’s skin to this extent, imagine the problems it could cause in the eyes, which are even more fragile than the baby’s skin… Moreover, urine can contain microbes that are particularly dangerous for the eyes.
- Aloe Vera pulp: Although Aloe Vera may have soothing properties, its direct application to the eyes can worsen inflammation due to mechanical irritation and the introduction of microbes.
- Ageratum conyzoides plant, called the “king of herbs” in Africa: This is a plant found in Oceania and Africa. In Cameroon, it is mainly found in the southern parts of the country. This medicinal plant is renowned for its various virtues, including soothing and potentially healing effects on various conditions. However, there is no solid scientific evidence to support the benefits of this plant for the eyes or its toxicity. Nevertheless, the risk of adding microbes to the eye and worsening inflammation remains present. In general, it is better to be cautious with products whose properties have not yet been well identified by scientific studies.
- Neem oil, cassava leaf juice, and morning dew on taro (cocoyam) leaves: The risks and advice associated with the use of the “king of herbs” apply to these three other remedies as well. Applying dew to the eyes can introduce microbes and allergens (triggering allergies), aggravating inflammation.
- A balm applied around the eyes: The risks depend on the composition of the balm used. Some ingredients may be too strong or potentially harmful to the delicate skin around the eyes. Also, applying a balm around the eyes can block the channels through which excess tears should exit. When these channels are blocked, tears cannot be properly drained, leading to tear accumulation. This accumulation can promote bacterial growth and worsen conjunctivitis.
- Sugared water: There is no benefit to putting sugared water in the eyes. On the contrary, you risk worsening conjunctivitis because sugar promotes the multiplication of microbes, and sugared water would be good nourishment for the microbes responsible for conjunctivitis in your eyes. Moreover, even if your conjunctivitis is not caused by a microbe but rather by an allergen or irritant, you cannot be sure that the water you put in your eye does not contain microbes. You would risk worsening your conjunctivitis by adding microbes and sugar to your eyes.
- Saltwater: The acceptable “grandmother’s remedy” is washing the eyes with slightly salted water, as it can have a disinfectant effect (it can kill microbes). It is crucial to dissolve the salt grains well, as they can injure the eye. However, the effectiveness of this remedy depends on the type of microbe in question, as some microbes can survive in salty environments. Also, this “grandmother’s remedy” will not be very effective if conjunctivitis is not caused by a microbe.
What you should remember
- Apart from eye drops prescribed by a medical Doctor, introducing things into the eyes does not help at all in treating conjunctivitis. On the contrary, it can lead to serious complications by worsening inflammation, and these complications can even lead to blindness (the person putting these things in the eyes may become blind). Also, the risk of being infected with serious diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B is high if the things introduced into the eye contain the microbes of these diseases.
- Take care of your eyes and always prioritize medically or scientifically validated methods to treat your health problems. Any home remedy or “grandmother’s remedy” not supported by strong scientific evidence can pose serious risks and have detrimental consequences for your overall health.
- In principle, conjunctivitis heals on its own without treatment in 2 to 3 weeks. But if you feel very unwell, if your conjunctivitis is very bothersome, the best thing to do is to consult an Ophthalmologist (eye specialist). They can prescribe suitable medication and provide advice tailored to your specific situation.
Contributor to this article: Dr Emmanuel Mayi, Ophtalmologist
Feel free to leave a comment (or ask questions) if you found this article helpful, and share it to enlighten others. See you soon!
Dr Christelle Mpoulet, Field Epidemiologist Physician and Freelance Writer (production of medical content combining scientific rigour and editorial clarity for an effective and impactful health communication)
