Our five senses are
precious componants of who we are. Too often, we don’t think about them until
something happens.
Eyesight is fragile. It
can be lost in a moment and professional services via the GP or Accident & Emergency
must be accessed if your sight suddenly fails. My mother lost the sight in one
eye through a central retinal detachment and didn’t know she should act
immediately, waiting until the next day to contact her GP when it was too late.
Find out where your nearest specialist eye centre is and have plans in place to
go there as fast as you can should the worst happen.
Similarly, if you or
your child contract an eye infection which causes the eyelid to swell shut, if
it doesn’t respond to treatment after three days seek further medical advice. I
once had a client whose daughter had an eye infection but failed to return to
the GP for more than a week. The infection was bacterial and the child lost the
sight in that eye. The mother blamed the GP for failure to diagnose but there
was nothing which could have been done because of the time lapse.
As we grow older, our
organs begin to fade. It’s as well to understand what is happening so help can
be sought sooner rather than later. The RNIB produce a wealth of information
about many eye conditions which tell you what the condition is, how it can be
recognised, what tests are used and how it is treated. They also have a
helpline for anyone who wants to talk about their eyes and the impact a
condition may be having on their life. NHS choices also provides online
information about eye conditions which includes self-help advice.
For those of us who
have access to herbs, there is much we can do to help ourselves. Most home
herbal eye care advice is limited to tired or sore eyes with the author stating
that anything further is beyond their scope. In my search amongst those published
herbalists I turn to first, only three authors provide a wide-ranging
description of eye function, health and herbal support – Anne McIntyre, Matthew
Wood and Thomas Bartram. The latter, as befits a Herbal Encyclopaedia, provides
so much information it’s difficult to know where to start and when to stop.
Protective nutrition and herbs for eye health
The food you eat will protect
your eyes. Antioxidant carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin protect eyes from
oxidative stress and high-energy light. A diet rich in dark green leafy
vegetables such as kale, spinach, peas and broccoli along with calendula,
squash, sweetcorn and eggs will help. Lutein is present in the macula. A
lutein-rich diet can help prevent macular degeneration, both wet and dry and cataracts.
We also need high
levels of vitamins A, C and E, fatty acids such as omega-3s found in oily fish,
walnuts, soya beans and flax seeds. Copper is another essential trace element found
in nuts, sunflower seeds, liver, beans and lentils. Maintaining good vision
with a healthy macular also requires zinc from oysters, beans, nuts, red meat
and poultry.
To help prevent cataracts
by boosting the action of the antioxidant, gluthione in the aqueous humour, add
elderberries or blueberries/bilberries to your diet. Herbs with a similar
action to anthocyanidins, which protect blood vessels in the eye, preventing
poor night vision and retinal disorders include astralagus root, milk thistle, turmeric
and garlic.
Herbs which strengthen
blood vessels within the eye and inhibit macular degeneration and diabetic
retinopathy include antioxidant herbs such as elderberry, hawthorn berries,
rosemary, thyme, sage, marjoram, selfheal and ashwagandha.
Herbs which increase
circulation to and from the eye include rosemary, gingko, eyebright, vervain
and peppermint.
Practical eye care
The key aspect to eye
care is to make sure everything you use is clean and, in many cases, sterile.
It is better to use a decoction of herbs rather than a herbal tea if you are
aiming for a long-term treatment.
A decoction is made by
bringing 2-5ozs/50-125g of dried or fresh herb in 1pt/0.56 litres of water to
the boil in a lidded saucepan then simmer gently for 10-20 minutes before
straining into a container which is kept in the fridge for up to 36 hours or
so. Make sure there is no debris in the strained liquid. You may need a pass it
through a second filter such as muslin or a coffee filter.
To extend the life of a
decoction, you can put half in the fridge and freeze the other half either in
ice cube trays or in a suitable container. These can then be brought out when
the first half has been used up.
It is wise to invest in
a set of eyebaths and learn how to use them properly, making sure the bath for
each eye is kept separate by marking them on the base and don’t share the fluid
inside them after a first use.
If you find an eyebath
stinging your eyes, add a few grains of salt so the liquid is brought up to the
same concentration as tears and won’t sting.
If you are dealing with
an eye infection, wash your hands with hot water and soap before and after
treatment and ensure the patient has a set of towels for their own use. Every
parent knows how fast an eye infection can pass around a family!
If you don’t have a set
of eye baths, the bottom part of a tea-strainer can be used but it is too wide to
be really effective.
The most common way to
deliver herbal eye care is through a compress. This can be made from a scrap of
material (preferably cotton), a circle of cotton wool (those sold to remove eye
makeup can be useful) or a folded piece of kitchen towel. The compress is
dipped in the herbal solution, squeezed to remove excess moisture (otherwise it
runs down your neck!) then placed over each eye while you either lie in a prone
position, or sit with your head back (so the compress doesn’t fall off!) for
fifteen minutes of more.
Herbal support for common eye conditions
Eyebright
The herb which everyone
turns to for eye infections and inflammations, including conjunctivitis and
blepharitis is eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis). It can be made into a tea by
adding 1tsp of dried herb to 1 cup of boiling water then steep for ten to
fifteen minutes before straining through several layers of muslin. When it has
reached room temperature, pour it into an eyebath and use as a douche and drink
the remainder as a cup of tea. It is not unpleasant.
If you don’t have
access to dried eyebright, add 5-10 drops of eyebright tincture to an eyebath
containing cooled, boiled water. If this stings your eye, reduce the amount of
tincture. If using a drop dose it is always advisable to start with the least
number and build up over time rather than going for the maximum dose first.
Do be aware that eyebright is astringent/drying, so if you are using it for any length of time you may need to introduce a mucilagenous herb such as marshmallow to counteract the effects.
Infections
Eyebright, chickweed
and expressed breast milk applied externally can all be helpful in combatting
eye infections. Support these remedies with antimicrobial herbs such as Echinacea,
goldenseal, burdock, red clover and liquorice taken internally. These herbs
will not only help combat infection but will also boost immunity and detoxify
the system.
Itchy eyes
Bathe in a solution of
chickweed tea, steeped for ten minutes and allowed to cool. If you suffer with
hay fever or other allergic eye conditions then chamomile, nettle, lemon balm,
yarrow, feverfew and Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria
baicalensis) all have antihistamine actions can bring relief. Matthew Wood
recommends goldenrod for hay fever and also for cat allergies.
Tired eyes
Cover a chamomile or
fennel teabag with boiled water and allow to cool until just warm then apply to
closed eyes as you would a compress.
Sore, inflamed eyes (especially from computer usage)
Make a tea from
elderflower, chamomile, calendula, plantain and roses, steep for fifteen
minutes, strain and apply as a compress for ten to fifteen minutes, several
times a day. These herbs can be used individually as well as in combination. Tea made from small amounts of all the herbs is incredibly soothing.
Dry eyes
Dry eyes often come
with aging for no apparent reason. The condition can be linked with blockages
in the Meibomian glands which secrete oil to prevent tears evaporating. If
there is any solidified oil, you can apply a very hot flannel to the eye for
two minutes, then soak the warm cloth in a herbal solution and gently rub along
the lash line of the upper and lower lids.
The best herbal combination
I have found for dry eyes is an equal mixture of eyebright and goldenrod. Goldenrod
is indicated where there is a underlying kidney issue and exhaustion.
Conjunctivitis
“itis” means
inflammation of a particular tissue, so conjunctivitis describes an irritation of
the lining of the eyes caused by infection, allergies, dust or pollution in the
atmosphere. The eye becomes red and inflamed and weeps copious tears.
To treat this
condition, infusions of astringent and antiseptic herbs are called for such as
eyebright, calendula, chamomile, elderflower and rose. These can be used to
bathe the eye and be taken internally.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis describes
the condition when eyelids become red and inflamed. Sufferers are often told it
is incurable but herbal remedies can be helpful. The condition often indicates
depleted immunity, a toxic system or allergy, so if these conditions are
addressed there will often be an improvement.
Chronic conjunctivitis
and blepharitis may improve when dairy products, tea and coffee are removed
from the diet and supplements of vitamins C and B are taken. It might also be
helpful to experiment with Herb Robert to see if a depleted immune system can
be reversed.
Styes
Styes occur when there
is inflammation or infection in glands at the base of the eyelashes. They tend
to occur when the sufferer is run-down or tired. Again, astringent and
antiseptic herbs can be helpful in alleviating the often painful condition,
whilst the individual must take responsibility for resting and improving their
diet.
REFERENCES
Bartam, T Herbal
Encyclopaedia of Herbal Medicine 1998 Constable and Robinson
McIntyre, A The
Complete Herbal Tutor 2010 Octopus Books
Ody, P “Herbs for eye
complaints” in Herbs Vol 41 No2
Wood, M The Book of
Herbal Wisdom 1997 North Atlantic Books
