Rub your hands together vigorously, so you generate some heat. Now, place your palms directly on your eyes. How does it feel? Comforting, relieving and relaxing perhaps? Chances are it felt good. In fact, you, probably, didn’t imagine it would be that soothing. The more relieving it is, the more your eyes needed that relief.
Do you have dark circles, deteriorating vision, headaches, and refractive errors, puffy, swollen or red eyes? If you do, your optical organ is calling out to you! It’s time to learn how to take care of your eyes and naturally.
Your eyes are probably the single most useful organ on your face, and yet, they are also the most neglected. After all, we tend to take the best things in life for granted. How about taking some time out now? Switch gears and learn how to keep your eyes healthy and strong. Here are some easy eye care home remedies.
Eye care home remedies
Like charity, eye care starts at home. Try out these some simple and hassle-free ways to help your eyes serve you better.
(1) Cucumbers
Cut 2 slices of cold cucumber and place them on your eyes for about 15- 20 minutes. It will help you avoid those unattractive dark circles under your eyes. It also de-stresses and relaxes your eyes.
(2) Other cold compresses
Wet cotton balls, bags of ice cubes and a chilled spoon also act as soothing cold compresses. They help prevent water retention in the eyes, removing traces of swelling and puffiness.
(3) Aloe Vera juice
Mix some chilled aloe vera juice with water and then dip cotton balls in it. Place these balls on your eyes for about 10-15 minutes. The soothing effect will help relieve eye strains.
(4) Rosewater
Dip cotton balls in rosewater and place it on the eyes. Rosewater can relieve the burning sensation that occurs when you have sore eyes.
Apart from these eye care home remedies, another great eyewash occurs when we cry! Tears have the property of lubricating, nourishing and protecting the eyes. They clear any dust or dirt particle in the eye helping to improve your vision. Of course, don’t search for reasons to cry! Try these other tips and remedies that are better solutions.
Say yes to a healthy life
Natural eye care tips: Dos and Don’ts
Dos
- Eye exercises can help alleviate pressure on the eyes. Sunning, palming, eye wash, candlelight reading, Snellen chart reading (chart used to test the clarity of your vision), ball exercises, steaming and application of cold packs can help improve your vision and health of your eyes.
- Observe the reading and viewing habits of school-going children. They may not be able to communicate their inability to see clearly.
- Wash your eyes with cold water regularly
- If you use contact lens, ensure that you clean them regularly with the solution provided. Disposables are always best.
- Get your eyes tested at least once a year.
- Drink plenty of water. Water can help prevent dry eyes.
- Wear protective eyewear – goggles in the pool and helmets during contact sports like baseball.
Don’ts
- Avoid smoking. It can damage your optic nerves, and lead to deterioration of the retina and loss of vision.
- Don’t skip meals or keep irregular hours. Eat a healthy and balanced diet and get sound sleep. It is, immensely, effective in resting your tired eyes.
- Don’t expose yourself to too much bright light – sunlight or electronic devices. Take a break from the laptop or television every 30 minutes; look away and blink several times. Wear UV-protective sun shades to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. It can save you from cataract.
- Don’t read in dark environs. Darkening the room to get the cinema effect is not advisable, as it strains and tires the eyes. Make sure your reading or watching area is well-lit.
- Avoid reading tiny fonts. Reading larger fonts prevents straining of your eyes.
Eye care remedies with Ayurveda
Natural Ayurvedic eye care tips
- When you wake up from sleep, it helps to splash some cold water over your eyes. Let your mouth be filled with water at the same time. This will relax and stimulate the eyes.
- Don’t read small font, particularly, with artificial light, i.e. at night. In fact, restrict your reading before you go to bed, as it can lead to excessive wear and tear of the eyes.
- Use some Ayurvedic decoctions such as Triphala with Yastimadhu for eyewash to help improve your vision.
- Apply some medicated kohl or kajal on the eyes; this helps to moisten them, preventing dryness.
- Eye drops: Come summer, and there is so much dust and pollutants suspended in the air. Consequently, your eye suffers from dryness, burning and irritation. It might help to try some Ayurvedic eye drops such as Sri Netra eye drops to make them feel fresh and clear. This eye drop has Ayurvedic herbs to brighten and clear your vision.
- Medicated ghee: Maha Triphaladaya Ghrita is a medicated ghee for eye care that can be used internally and externally for your eyes. It can help better vision and reduce infections, even protecting you from cataract.
- Supplements: You may consult an Ayurvedic doctor to see if some supplements can help with deteriorating vision, glaucoma, cataracts, conjunctivitis, eye strain, redness, disorders and general eye care.
It would be best to consult an Ayurvedic doctor so that you can get a customized preventive or treatment plan for your imbalances and condition. You can then explore various eye care therapies such as Netra Bandhana, Thulum, Netra Putapaka and Netra Pindi that could help you learn how to take care of your eyes naturally. These use organic milk and ghee along with various herbs to treat your eyes with care.
You can also visit the Department of Shalakya Tantra at the Sri Sri Ayurveda College.
Just as a picture speaks a thousand words, the eyes express much more than the lips ever could. They are the mirrors to your soul and the organs that give you the unique blessing of sight. So, do take care of these precious ‘windows to your soul’!
(Written with inputs from Dr. Sharika Menon, Vaidya, Art of Living)
