Dear Bob Liebert,

My sister is having recurrent styes in her eyes and this has been going on for about 3 months. I'm an herbalist myself, but can't seem to help her with what I've done so far. We've tried iron and minerals so far. She is on the Atkins diet and has lost 60 pounds. She doesn't like a lot of vegetables, but does eat a salad almost every day. She has acne problems also and 27 years old. Have you dealt with this problem before?

Patty

Dear Friend,

Styes are usually brought on by an infectious process on the eyelid, but is, by herbalists believed to indicate a poor condition of the blood with toxic build-up. I would recommend full courses of Echinacea with at least one of the blood-purifying herbs: Yellow Dock, Burdock, Red Clover (see Blood Pure Formula). This course may have surprising results with the acne as well. Diluted Thuja extract applied externally; a drawing poultice of Plantain or Burdock leaves (or potato!) will help ripen if they come to a head. Finally, if there seems to be hormonal imbalance (often indicated in adult acne), then an herb like Chaste Berry may aid in both conditions.

You can buy these herbs and many more in the Formula and Single Herb sections of the Teeter Creek Herb website. Herbs that don't appear in the Formula or Single Herb lists can usually be requested in the "Message" section at the bottom of the order page.

The information expressed is the personal observations of Herbalist Bob Liebert based on his personal experience and his studies of folk and traditional herbalism. These observations are not meant to be a substitute for qualified medical diagnosis and treatment. Uses of many of the herbs have not been scientifically verified.