Healthy eyes, clear vision
How to improve your eyesight with Ayurveda
In today's digitalized world, our eyes are under constant strain. Many of us spend hours in front of screens, which can lead to tired and irritated eyes. But did you know that the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda can help you improve your eyesight naturally?
I think most people, myself included, consider their eyes to be their most important sensory organ. And it's no wonder, because we live in a very visual world and are constantly exposed to light and color stimuli, sometimes more, sometimes less beautiful.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, our eyes are connected to the "pitta" dosha, which is dominated by the fire element.
An imbalance in Pitta can lead to problems such as dry eyes, inflammation and loss of vision. The good news is that by making simple adjustments to everyday life and using natural remedies, eye health can be significantly improved.
With this blog post, I would like to give you an insight into the colorful bouquet of possibilities that we have in Ayurveda to sustainably support our eye health. I myself started looking for permanent solutions for my eyes when I noticed that my eyesight was getting worse and worse after long days at work.
Glasses? Really? I usually find it quite annoying to always have something sitting on my nose and wanted to delay this for as long as possible.
I still remember the day when I was sitting on the sofa in front of the screen after a long day at work and my eyes felt like they'd been through a marathon training session. Do you know that feeling? Then it was clear: I had to change something! So I immersed myself in the world of Ayurveda and discovered a veritable treasure trove of tips and tricks for eye health.
One of my first discoveries was Triphala - an Ayurvedic herbal powder that acts like a refreshing smoothie for the eyes. After just a few weeks, my eyes felt so much fresher and I could really 'see' the difference! These small successes have motivated me to compile even more Ayurvedic healing methods from the ancient Vedic scriptures for our modern world and make them suitable for everyday use.
Food as medicine for better eyesight
Your eyes, like all other sensory organs, naturally need the best and freshest food to stay healthy and powerful into old age.
Here are a few foods that will make your eyes especially happy:
Cooked carrots with a little ghee
The classic par excellence! Carrots are like the pop star of vegetables when it comes to eyes. They are packed with beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A - a real miracle cure for sharp vision and healthy retinas. And with the addition of a little fat, the vitamin A (it's a fat-soluble vitamin) is much better absorbed.
Spinach and kale
These green leaves are like a real superfood. They contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients that act like sunglasses for your eyes. They protect against harmful light and help to keep your eyes fit.
Citrus fruits and berries
These vitamin C bombs are not only great for your immune system, but also for your eyes. They help to keep the blood vessels in your eyes healthy and protect against age-related vision problems.
Alma (Indian gooseberry)
A true miracle fruit and known in Ayurveda for its antioxidant properties and vitamin C content. As they are hard to come by here, use our local berries for a good supply of vitamin C.
There are also some wonderful alternatives to amla in Europe that are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants:
This list can of course be continued, because in Ayurveda we have a very individualized view of the perfect food for each person adapted to the seasons and times of day and optimal quality and quality.
Raspberries
Not only are they delicious, they are also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can strengthen the immune system and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Rose hips
These small red fruits are real vitamin C bombs. They contain even more vitamin C than oranges and are also rich in antioxidants, which strengthen the immune system and promote healthy skin.
Blackcurrants
These berries are also very rich in vitamins and contain a high amount of vitamin C and anthocyanins, which act as powerful antioxidants.
Sea buckthorn berries
Sea buckthorn is a real powerhouse when it comes to vitamin C. These small orange berries are not only rich in vitamin C, but also contain valuable omega-3 and omega-7 fatty acids, which support skin health.
Blackberries
These dark berries are also a good source of vitamin C and also contain fiber and anthocyanins, which have antioxidant properties.
Eye Yoga Relaxation and focus for your vision
Many years ago, when I started incorporating eye yoga into my classes, I thought it was just a small addition to our practice. But after the very first lesson, my students reported an immediate improvement in their vision.
We started with well-known techniques to strengthen the eye and surrounding muscles, combined with breath work (pranayama), sadhana (spiritual practice), relaxation and focus.
As always in yoga, there are so many exercises to support the eyes and their ability to see. Very simple but all the more effective is palming, simply rubbing the hands together to create warmth and placing them gently on the eyes - a soothing and very simple gesture that allows us to dive deep into our true self.
In yoga, tratak, the silent fixation of a candle flame, is also an effective method to strengthen the eye muscles and focus the mind. Finally, inspired by the majestic lion, we practiced the "lion's gaze" to activate the eye and facial muscles and release tension.
It was incredible for me as a yoga teacher to see how this simple combination of exercises immediately improved my students' vision. The eye yoga session became a regular part of our practice and I am happy to share these techniques with you to sharpen your vision.
Here are brief instructions for the exercises:
Palming
Rub your palms together until they are warm and then place them gently over your closed eyes.
Close your eyes completely and open them in the dark, looking into the distance.
Stay here for a few breaths and then slowly allow light to reach your eyes through your fingers.
Focusing
Hold a pencil in front of your eyes and focus on it, then slowly move it closer and further away.
Eye roll
Slowly roll your eyes clockwise and counterclockwise for 2-3 minutes.
Ayurvedic medicinal plants for healthy eyes
Ayurvedic herbal medicine is the oldest in the world and can be very complex and individual. I have compiled the most important medicinal plants for you in the following paragraph. Please feel free to use the holistic healing power, but remain responsible for yourself and approach the individual plants slowly.
Ayurvedic herbal medicine
Triphala
A classic Ayurvedic herbal preparation consisting of three fruits (amla, bibhitaki and haritaki). You can mix Triphala powder with water and use it as an eye wash or consume it daily as a dietary supplement.
Ghee (clarified butter)
Ghee is highly valued in Ayurveda and can be taken internally or used as eye drops. It helps to relieve dryness and irritation.
Cooling eye masks
Cucumber slices or cotton cloths soaked in rose water are wonderfully cool and help to relax tired eyes.
Netra Basti
a special Ayurvedic therapy in which warm ghee is applied around the eye to relax and nourish the eye muscles.
Herbal teas
...with native plants for radiant eyes Our local herbs are also wonderful helpers for our eyes, soothing irritated conjunctivae and calming our overstimulated nervous system. Herbal teas also provide antioxidants that nourish the eyes from the inside out and benefit eye health.
Chamomile is known for its calming effect and can be used as an eye compress for irritated eyes.
Fennel is rich in nutrients that strengthen the eyes. A slightly cooled fennel tea can also be used as an eye wash.
Lifestyle changes for radiant eyes
Sometimes it's the small changes in everyday life that make the biggest difference. Whether it's looking into the distance more often instead of constantly staring at a screen, or taking small breaks for your eyes, there are many simple tricks that can make your eyes sparkle. Ready to make a few small but effective changes that your eyes will love?
Lifestyle
Here are the small adjustments in your everyday life can have a big impact on the health of your eyes:
Sleep
Sleep is the spa for your eyes! Good sleep is to calm the pitta dosha and prevent inflammation in the eyes. Your eyes detox while you sleep, while you dream, your eyes work hard to get rid of all the pollutants and tension - a real deep cleanse for the eyes! In addition, the muscles and tendons around your eyes regenerate while you sleep.
Reduce screen time
Try to take regular breaks and follow the 20-20-20 rule: Look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Stay hydrated
Drink 2-3 liters of water a day, especially in the warm summer months, to keep your eyes moisturized and healthy. If necessary, use 1 pinch of rock salt and 2 squeezes of lemon juice in 200 ml of water to replenish the lost electrolytes. Your eyes are precious and deserve special attention and care. Integrating Ayurvedic principles and practices into your life can not only improve physical vision, but also promote a deeper, holistic balance. Here are some final tips to round out your journey to better vision. 👇🏼
Natural relaxation methods for stressed eyes
Stress and tension can put a lot of strain on your eyes, as your eyes are directly connected to your brain and nervous system.
The following methods help to relax your eyes and your mind:
Meditation
Daily meditation practice can clear your mind and harmonize your inner body systems. This also has a positive effect on your eye health.
Pranayama (breathing exercises)
Breathing techniques such as Anulom Vilom and Bhramari calm the nervous system and improve blood circulation to the eyes.
Ayurvedic self-massage of your eyes (Abhyanga)
Regular self-massage with Ayurvedic oils such as sesame oil or coconut oil relieves tension in the muscles, regulates your stressed nervous system and stimulates your circulation.
Gently massage the area around your eyes in circular movements to relieve tension and relax the muscles.
Special acupressure points also help to significantly improve your vision (you will learn all this in my holistic eye treatment with Ayurveda).
Would you like to know more? Continue here:
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