Ailment: Conjunctivitis

Remedy: Tea

Make half a cup of strong black tea. Use ordinary black tea, not green tea or herbal tea. Do NOT add sugar or honey! It needs to be strong and dark, so let it steep for 10 minutes and give it a good stir or jiggle.

When the tea is cold, put a couple of drops in each eye every 3-4 hours. Also soak a cotton ball in the tea and use for cleaning.

Do not leave the tea out all day. It must be sterile.

Comment posted by David Niven Miller of Perth, Western Australia, Australia on 7 March 2017 at 6:14       4502

In reply to Mandy Smith of Bristol, comment number 4501.
You can use any brand of tea, provided it is not mixed with other ingredients. The fresher the tea is, the better.

Question posted by Mandy Smith of Bristol, Somerset, United Kingdom on 7 March 2017 at 2:40       4501

Is there any type of tea in particular, will PG Tipps do, hope this doesn't sound silly, it s just that this is all the tea I have.

Comment posted by Michaella of Armagh, Armagh, N Ireland on 11 June 2016 at 3:22       4108

YES
My 11 month old has had conjuctivitus a few times, more so when he was a few months. I've always known since being a kid about the great effects of cold tea. Last night my little boy's eyes looked bloodshot and sore. Today already almost cleared up. Cold tea is the best natural remedy of all time and never fails. I recommend it to everyone. Had people shocked how well it works.

Comment posted by Zoey of Seattle, Washington, America on 23 April 2013 at 23:51       1110

YES
I have used black tea for conjunctivitis several times. It always works for me. I just brew a little in a cup, let it cool, and put a drop into my eye every couple of hours for a day or two, and also put the used teabag on my closed eye for a little while before I go to sleep. The next day it's always markedly better, and with a little more of the same for another day for a peskier case, it clears right up. A good home remedy for me.

Comment posted by Puddleduck of Bristol, Avon, England on 11 February 2013 at 19:28       957

YES
I soaked some separate cotton wool balls in black tea yesterday and used them to clean my 6 month old baby's infected eyes. They were pretty crusty and oozy so it took a while. This morning it appears to have gone :0 we are very happy!

Remedy (new) posted by Mani of Cebu, Cebu, Philippines on 29 April 2010 at 19:4       124

YES
I woke up with an itchy red eye that was leaking a clear fluid, and also a little mucus in the corner. It was also hard for me to open the eye. After visiting this site I decided to try tea as a remedy. Well I used black tea, (no sugar). I just made the tea like normal and took the tea bag out of the water after I let it seep for a few minutes then applied it to my eye. The warmth of the tea bag was relaxing and soothing. After about 15 minutes there was a good relief. I went to work that day OK and by the end of the day the red eye was gone. Thanks!