Eye Issues (General, Cataracts, Glaucoma & Macular Degeneration)

Eye Issues (General, Cataracts, Glaucoma & Macular Degeneration)

Foods to Eat More Of:

Fruits: apricots, avocados, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, clementines, cranberries, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, oranges, peaches, pumpkin, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelon (dried fruits are good as well)
Vegetables: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, fennel, green & red bell peppers, kale, squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, watercress, white potatoes
Whole grains, eggs, seeds (especially pumpkin), nuts, beans, fish/seafood, poultry, yogurt
Olive oil, wheat germ, garlic (raw if you can), ginger, turmeric

Foods to Avoid or Minimize:

Red meat & dairy products (except eggs & yogurt)
Refined foods, fried foods
Excessive sugar

Essential Oils:
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information. If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.

To improve vision: juniper, lemongrass, cypress, eucalyptus (diluted in carrier oil on feet, big toes, bottom of feet, ankles, pelvis, brain stem and/or eye area but NOT directly in the eyes).
For swollen eyes: cypress, helichrysum, lavender (diluted and on eye area, NOT directly in the eyes).
For Cataracts: lemongrass, cypress, eucalyptus (around eye area, but do NOT get in eyes).

Natural/Herbal:
*If additional information or precautions are available, the links below will direct you that information. If not, you will be directed to Amazon for purchasing options.

Dandelion leaf, fennel, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, parsley, rosemary, turmeric
Flaxseed Oil: 1 Tablespoon (14 grams) daily (take in the morning).
Eye Rinses:
- Eyebright (1 tsp/pint), Chamomile (2 tsp/cup), Goldenseal (1 tsp/cup), Marigold (1 Tbsp/cup)
- Instructions: mix amounts indicated above of dried herb and hot water; cool and strain. Prepare fresh daily. Use an eye-cup to wash affected eye 3 times daily. Can also drink the tea.
For pink eye and styes: Marigold eye bath (see above for instructions).
Styes: a little marigold or tea tree cream (be careful not to get IN EYE). Marigold eye bath (see above for instructions). Taking garlic or echinacea internally can also help.
For tired eyes, cover with slices of cucumber or used teabags of green tea, fennel or chamomile.
For improving night vision, try noni.
Recent studies suggest fresh aloe sap directly in the eye can heal multiple eye issues as well, but check with your doctor before trying this.

Supplements & Homeopathic:

Vitamin A: 50,000 IU twice daily for 7 days, then 25,000 IU daily for 3 weeks (pregnant women should not exceed 5,000 IU daily).
Vitamin C: 1,000 mg 3 times daily for a month (reduce if it causes diarrhea).
Vitamin E: 400 IU daily (check with doctor if you are taking anticoagulant drugs).
Zinc/ Copper: 30 mg zinc (add 2 mg copper daily if using zinc longer than 1 month).
Bilberry: 80 mg 3 times daily (should contain 25% anthocyanosides; may be included in nutritional supplement eye formulas).
Grape Seed Extract: 100 mg twice daily (should contain 92%-95% proanthocyanidins).
Ginkgo Biloba: 40 mg 3 times daily (should contain at least 24% flavone glycosides).
Selenium: 400 mcg daily (don't exceed 600 mcg daily; higher doses may be toxic).
Alpha-lipoic acid: 150 mg daily (take in the morning or without food).
Carotenoids: 2 pills mixed carotenoids daily with food (should supply 25,000 IU vitamin A activity).

Mind-Body Connection:

Nearsightedness can represent a tendency to live in the moment and not plan for the future, or a fear of the future.
Farsightedness can represent a tendency to plan for the future and focus on "what-if's" and not being able to live in the present moment or a fear of the present.
General eye problems or Astigmatism can represent that you aren't looking at something clearly, or don't want to discover something. A symbolic gesture that may help you open up is to clean the windows in your house.
Cataracts can represents the need for approval from others. Tied to rejection and hurt by others. Try to improve your self-esteem/self-worth.
Nearsightedness can represent a tendency to live in the moment and not plan for the future, or a fear of the future.
Farsightedness can represent a tendency to plan for the future and focus on "what-if's" and not being able to live in the present moment or a fear of the present.
General eye problems or Astigmatism can represent that you aren't looking at something clearly, or don't want to discover something. A symbolic gesture that may help you open up is to clean the windows in your house.
Cataracts can also represent an inability to see joy in your future.
An eye sty can represent anger at someone or looking at a situation through angry eyes.

Recipes - Food Medicine:
*Note: Not all recipes are nutritionally perfect, but the options below are a great way to start incorporating beneficial foods into your diet in delicious ways. Always try to buy organic, and feel free to make substitutions to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, etc diets. Recipes naturally Vegan and Gluten-Free are marked as such (V=Vegan; GF=Gluten-Free).

Smoothies/Beverages:

Meals:

Sides & Salads: