As long as people have existed, there has been a need to protect and treat eye problems. After all, it is what you see the world with, and unlike today when people had to resort to hunting and gathering for survival, bad eyesight could cause your death. So, to keep your eyes healthy, different cultures developed their own style of medicine and treatment options to treat common eye problems.
Medical sciences have come a long way today, certain common eye conditions like trachoma and other viral or bacterial eye infections seem trivial today. However, it reached this point standing on the back of traditional medicine practices, which later helped develop modern medicine. So, with that being said, let’s explore the various traditional medicine practices for eye health that are still thriving today.
Ayurveda for Eye Health
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian medicine system developed thousands of years ago. The Ayurvedic treatment uses natural herbs and the goodness of medicinal plants found naturally and uses them to treat different physical conditions. When it comes to eye health, there are different medicines, yoga poses, lifestyle changes, and dietary recommendations that are used to treat the different commonly occurring eye health issues. Let’s explore the different treatment methods under Ayurveda for eye health.
Ayurvedic Medicine for Eye Health
The best part about Ayurvedic medicine is that it has preventive capabilities as well as healing capabilities. If you currently don’t have any eye condition, you can still go for Ayurvedic medicine as it can help you stay healthy and protect your eyes from common eye problems. Here are some of the best Ayurvedic medicines you can have to protect your eyes and maintain their health.
Triphala Kashya
Triphala Kashya, which is a decoction of Triphala is an incredibly helpful medicine for your eye health. Washing your eyes with it regularly can help you keep eye infections away and maintain your eye health. Even with complex eye conditions like macular degeneration, Triphala Kashya can help. Combining it with other natural ingredients like ghee (clarified butter), honey, or sesame oil and consuming it can be a great way to treat such conditions.
Triphala Churna
Commonly known as Triphala powder, the churna can help you protect your eyes from various eye conditions. Consuming it regularly with ghee is a great way to maintain your eye health. You can also add it with sesame oil to protect your eyes from ‘vataja’ eye diseases, which are different types of infectious conditions that lead to pain, dryness, or watery discharge from the eyes.
Yoga Poses for Eye Health
Yoga is a great way to keep your mind and body healthy, and there are specific yoga poses to keep different parts of your body healthy. For your eyes specifically, there are several yoga poses, which when done regularly, can help you maintain your eye health, and keep you safe from common eye problems. Here are some of the best yoga poses that you can perform for eye health.
Chakrasana
Chakrasana is a pose where you arch your body backward and keep yourself up on your hands and your legs. This pose improves blood flow to your head and helps you keep your eyes healthy. Chakrasana is a fairly complicated yoga pose, so be careful if you are trying it out for the first time.
Shirshasana
Shirshasana or a headstand as you would call it in English is a great exercise for your eye health. Much like the Chakrasana, the Shirshasana brings heavy blood flow to your head and helps you keep your eyes healthy. The Shirshasana is also a very complicated yoga pose that you should not try alone if you are a novice.
Bharmari Pranayama
This is one of the easiest yoga poses that you can do for your eye health. As it is a pranayama, the Bharmari Pranayama is a breathing exercise and yoga pose all in one. You start by sitting with your legs crossed and closing your eyes. You have to cover your eyes and ears using your index fingers and thumbs respectively. And lastly, put your ring fingers below your nostrils and take long breaths. You can repeat this exercise a few times to keep your eyes healthy.
Lifestyle Changes for Eye Health
Ayurveda is not just about medicines and yoga, there are certain lifestyle changes you must accommodate to get the benefits of Ayurvedic medicine and yoga. Here are some of the best lifestyle changes needed for eye health as per Ayurveda.
Regular Eye Washes
Washing your eyes is one of the easiest ways to keep them healthy. Washing them regularly helps keep the dust, dirt, or bacteria out of your eyes that can cause damage. As per Ayurveda, the best way to wash your eyes is to take a mouth full of water. Open your eyes as much as you can and splash cold water on your eyes at least five times. You can spit the water in your mouth after you are done.
Massaging Your Eyes
After washing, massaging your eyes with wet palms is a great way to protect your eyes from harm and damage. Simply put your wet palms over your eyes and gently massage them. You can also do this massage after your meals when you wash your hands and mouth.
Regular Sleep Schedule
Sleep is important for your eye health and as per Ayurveda, regular sleep is crucial to maintain your eye health. Sleeping at night at regular times is required for optimal eye health. Similarly, staying away from overeating and sorrow also play an important role.
Dietary Recommendations for Eye Health
Consuming food items like barley, wheat, honey, pomegranate, and ghee is crucial for maintaining your eye health. You can also add carrots to your diet, which are also very popular food item that protects your eyes from damage.
Traditional Chinese Medicine for Eye Health
According to traditional Chinese medicine, you must treat the liver to treat your eyes. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is a common saying that “the liver opens into the eyes”. Furthermore, Chinese medicine suggests that any kind of eye condition, be it blurred vision, dry eyes, or poor eyesight, is due to liver fire or liver blood deficiency. So, let’s take a look at some food items that can help you maintain your eye health according to Chinese medicine. The best part is that the food items listed below will help you maintain the health of both your eyes and liver.
Spinach
Spinach is an interesting ingredient in Chinese medicine because it has both great and not-so-great effects on your health. Spinach is a rich source of iron used to tonify liver blood. It is rich in Vitamin A which already makes it a great ingredient to include in your diet to keep your eyes healthy.
The benefits of spinach are extended when consumed with other vegetables like carrots. However, it needs to be consumed in moderation because spinach has laxative effects, and overconsumption can make your stomach upset.
Carrots
Regardless if you consume them with spinach or not, carrots are known for being rich in beta-carotene, which helps form vitamin A in your body and improve vision. According to Chinese medicine, carrots are also known for tonifying liver blood which helps to strengthen and nourish the eyes.
Liver
Eating animal liver like chicken liver can be extremely helpful for your eyesight as per Chinese medicine. Although they must be hormone free to tonify liver blood and improve eyesight. You can also try seared calf liver, which has similar benefits.
Lutein
Lutein is one of the best nutrients for your eyes because it can help you reduce the symptoms of serious vision problems macular degeneration and cataracts. Lutein is the strongest carotenoid and is found naturally in egg yolks and vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, and corn. Consuming these food items regularly is enough to get a healthy intake of lutein to keep your eyes healthy.
Goji berry
Goji berry is an important part of keeping your eyes healthy according to Chinese medicine. Goji berry enters the liver, kidney, and lung channels in your body. The berry when consumed regularly nourishes your liver and moistens your lungs. It helps get rid of conditions like dizziness and weak or blurred vision. Goji berry is an integral part of Chinese medicine and its benefits go beyond helping maintain your vision.
Bilberry
Bilberry is an incredible ingredient with plenty of benefits. Historically it has been used by fighter pilots flying in low light conditions. Bilberry is rich in a pigment called anthocyanidins. It is a potent antioxidant that protects your eyes from damage and helps maintain your eye health. Bilberry also has other health benefits, and having them regularly can help you maintain a healthy body and eyes.
These are some of the most common and potent traditional Chinese medicines used to keep your eyes healthy. You can add them to your diet or use them in a medicine format if you have access to a local Chinese medical shop. These ingredients can help you maintain a healthy body overall when you maintain a healthy active lifestyle and balanced diet.
Unani Medicine for Eye Health
The Unani medicine system originates from Greece found in the doctrines of Greek physicians Galen and Hippocrates. Much of the present form of the Unani system is accredited to the Arabs who saved Greek knowledge and literature and translated it into the Arabic language. Over time, Unani medicine was refined and enriched by taking the best from traditional medicines from the Middle East, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, India, China, and Persia.
The Unani system is based on four humors, i.e., blood (Dam), phlegm (Balgham), yellow bile (Safra), and black bile (Sauda). The human body is made up of seven components according to Unani, which are as follows: Arkan (Elements), Akhlat (Humours), Aaza (Organs), Arwah (Spirits), Mizaj (Temperament), Afaal (Functions), and Quwa (Faculties). The initial treatment approach in Unani medicine consists of establishing a system that arranges for a regimen to balance external factors like water, air, and food. Now that you know the basis of Unani medicine, let’s look at some of the most commonly used Unani medicines to maintain eye health.
Indian Gooseberry (Amla)
Indian Gooseberry is a great source of vitamin C and is rich in antioxidants. It has beneficial effects on different parts of your body and especially your eyes. Consuming the juice of this berry with water twice a day can help you improve the functioning of your retinal cells. For people suffering from difficult conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, this can be of help.
Almonds
Almonds are generally popular for being good at helping you improve your memory and keeping you sharp. However, almonds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants, which can help you keep your eyes healthy and even naturally improve your eyesight. Just soak almonds in water every day and have them after pasting the almonds. You can even have them as is or mix them with mix and have them at least once a day.
Naturopathy for Eye Health
Naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative medicine that takes cues from other natural alternative medicinal practices like Ayurveda and Unani medicine. Naturopathy is a fairly new practice and it has its set popularity with patients who claim this type of treatment really works for them.
Naturopathy employs the benefits of natural ingredients and uses their benefits to heal the body from various ailments and keep you healthy. In terms of your eye health, naturopathy has a clear view of how to keep your eyes healthy. Here are some of the most common naturopathic tips for healthy eyes.
- Drink raw carrot juice, which is very high in vitamin A and can help you improve and maintain your eyesight significantly.
- Try and cut down on your consumption of sugar and white flour as they leach your body off the nutrients that keep your eyes healthy.
- Consume fresh vegetables and fruits regularly like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflowers, and watercress. These vegetables have nutrients that will help you keep your eyes healthy.
- Avoid wearing tinted eyeglasses or sunglasses because they can affect the functioning of the pineal gland in your body. To keep yourself safe, you should use clear glasses which have the ability to block the sun’s UV rays.
- Increase the consumption of yellow and yellow-orange fruits and vegetables if you are exhibiting the symptoms of any type of vision problem. Even if you are healthy, consuming these fruits and vegetables regularly, will help you keep your eyes safe.
These are some of the most common eye health tips as per naturopathic medicine. As their treatment processes are based on the particular case of the patient, most of these pointers are mainly for preventive care. If you have any eye problems and want to get professional naturopathic help, you should see a doctor.
Indigenous Medicine for Eye Health
Indigenous medicine also commonly known as traditional medicine is the type of medicine used by cultures and geographical regions before the advent of modern medicine. These types of medicine focus on the natural ingredients found locally and use them to heal and cure different types of bodily problems.
Indigenous medicine focuses both on treating symptoms and preventive care using natural ingredients that are helpful for the body. But what does it say about how to maintain your eye health? Let’s find out.
Passionflower
If you have problems with eye strain, passionflower can be a great way to relieve the tension in your eyes. This flower is known for its abilities as a great nerve and blood vessel relaxer. Passionflower can be used to treat various eye conditions where the pressure in your eyes exceeds certain limits.
Jaborandi
Jaborandi is a herb that is great for the treatment of conditions like glaucoma. Using this herb as a drip over your eyes can be a great way to reduce the symptoms of glaucoma. However, early diagnosis of glaucoma is necessary to get the most benefits of Jaborandi oil in controlling your symptoms.
Fennel
Fennel is an incredible ingredient and has great benefits in keeping your eyes healthy. Fennel is rich in vitamins A and C and has rich antioxidant properties. Just drinking fennel tea can help you deal with symptoms of difficult eye conditions like macular degeneration and even stop the further development of cataracts in your eyes.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo has been used for centuries as a cure to improve blood circulation to the back of your eye in many regions. The improved blood circulation in your eyes helps improve your vision and maintain your eye health. It also helps reduce symptoms of common eye problems and reduces strain and fatigue in your eyes.
Asphalatus
Asphalatus has been used for centuries by bushmen in South Africa to maintain healthy eyes and power the body’s immune system. This herb is rich in many nutrients that are crucial in keeping you healthy both for your eyes and body. Nutrients like magnesium, calcium, and iron are found in rich amounts in this herb, so consuming it regularly is a great way to take care of your eyes.
Conclusion
Traditional medicine works best for preventive care. If you are currently healthy, you can follow the guidelines mentioned in this article to continue keeping your eyes healthy. However, if you are already suffering from some type of eye condition, feel free to visit Sanjeevan. We offer a holistic non-invasive treatment for all types of eye conditions. Check out our website to learn more about our treatment processes and the eye conditions we specialise treating.