Eye problems and their natural remedies

Beautiful, sparkling eyes are the best asset one can have. They are an essential part of looking beautiful. They are also the most important medium of communication, by looking straight into one’s eyes, a lot can be said about one’s character, feelings and reactions.

The first essential for vibrant, sparkling eyes is that they should be clear and healthy. If the eyes ever get infected, or have any vision defects, an eye specialist should be consulted immediately for proper treatments. There are, however, some problems which are not so serious, but constitute unattractive highlights. These problems and their natural remedies are discussed here.

1. Dark Circles

The skin around the eyes us very sensitive. It is thin in texture and wrinkles easily. The dark circles below the eyes can be caused by ill-health, such as anemia or excessive menstruation during periods. In these cases, a doctor should be consulted. But sometimes they can be caused by simple factors like lack of sleep or a crash diet. Very often, the dark circles are a part of one’s complexion, if dark circles are due to any of the causes other than heredity. The following remedies will prove useful.

(i) Lie down on a board, raised at one end. Your head should be on the raised side. Now place cold cucumber slices over the closed eyelids. Relax for 10 to 15 minutes. Tea bags stored in the freezer can be used for the same purpose.

(ii) Eye wash : If dark circles are accompanied by tired, red eyes, an eye wash should be used. This eye wash can be prepared by adding a tablespoon of Epsom salt to a cup of hot water. It should be followed by a few eye drops. Rose water also makes an ideal eye wash. It gives freshness to dull eyes.

(iii) Gentle massage: A gentle massage can also help relieve tired and aching eyes. Using the tips of the middle fingers, exert gentle pressure starting from the bridge of the nose and tapping across the eyelids and back under the eyes half a dozen times. Then press quite hard on either side of the bridge of the nose close to the inner eye.

Diet for bright eyes

Diet is of utmost importance for the health and beauty of the eyes. Natural, uncooked foods are the best diet. These include fresh fruit such as oranges, apples, grapes, peaches, papaya and pomegranate; green vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, turnip tops; root vegetables like potatoes, turnips, carrot, onions and beetroots; nuts, dried fruits and dairy products.

Cereals are also necessary but they should be consumed sparingly. Genuine whole meal bread is the best and most suitable. Jams, cakes, pastries, white sugar, white bread, tea and coffee, together with meat and fish, soon play havoc with the digestion and the body. Constipating or wind forming foods, alcohol and other intoxicating substances are also harmful and should be avoided.

Each of the essential nutrients needed by the body plays some part in the health and beauty of the eyes. The effect of vitamin A upon the eyes is, however, most pronounced. For normal and healthy eyes, liberal amount of vitamin A must be continuously supplied by the food. The valuable sources of this vitamin are cod liver oil, whole milk, curd, butter, egg yolk, pumpkin, carrots, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mango, papaya, orange and melon.

If vitamin A is in short supply, the eyes may become sensitive to bright lights and a person may suffer from visual fatigue and a consequent feeling of tiredness. If a deficiency of this vitamin becomes severe, visual fatigue and sensitivity to light grow progressively more pronounced.

To keep the eyes normal, beautiful and bright, an adult should have at least 10,000 units of vitamin A daily. Persons using their eyes for long hours or working either in extremely bright light require more of this vitamin that those who use their eyes for short hours. This vitamin is also essential to the health of certain tissues, known as mucous membranes, which line such body cavities as the tear ducts and tear glands. Healthy mucous membrane, or the normal flow of tears determines the highlights, the sparkle, the charming plays of shadows in the eyes.

Another vitamin necessary for visual health is riboflavin, or vitamin B2. valuable natural sources of this vitamin are green leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, egg, citrus fruit, banana, tomato, brewer’s yeast, almonds and sunflower seeds. Dull eyes and abnormal vision due to riboflavin deficiency can thus be found in almost any person who fails to eat these foods.

A healthy diet of milk, butter, fruits, green vegetables and protein should be taken for the proper care of the eyes. Raw carrots, contain vitamins which help maintain the eyes in a healthy and bright condition. They should therefore be taken liberally.

Tears are believed to be beneficial to the eyes are they wash the eyes clean of dust and other particles. Medically, it is known that the enzyme lysozyme present in the lachrymal secretions antibacterial and destroys pathogenic germs that enter the eyes. There are certain ways recommended to increase lachrymator like squeezing the rind of the orange or lime, crushing an onion close to the eyes and instilling a few drops of oil. Those who habituate their system to these particles form a young age will beneficial greatly. To start on these practices suddenly may not be easy.

Amongst the various natural substances, the use of castor oil is highly beneficial for the eyes. A few drops of this oil should be put daily in each eye. This causes increased lachrymator of the eyes for a while but leaves the eyes clean and cool. Regular massage of the scalp with castor oil decrease eye strain.

The herb nutmeg (jaiphal) exercise beneficial effect on the eyes. It is rich in fats and volatile oils. A paste of this herb made with milk may be applied all around the eyes and over the eyelids. It will have a cooling effect.

Triphla, an ayurvedic preparation consisting of three myrobalands, namely, emblic myrobalan (amla), chebulic myrobalan (harad) and belleric myrobalan (behera), is considered beneficial for long eyelashes and sparkling eyes. A teaspoon of this preparation should be soaked overnight in a cup of water. It should be pored through a clean muslin cloth and the eyes should be washed with it. The eyes should be also be dabbed with the cloth for a minute. If a burning sensation is felt in the eyes, the water should be cooled in the refrigenerator before use.

Cold tea can be used to brighten tired eyes. A cotton wool pad soaked in cold ea can be used as eye pads for this purpose.

Bathing the eyes in warm water to which a little salt has been added, can brighten them. It also helps to relieve puffiness. A cotton wool pad dipped in a salt water solution, containing one tablespoon of salt in half a liter of water, can also be used as an eye pack for the same purpose.

Another important factor for the beauty of the eye is sleep. Without adequate sleep, the eyes can look puffy, bloodshot and even become encircled by dark shadows. At least seven hours of sleep is the average daily pattern. Whenever one misses out on sleep, it should be made good as soon as possible. As and when time permits, one should take a few minutes off to close the eyes and relax.

The eyes should also be protected form long exposure to strong sunlight. The glare created by sunlight can harm the eyes. It will be advisable to wear sunglasses outdoors. It should, however, be insured that the quality of the glasses used is good.

Natural care for a bright eyes

The first important factor in restoring normal health and sparkle to the eyes is to loosen the strain and contracted muscles surrounding the eyes. The eye muscle and neck exercises mentioned below will help achieve this purpose. All these exercises should be performed while sitting in a comfortable position.

Eye Exercises

• Keep the head still and relaxed; gently move the eyes up and down six times. Repeat the same movement two or three times after a rest of two or three seconds in between. The eyes should move slowly and regularly as far down as possible and then as far up as possible.
  
• Move the eyes six times from side to side, as far as possible, without any force or effort. Repeat tow or three times.
  
• Hold up the index of the right hand about eight in front of the eyes, then look from the finger to any other large object ten or more feet away the door or window will do. Look from one to the other ten times. Do this exercise fairly rapidly.
  
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  Move the eyes gently and slowly round in a circle, then move them low in the reverse direction. Do this four times in all. Rest for two or three seconds and then repeat the movements two or three times, using minimum effort.
  

Neck Exercises

Rotate the neck (a) in circles and semi-circles, (b) move the shoulders anti-clockwise briskly, drawing them up as far as possible several times, (c) allow the head to drop forward and backward as far as possible, (d) turn the head to the right and left as far as possible several times. These exercises help to loosen contracted neck muscles which may restrict blood supply to the head.

Splashing

Splash pain, cold water several times on the closed eyes. Rub the closed lids briskly for a minute with a clean towel. This cools the eyes and increase blood supply.

Palming

Sit in a comfortable position in an armchair or on a settee and relax with your eyes closed. Cover the eyes with palms, right palm over the right eye and the left palm over the left eye. Do not press on the eyes. Then with your eyes completely covered in this manner, allow your elbows to drop on to your knees, keeping the knees fairly closed together. While eyes are closed thus, try to imagine blackness, which glows darker and darker. Palming lessens strain and relax the eyes and its surrounding tissues.

Massage

Massage the eyes with warm vegetable oil (olive or sunflower) helps in getting a smoother look. As the skin around the eyes is very delicate, use gentle movements, without tugging. Start by running the third fingertip from your nose, under the eye brows and in a circle around and under the eye and back to the nose. Repeat the movement using circular rotating actions, keeping them light and gentle.

The natural way to lovely bright eyes

The eyes are a mirror of general health and the most expressive features of the face. Beautiful, bright eyes are a part of radiant health and the best asset one can have. They give a wonderful effect to one’s personality. On the other hand, eyes are an indication of ill-health and a depressed state of mind. During illness, the eyes are the first to tell their story of pain.

Causes of dull eyes
The main causes of dull eyes are mental strain, faulty diet, and improper blood supply. Mental strain, resulting from overwork, worry, fear and anxiety puts a corresponding physical strain on the eyes and their muscles and nerves. Physical strain on the eyes and may also be caused by reading in dim light or in glaring light, or reading in moving trains, buses or cars, watching too much television and films, and excessive reading. Dust, smoke and prolonged exposure to darkness are all harmful to the eyes and should be avoided.

Dull eyes are symptoms of a general toxaemic condition of the body mainly due to excessive intake of starch, sugar and protein. The muscles and blood vessels surrounding the eyes share in the clogging process taking place due to improper metabolism caused by an imbalanced and too concentrated diet.

For healthy and lively eyes, it is necessary that they are properly supplied with blood and nerve force. Any interference with the blood vessels or with the nerves of the eye could result in lack luster eyes. The muscles covering the upper portion of the spine at the back of the neck are the main seat of mechanical intereference with the blood and nerve supply to the eyes.