Herbs are traditionally used for many eye problems; herbs can increase blood circulation to the eye and remove eyestrain.
11 Useful Eye (Vision) Herb
- Triphala - a combination of three (fruit); Amla, Haritaki, and Vibhitaki.
- Bilberry extracts (Vaccinius myrtillus) - It helps protect the retina, it also helps improve poor night vision.
- Jujube (Ziziphus jujube) - it is prescribing as a Qi tonic to strengthen liver function.
- Saffron (Crocus sativus) - it is useful for cataracts, macular degeneration, and to improve eye vision.
- Eyebright (Euphrasia Officianales) - it is a special herb for an eye, so-called as an Eyebright.
- Ginkgo biloba - it is a well-researched herb that may improve retinal deterioration.
- Goji Berry (Lycium Barbarum) - have a long history of use in the treatment of eye problems. Tibetan medicine includes these berries in the treatment of kidney and liver problems.
- Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) - it helps relax the eyes' small blood vessels.
- Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) - it supports healthy liver and weak eyesight or blurred vision.
- Grape Seed Extract - it can help cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and even simple eye strain.
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) - protects your eyes from inflammation, and help reduce macular degeneration.
Triphala – A combination of Amla, Haritaki, and Vibhitaki
Triphala contains three (fruit) ingredients – Amla, Haritaki, and Vibhitaki. Triphala churna is a super formula with multiple health benefits. Antioxidants rich Triphala has been in use as an eye tonic in Ayurveda.
Triphala improves your eye muscles functioning and improves eyesight. Also helpful in curing glaucoma, myopia, conjunctivitis, and computer vision syndrome (relieves eye strain due to computer overuse).
Dissolve one teaspoon of Triphala herb powder in a glass of hot water and stir well. Let it cool, allow the deposits to settle down, and dip a clean cloth in this herbal water. Place this Triphala dipped cloth over your eyes. Allow the herbal water to enter your eyes by blinking your eyes, do this for at least 5 minutes just before bedtime. You can drink the remaining Triphala water; it has numerous health benefits.
Bilberry extracts (Vaccinius myrtillus)
Billberry contains anthocyanins, which protect the retina. The bluish-black berries of this plant make a tasty jam consumed by British air force pilots in World War II. Reference: Bilberry for night vision.
According to the British air force pilots in World War II, the Bilberry jam improved night vision and gave them a tactical advantage during evening sorties.
Scientists studied bilberry and found it contained bioflavonoids called anthocyanosides. These antioxidant compounds help prevent free-radical damage and capillary fragility. They also help the eyes adapt to darkness. It helps protect the retina. It also helps improve poor night vision if it is due to a deficiency in certain coloring pigments. However, It will not help poor vision due to misshapen eyes, near- and farsightedness, or cataracts.
Bilberry is useful in treating varicose veins, which causes impaired blood flow to the legs. It can act as a blood thinner and prevent blood clots from forming. Bilberry extracts can prevent the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) caused by the build-up of plaque in blood vessels.
Jujube (Ziziphus jujube)
In Chinese’s medicine, it is prescribing as a Qi tonic to strengthen liver function and has proven to have a positive effect on the eye vision.
It strengthens the liver and helps patients recover from hepatitis and cirrhosis. Chinese has also found that the wild fruit improves skin color and tone, which are both indications of physical well-being.
In modern Chinese’s medicine, jujube is used to tone the spleen and stomach, to treat shortness of breath and severe emotional upset and debility caused by nervous conditions. Pakistan and India people use it as a blood cleanser, an overall tonic, a strengthener, and disease prevention.
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
Saffron or Kesar is a spice derived from its flower, used as a food coloring agent. It has wonderful results for eye problems such as cataracts.
Notably, there have been reports of saffron significantly helping vision in the instance of cataracts, macular degeneration, and to improve eye vision.
This herb has been linked to improved eyesight and improved results for cataracts. This herb can prevent loss of sight among the elderly. Clinical trials have shown saffron has positive results for the early stage of macular degeneration (Macula is the central part of our visual field), reference saffron macular degeneration.
Other health benefits of Saffron include learning & memory retention, vitality increase, treat cold & fever, cancer protection,
Use a daily supplementation of 20 mg saffron tablets for eyesight. It can protect and repair retinal cells. Add 8-10 fresh organic saffron strands to a teaspoon of honey or a cup of boiling water or milk. Keep it closed for 10 minutes. Have a cup of warm saffron water daily in the morning or evening to preserve eye health.
Eyebright (Euphrasia Officianales)
Euphrasia officianales' flower looks like eyes; the name (Eyebright) alone tells you how powerful this herb is when it comes to preserving eyesight.
Studies have shown what has been believed for years that this herb soothes itchy or red eyes, such as those suffering from conjunctivitis. Another study used 12 general practitioners and ophthalmologists in Europe that administered a single dose of eyebright in an eye drop form to those suffering from conjunctivitis. Complete recovery occurred in 81.5 percent of these subjects, and there was a significant improvement in another 17 percent.
Ginkgo biloba
It is most commonly used to treat the elderly with disorientation, depression, memory loss, headaches, tinnitus, and vertigo because of its positive effects as a circulatory aid. It helps to increase blood flow to the brain, which makes it a possible treatment for cerebral insufficiency.
Flavonoids in ginkgo are helpful for retinal problems common among diabetes and macular degeneration.
The flavonoids found in ginkgo may help halt or lessen some retinal problems (that is, problems to the back part of the eye). Retinal damage has some potential causes, including diabetes and macular degeneration. Macular degeneration (often called age-related macular degeneration or ARMD) is a progressive, degenerative eye disease that tends to affect older adults and is the number one cause of blindness in the United States. Studies suggest that ginkgo may help preserve vision in those with ARMD.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is a well-researched herb that may improve retinal deterioration and a host of other ailments such as memory loss, tinnitus, and poor circulation, according to research reports.
Goji Berry (Lycium Barbarum)
Goji berry are reported to contain 18 amino acids (six times higher than bee pollen), more beta-carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach, and 21 trace minerals. Goji berries also contain vitamin B1, B2, B6, and vitamin E (rarely found in fruits). Goji berries are 13% protein.
Tibetan medicine includes these berries in the treatment of kidney and liver problems. Goji berries have a long history of use in the treatment of eye problems.
Tibetan medicine includes these berries to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and cleanse the blood. They also use it to increase longevity and as a general health-strengthening tonic. Other uses of Goji berries are for skin rashes, psoriasis, allergies, insomnia, chronic liver disease, diabetes, and tuberculosis
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Passionflower extract can heal eye strain also do wonders as a nerve relaxer. It can relax the small blood vessels in the eyes.
Passionflower is a useful herb for the eyes; it improves visual acuity, enables you to read without eyestrain even in dim light.
Passionflower is useful for stress reduction, it has a calming effect without sedation, and treat nervousness & insomnia (when combining with valerian and lemon balm). Aside from eye care, passionflower is also good for heart disease, burns, ADHD, asthma, and piles. It is used for first aid treatment for wounds, boils, and ear pain.
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
Milk Thistle has so much to offer besides supporting a healthy liver. However, weak eyesight or blurry vision is sometimes a reflection of our liver health.
Milk thistle can bring benefit for us because they have many marvelous healing properties, especially on the liver (fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis and toxic liver) and Gallbladder. Research shows milk thistle inhibits a reductase, which plays an important role in the sugar deposit in the eyes of people with diabetes. Milk thistle maintains eyes moisture and makes it look bright. So milk thistle is useful for both liver and eyes.
Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract is helpful for eye disease related to diabetes.
Grape seed extract contains numerous phytochemicals such as flavonoids, linoleic acid, vitamin E, and oligomer proanthocyanidins. These compounds can help cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and even simple eye strain. Oligomer proanthocyanidins have antihistamine and antioxidant properties, which improves overall eye health.
Other benefits of grape seed extract are cardiovascular conditions, poor circulation, high cholesterol, PMS, and skin damage to wound healing.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel has long been said to provide relief from watery or inflamed eyes and strengthen them. Many use fennel tea as an eyewash for glaucoma or cataracts.
One study done in 2000 showed that one drop of fennel aqueous seed extract had a reduction in intraocular pressure for those with glaucoma. It means fennel might one day be a super anti-glaucoma medication or eye drop solution shortly. Antioxidants in fennel help protect pigment cells in the eye. Thus fennel is effective in eye health in numerous ways.
Fennel is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and amino acids like Arginine. Fennel protects your eyes from inflammation, and help reduce macular degeneration. Fennel leaf juice applied externally on the eyes can reduce irritation and eye fatigue.
Health benefits of fennel: Foeniculum vulgare is useful for preventing anemia, protects from heart diseases, prevent cancer, regulate blood pressure, improves brain function, regulate menstruation, immune booster, and treat respiratory disorders. It is useful for all digestion related complaints such as indigestion, flatulence, colic, constipation, and diarrhea.
Eyesight Nutrients
- Vitamin E - is a powerful antioxidant that has been showing to slow the onset of macular degeneration and protect the retina.
- Vitamin C - is another antioxidant that works with Vitamin E to protect tissues and improve eye health.
- Zinc - an essential mineral required by all cells in the body, zinc helps strengthen the cells of the eye.
- Fish oil - contains powerful compounds that can prevent macular degeneration and other eye problems.
Are Herbal remedies safe?
Remember that herbal remedies are medicines. Thus they also have some side effects. It can also interact with other medicines you are taking. It is best to avoid or get registered herbal practitioner’s advice before taking herbal remedies if the treatment is for pregnant women, breastfeeding mother, child, or older people.