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There’s a reason breastmilk has been given the nicknames “Liquid Gold” and “Nature’s Best Medicine.” Breastmilk contains powerful antibodies that are proven to fight off infection. One fascinating healing power of breastmilk is the ability to treat clogged tear ducts in your infant.

What is a Tear Duct?

Tear ducts are basically part of a drainage system around the eye. They are responsible for draining the tears that constantly wash over the eye. If the tear duct becomes clogged, tears are unable to drain properly which can cause watery, irritated eyes.

How Do Tear Ducts Become Clogged?

It is very common for infants to experience clogged tear ducts, a condition that can cause irritation, goopy eye discharge or eventually cause their little eyes to close shut. One main cause for this is that the tear ducts simply haven’t developed completely by the time of birth. Infection is another cause of clogged tear ducts. In both cases it is best to have a doctor evaluate the issue.

Are Clogged Tear Ducts Common?

Yes. Up to 20% of babies are born with blocked tear ducts, which usually open up within the first year of life. If the tear duct isn’t fully developed at birth, it usually is fully formed within that first year.

Natural Treatment: Breastmilk

The natural healing properties of breastmilk are undeniable. Breastmilk contains powerful antibodies that fight off infection, and is a proven treatment for clogged tear ducts. For delicate newborns, it is often better to find a naturally effective treatment as opposed to a harsh pharmaceutical alternative.

According to the Millennium Park Eye Center in Chicago, all you have to do is:

• Place a drop or two of breastmilk directly into the inside corner of the baby’s eyes while they are closed. When they open their eyes, the milk with gently fall into their eyes to clear up any infection.
• You can either squirt the milk directly from the breast, or you can use a little eye dropper to draw up expressed milk and then drop it in.
• Use this treatment a few times a day for a week or two until the tear ducts have cleared up.

Other Natural Treatment: Warm Compress

Another natural treatment for clogged tear ducts is to use a warm compress to gently massage the closed eye, from the inside corner outwards.

According to an article by The Bump,

• “For a clogged tear duct, you want to take a clean, warm washcloth and gently wipe from the inner eye to the outer eye. Using a different part of the warm, clean cloth, put gentle pressure in a circular motion at the inner eye/tear duct to open it up. You will have to do this a few times until the drainage resolves.”

Conclusion

Breastmilk is loaded with infection-fighting antibodies which makes it a natural and effective treatment for clogged tear ducts.

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