Naturally treating a chalazion with cornflower hydrosol?

The chalazion, often mistaken for a stye, is a benign cyst that can develop on the eyelid. Its occurrence is linked to a disruption in the functioning of the Meibomian glands, which are responsible for the production of meibum, a substance similar to sebum that contributes to the composition of tears. Indeed, in response to certain external aggressions, the composition of the meibum can change and it can thicken. It is then likely to cause a blockage in the drainage canal, potentially leading to inflammation of the eyelid and the appearance of a chalazion. While this is often painless and disappears on its own, in rare cases it can become chronic and get infected due to the presence of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.

Beyond the pain it may cause in the event of an infection, a chalazion can lead to aesthetic discomfort for those affected. As such, many seek to get rid of it quickly by resorting to natural alternatives. Among these, the cornflower hydrosol, known for its decongestant properties, is often mentioned.

At present, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that cornflower hydrosol could be used to treat a chalazion.

Nevertheless, certain properties of cornflower hydrosol could potentially be beneficial in relieving a chalazion. Indeed, several studies have revealed that cornflower hydrosol possesses relevant anti-inflammatory virtues. An experiment was notably conducted on mice with ear oedema. The effects of applying an aqueous extract of cornflower at different doses (100, 200, 400 and 800 μg) were compared to those of indomethacin (250 mg), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. At the highest dose, the cornflower extract managed to inhibit 52% of the oedema size, compared to 72% for indomethacin. In this study, the aqueous extract of cornflower thus demonstrated a noteworthy anti-inflammatory action.

However, it is important to clarify that these experiments were not conducted on humans, but on rodents. Furthermore, the extract used is not exactly the same as cornflower hydrosol as it was extracted by solvent extraction, not by hydrodistillation. Thus, more scientific evidence is needed to confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of the cornflower hydrosol.

Furthermore, despite its rich composition and numerous benefits, the cornflower hydrosol is not capable of acting on the plug formed by the meibum nor of liquefying this substance. Generally, to combat a chalazion and liquefy the accumulated meibum, it is recommended to apply to the eyelid two to four times a day compresses soaked in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes before proceeding with a gentle massage from the centre of the eyelid towards the lashes, a gesture that allows for a quicker elimination of accumulated fluids. The supposed anti-inflammatory properties of cornflower hydrosol could be relevant for use in conjunction with the application of warm compresses and massages, but this remains a hypothesis at present.