Tea bags are very soothing if laid warm upon the closed lids. They will help relieve the pain of a stye and reduce under eye puffiness. If the tea bags are not easily obtainable saturate cotton wool pads in the tea.
Rose hip tea bags and papaya tea bags are those most popularly recommended by beauticians to get rid of 'bags under the eye. Another old favourite of the beauty parlour was to lay half a freshly cut fig on the offending sags and bags to magically remove them. .
Witch hazel Make cooling compresses with refrigerated witch hazel to lay on the eyelids but make sure that it is used only externally as it can smart very painfully if it infiltrates beneath the lid. Used under the eyes it will reduce puffiness. . Honey Take 600ml(1 pint) of boiling water, I handful of eyebright and 3 tablespoons of honey. Pour the water over the eyebright and leave until cool. Strain then dissolve the honey in the infusion. Soak cotton wool pads in this solution and leave them on the eyes for 20 minutes to relieve soreness. This remedy was also believed to improve the eyesight. . Chickweed, tansy or watercress A handful of anyone of these green goodies, simmered in a covered pan with 1 cupful of water or milk for five minutes then cooled, will make a healing lotion for external use on the eye- lids. Strained of excess liquid and placed between muslin, all three herbs will also provide soothing warm or cold compresses for eyes tired from over- work, central heating or air conditioning - all of which create a feeling of dryness and tension. . Potatoes Grated raw potato has been used a great deal to ease sore puffy eyelids and reduce under eye puffiness. Either strain the juice from a grated potato and saturate cotton wool pads with it or lay the grated vegetable on the eye between layers of muslin. Slices of raw potato or a compress of 1 tablespoon of crushed nasturtium seed added to 1 tablespoon of grated potato will soothe swollen eyelids and reduce swelling - this is a handy tip if you like to indulge in a good cry. A few tears are good for the eyes but we are told that too many will weaken them.
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