Stye: Causes, Medicinal Herbs and Herbal Preparations

A stye, also known as a hordeolum, is a painful, pus-filled bump on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection, often due to Staphylococcus aureus.

It can be triggered by poor hygiene, sharing makeup or makeup brushes, or even touching the eyes with unwashed hands. If left untreated, a stye can lead to complications such as eyelid swelling, redness, and even vision problems. To alleviate the discomfort, herbal remedies like tea tree oil, aloe vera, and calendula can be applied topically to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

However, it's essential to consult a doctor before using medicinal herbs, especially if the stye persists or worsens.

This article explains in detail what are the causes of stye, what medicinal herbs to use to relieve this problem and how to prepare these herbs to get the best results.

What are the main causes of stye?

The main causes of stye are bacterial infections, specifically Staphylococcus aureus, which can enter the eye through a small cut or abrasion in the eyelid, or through touching the eye with unwashed hands that have come into contact with infected skin or mucous membranes.

Other causes include clogged oil glands or hair follicles in the eyelid, which can become infected and cause a stye. The bacteria can also spread from the eyelid to the eye through the meibomian gland, a small oil-producing gland in the eyelid. Hormonal changes, such as those experienced during pregnancy or menstruation, can also increase the risk of developing a stye.

Additionally, poor hygiene, sharing makeup or contact lenses, and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or rosacea, can also contribute to the development of a stye.

• Bacterial Infection: A bacterial infection, specifically Staphylococcus aureus, can cause a stye when the bacteria enter the eye through a cut or scratch in the eyelid, leading to inflammation and a painful, pus-filled bump.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes, such as those experienced during pregnancy or menstruation, can cause oil glands in the eyelids to become clogged, leading to a stye.
• Poor Hygiene: Poor hygiene, including not washing the hands before touching the eyes, can spread bacteria and lead to a stye.
• Clogged Oil Glands: Clogged oil glands in the eyelids, often due to makeup or excessive oil production, can cause a stye.
• Viral Infection: A viral infection, such as conjunctivitis, can cause a stye when the virus irritates the oil glands in the eyelids, leading to inflammation and a painful, pus-filled bump.
• Allergies: Allergies, including allergic reactions to contact lenses or eye makeup, can cause a stye by irritating the oil glands in the eyelids and leading to inflammation.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Nutritional deficiencies, including a lack of vitamin A or omega-3 fatty acids, can cause a stye by impairing the body's ability to fight off infections.
• Environmental Factors: Environmental factors, including exposure to pollution or dust, can cause a stye by irritating the oil glands in the eyelids and leading to inflammation.
• Genetic Predisposition: Genetic predisposition, including a family history of styes, can cause a stye by increasing the risk of developing a bacterial infection in the eyelids.
• Other Medical Conditions: Other medical conditions, including diabetes or acne, can cause a stye by impairing the body's ability to fight off infections or leading to inflammation in the eyelids.

What are the primary medicinal plants used for stye?

The main medicinal herbs used for stye are Calendula officinalis, Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis, Echinacea purpurea, Hypericum perforatum, Euphorbia peplus, Melaleuca alternifolia, Plantago major, Arnica montana, Symphytum officinale.

Calendula officinalis has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which help reduce swelling and prevent infection. Aloe vera and Aloe barbadensis have soothing and anti-inflammatory effects, cooling the affected area and promoting healing. Hypericum perforatum and Echinacea purpurea have antimicrobial and antiviral properties, while Euphorbia peplus has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, all of which contribute to the reduction of stye symptoms.

Melaleuca alternifolia has antimicrobial properties, Plantago major has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, Arnica montana has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, and Symphytum officinale has anti-inflammatory and soothing effects, all of which help to alleviate stye symptoms.

• Calendula officinalis: Calendula officinalis helps with stye due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which reduce redness, swelling, and infection of the affected area.
• Aloe vera: Aloe vera helps with stye by reducing inflammation, promoting wound healing, and providing antimicrobial protection, thanks to its high concentrations of aloe-emodin and other bioactive compounds.
• Aloe barbadensis: Aloe barbadensis helps with stye due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which reduce redness, swelling, and infection of the affected area, similar to its close relative Aloe vera.
• Echinacea purpurea: Echinacea purpurea does not directly treat stye, but its immunomodulatory effects may help alleviate symptoms and promote a healthy immune response, although its effectiveness in treating stye specifically is largely anecdotal.
• Hypericum perforatum: Hypericum perforatum helps with stye due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce infection and inflammation of the affected area, although its use in treating stye is largely based on traditional folk remedies.
• Euphorbia peplus: Euphorbia peplus helps with stye by inducing apoptosis in keratinocytes, which can help eliminate the source of the stye, although its use in treating stye should be approached with caution due to potential skin irritation.
• Melaleuca alternifolia: Melaleuca alternifolia helps with stye due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce infection and inflammation of the affected area, making it a potential topical treatment for stye.
• Plantago major: Plantago major does not directly treat stye, but its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may help alleviate symptoms and promote a healthy immune response, although its effectiveness in treating stye specifically is largely anecdotal.
• Arnica montana: Arnica montana helps with stye due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which reduce redness, swelling, and infection of the affected area, although its use in treating stye should be approached with caution due to potential skin irritation.
• Symphytum officinale: Symphytum officinale helps with stye due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which reduce redness, swelling, and infection of the affected area, making it a potential topical treatment for stye.

What are the main herbal preparations used for stye?

The main herbal preparations used for stye are Decoction, Tincture, Salve, Cream, Poultice, Ointment, Capsule, Gel, Tea, Suppository.

Decoction of Echinacea and Calendula helps to reduce inflammation and promote healing by providing antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Tincture of Tea Tree oil has antiseptic properties that can help to fight bacterial and fungal infections causing stye. Salve and Cream preparations of Plantain and Chamomile reduce inflammation and soothe the skin, promoting faster healing of the stye.

Other preparations like Poultice of Aloe Vera, Ointment of Turmeric, Capsule of Goldenseal, Gel of Aloe Vera, Tea of Green Tea and Suppository of Calendula also provide relief from stye symptoms by reducing pain and inflammation and promoting healing.

• Decoction: A decoction of Calendula officinalis can help with stye by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Tincture: A tincture of Echinacea purpurea can help with stye by stimulating the immune system and reducing the severity of the infection due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Salve: A salve of Plantago major can help with stye by protecting the affected area from bacterial and fungal infections and promoting the healing of the skin due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Cream: A cream of Aloe barbadensis can help with stye by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
• Poultice: A poultice of Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) can help with stye by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing properties.
• Ointment: An ointment of Melaleuca alternifolia can help with stye by reducing bacterial infections and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Capsule: A capsule of Echinacea angustifolia can help with stye by stimulating the immune system and reducing the severity of the infection due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Gel: A gel of Aloe barbadensis can help with stye by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
• Tea: A tea of Hyptis suaveolens can help with stye by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
• Suppository: A suppository of Calendula officinalis can help with stye by reducing inflammation and promoting the healing of the affected area due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.