A stye is an inflamed swelling on the edge of the eyelid, caused by a bacterial infection of the gland at the base of an eyelash. It’s a condition that is usually self-treatable and self-diagnosable.

Homeopathy is a wonderful option to use to reduce the pain of a stye while speeding its resolution.

Here are a few of the more common remedies to consider:

Graphites: A person needing this remedy tends to have sties appearing on the bottom eyelids which can come in crops - many at one time. These patients may also complain of crusts and scales on the margins of their eyelids as well as lids that are much inflamed and discharging a sticky substance. They may also complain of skin issues that release thick, sticky (almost honey like) and offensive discharges from the skin, fissures and cracking skin with discharges around the ears, lips and elsewhere.

Hepar sulph: This homeopathic remedy is often called for where the eyelid is red, inflamed and very sensitive to touch. There may even be a series of little pimples around the eye. The eyes often tear and become stuck together during sleep. Typically, a person needing Hepar will be very sensitive to touch, pain and cold air. They also tend to be irritable and avoid bright light – and are better from warmth.

Lycopodium: A person needing this homeopathic remedy will tend to have sties that appear on the inner corner of the eyelid. There also tends to be much itching of the eye along with an uncomfortable dryness of the eye – particularly at night and on first opening the eyes after sleep. The eye may also be red and discharge a sticky goo at night during sleep. Lycopodium tends to be a right sided remedy in general. They love sweets, room temperature drinks, and are typically worse in general from 4:00pm – 8:00pm each day.

Pulsatilla: This homeopathic remedy is often called for in cases where there is great itching and burning in the eyelids with sties appearing especially on the upper lid. During sleep, there may also be a discharge of sticky, yellow gunk that causes the eyelids to stick together a bit. Pulsatilla patients tend to be thirstless, feel worse in a warm room or in the warmth of the sun, and may be a bit weepy and/or clingy when sick.

Sepia: A person needing this homeopathic remedy tends to have redness of the eyelids with sties. The eyes may also discharge a sticky substance during sleep producing a crusty mix upon waking in the AM. Sepia patients tend to have an aversion to their loved ones when sick. They also tend to feel infinitely better from vigorous exercise and from long exposure to the heat of the sun.

Staphysagria: This remedy is often thought of when a person seems to get one stye after another. The eyelids may itch a great deal, with hard sties, and these patients may also complain of great dryness of the eyes upon waking. While tending to appear mild-mannered, patients needing this remedy can be explosively angry at times with a tendency to throw things when angered.

Sulphur: Similar to Staphysagria above, this remedy is also for frequently recurring sties. The Sulphur patient in general is warm-blooded, worse from heat (often uncovers in sleep), worse at 11:00am and craves spicy food.

As is almost always the case, there are a number of individual homeopathic remedies that may be called for in cases like these. I have sought here to give you a few of the more common ones to consider. Remember – homeopathy is an individualized form of medicine – the remedy you need must match your symptom profile for it to produce good effects.

Once you have chosen a remedy that appears to match your symptoms dose with either a 30C or 200C potency to start - placing one pellet under the tongue or one pellet in water, stirring vigorously and taking teaspoon doses as needed. Always cease dosing when relief begins and only re-dose if symptoms again worsen. As with any medical condition, consult with your physician if you have any concerns about the severity of your problem as it may first require medical diagnosis and/or intervention and monitoring.

About Dr. Lisa Samet

Dr. Lisa Samet N.D. provides Washington Homeopathic Products with a weekly column on using homeopathy for the family. She's a naturopathic physician who specializes in homeopathic medicine and she's a partner with Dr. Andre Saine N.D. Dr. Samet graduated from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1998 and has been practicing in Montreal since then. She was born and raised in New York.

Dr. Samet has chosen to focus on homeopathy because in her experience it is the deepest healing modality available in that it does not just soothe or palliate symptoms but can actually stimulate the body to start to heal itself. Dr. Samet sees patients in her Montreal office as well as long distance using Skype. Learn more here: Dr. Lisa Samet

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