Sty (Hordeolum, Stye)

Stye is an infection of the sebaceous glands of Zeis at the base of the eyelashes, or an infection of the apocrine sweat glands of Moll. External styes form on the outside of the lids and can be seen as small red bumps. Internal styes are infections of the meibomiam sebacious glands lining the inside of the eyelids. They also cause a red bump underneath the lid with only generalized redness and swelling visible on the outside. Styes are similar to chalazia, but tend to be of smaller size and feel much more painful and usually produce no lasting damage. It appears to be a small pimple develops on the eyelid.


Causes: A sty is a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle. It causes a pusfilled bump to form on either the inside or outside of the eyelid. An oil gland has become infected, inflaming the tissues of the eyelid. The pimple grows for a week or so and then usually subsides, sometimes rupturing spontaneously as it heals.

Some people never get sties. Other frequently get them. Adolescent girls get them from incomplete removal of eye makeup. Any eye cosmetics used before getting a sty should be discarded. Mascara that is kept longer than 3 months develops bacterial growth.

Natural remedies for sties:

• Do not delay solving this problem. If it does not quickly heal, it may need to be drained by a professional. Do not squeeze the lump. This may spread the infection more widely. Sties can be dangerous. So do not be casual about them.
• Because you were not drinking enough water, eyelid secretions did not remain thin. Frequently wash your hands and keep them clean. Do not rub your eyes with dirty hands or fingers. Each peson should have his own towel and washcloth. They should be washed daily if a person has a sty.
• Take adequate vitamin A. But take more, if you frequently have sties. Because too much vitamin A (from supplements ) can cause problems, you would do well to get your vitamin A from carotene. Green and yellow vegetables and carrot juice are rich in carotene. Go on a 5-day fruit fast, plus carrot and celery juice. Keep the bowels clean with an enema every morning.
• Do not eat refined, fried, and processed foods. Also do not eat meats, unsaturated oils, salt, alcohol, tobacco, dairy products, or white flour.
• Carrots, which are chopped and diced, or mashed potatoes (raw or cooked) can be made into a poultice and applied over the area. They can be left on for an hour and repeated 3 times a day.
• Hot compresses on the area are sometimes recommended. But keep in mind that it was very hot compress which blinded young Fanny Crosby. Instead, hold a warm, moist cloth against the affected eye. This will hasten drainage.
• Very warm compresses, alternated with cold, will help draw the pus to a head and then break it open.
• Drink 3 cups of goldenseal tea or eyebright to help clean the liver. Fennel or myrrh may be substituted.
• Apply concentrated thyme tea directly to the sty with a cotton swab. Thyme is rich in thymol, an antiseptic.
• Take echinacea orally. It is a powerful antibiotic. It has anti-bacterial properties.
• A German treatment for sties is to place a very warm compress of chamomile tea on the sty.
• Swallow as much chopped garlic as you are able. It goes to work in the body to kill the staphylococci in the sty.
• If the itself becomes infected, add ½ tsp. salt to 8 oz. water and apply as an eyewash to the eye.
  
• After the sty drains, compresses should be continued until all drainage ceases.