During the daytime, while the eyes are watering and red,
the patient does not have any cough. There is no burning or irritation in the throat
either. As soon as the patient retires to bed, the excessive secretions of the
eye divert towards the throat and injure the windpipe leading to coughing.
At the outset, the cough is only at night, but after some
time, due to persistent burning and irritation, sores develop in the throat and
the cough lingers. It can remain during the day also. Along with the cold, there is an attack of severe headache. The
eyes feel heavy as if somebody has put a heavy bandage over them. Ulcers form
over the cornea. The secretion of the eye being acidic in nature shows its ill
effects for a long time and can cause blurring of the vision.
A peculiar symptom of Euphrasia is the pain experienced
over the nerves supplying the eyes. Although Euphrasia is an acute i.e. short acting
remedy, however, the resulting eye condition may become chronic. It mostly
afflicts the third cranial nerve (oculomotor).
Euphrasia has a distinct beneficial effect in the treatment
of German measles.
Measles are treated with Pulsatilla, but in German measles Euphrasia is a must. In this condition, the disease process
starts at the eyes, which become extremely red. As such, German measles is
not a dangerous disease but in pregnant women, it can produce
severe bad effects on the foetus. If German measles attack women in the
first trimester, the development of the foetus stops there and
then, and the foetus does not grow. Pregnant women have to be extra
careful during an epidemic of this disease because it is really very dreadful. In the first three months, the eyes may not
form at all or there can be a serious maldevelopment of the heart. Similarly,
the hearing can also be seriously affected. Sometimes, the child is born
completely blind or completely deaf. Most of these children die in the first
few months after birth. It may be taken as a blessing for the parents
otherwise, if they survive, they become a cause of constant worry and anxiety.
If a woman contracts German measles in the first three months of her pregnancy,
she should be admitted into a well-equipped clinic and it should be ensured
that the foetus has not been afflicted with German measles. If so afflicted,
the doctors would certainly advise abortion for the benefit of the mother and
the child.
In Euphrasia, there is extreme hypersensitivity to light.
A similar kind of photophobia is seen in measles also. The ailments of
Euphrasia become worse in the evening, in hot weather and in bright light.