Whether you spend too much time on digital devices for work and entertainment or are predisposed to drier eyes, tired, achy eyes are a modern phenomenon that affects most of us. Although the best way to detoxify and nourish the eyes is by consuming an organic alkaline diet that is rich in vitamin A, you can also complement this dietary body hydration with the following quick and effective eye detox treatments!
The Eye and Liver Health Connection
Did you know that the health of your eyes is usually a reflection of the state of your liver? In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCH), eyes are connected to the Liver Qi function (or energy flow of the liver), and if you desire better eye health and vision, you should focus on detoxifying and healing the liver. The best ways you can do so naturally are by consuming organic bitter greens (especially dandelion, arugula, and mustard greens), organic beets, and plenty of organic apples! As for herbs, my most recommended are milk thistle, yellow dock root, and turmeric.
A few other ways to help the liver cleanse energetically is through healthy emotional and lifestyle choices. For one, in the TCH tradition, the liver rules both the emotions of joy and anger. Joy, will, and momentum in life all feed the liver energetically, while anger (especially repressed), depletes and weakens it.
In fact, repressed anger can cause the liver to atrophy over time, and therefore it is vitally important for health to be in tune with your emotions and express them as you feel them, so that they don’t get energetically stuck in the body, causing blockages to energetic flow of life force vitality.
Another important tip is to get enough sunlight every day! Liver disease is strongly linked to Vitamin D deficiency, therefore spending only 20 minutes per day in direct sun without sunscreen and sunglasses (or glasses) is essential! If you live in a continental climate and don’t get enough sun during winter time, I strongly urge you to purchase a light therapy lamp and plan your vacation to a sunny spot during this time.
And during those sunny days, make sure you take advantage and bask in direct natural sunlight. Since glass can block some of the benefits of sunshine, if you are at home, my advice is to either open the window or spend a bit of time on your balcony/porch/backyard.
The Best Natural Eye Detox Treatments
Chamomile Eye Steam
Chamomile is a wonderful nerve relaxant and is ideal for calming anxiety and stress. For tired, blood-shot eyes, chamomile can soothe the eye tissues and the skin surrounding it.
The best way to use chamomile as an eye detox treatment is to make an organic chamomile tea, turning it off once it reaches the boiling point, and steaming your eyes on the vapor for 5 minutes.
The steam will lubricate the eyeball tissue and provide a mini sauna for the surrounding skin, while the heat will accelerate cellular function, promoting detoxification and rejuvenation.
If you work long hours on the computer and tend to develop eye irritation as a result, I recommend you do the chamomile eye steam every evening followed by drinking the tea. Not only will this routine help your eye health, but it will relax your body and prepare it for a good night’s rest.
Onion Cutting
While this is not the most pleasant of all the eye detox treatments on my list, it is definitely the most potent! When onions are cut, they release chemical compounds and enzymes in the sulfuric family that is meant to protect the onion from pests but that are also known to inhibit the growth of pathogens on the skin and in the body.
While the sulfuric compounds may feel a bit irritating, they activate the tear ducts and release tear flow.
Tears are very detoxifying for the eyes! They lubricate them with over 1,500 proteins and additional compounds, which help strengthen their function and reduce eye infections.
If you’re looking for a thorough eye treatment, hover over an onion while cutting it and let the tears flow! An eye treatment followed by a healthy salad is an absolute win-win for the body.
Eye Massage and Tapping
Massaging the skin around your eyes will promote lymphatic and blood circulation, which will enable acidic waste to be circulated away from the eyes (through lymph vessels) and nutrition to be brought to the tissues (blood vessels). Using your fingertips, gently circulate the tissue around your eyes, but make sure not to stretch the skin.
Tapping is also a very important technique from ancient Chinese tradition that is known to promote energy circulation in the body and release stuck energy. It can relieve eye fatigue and replenish lost vitality in a depleted area of the body. Because of its revitalizing effects, regular tapping is also known to improve eyesight.
Whenever your eyes feel tired, dry, and achy or you feel the tension in your head, close your eyes and tap intuitively repetitions of nine for as long as you like (9 is a highly spiritual number and symbolizes release and endings in numerology). Visualize bright light energy accumulating in that area and all the tension being released.
Finally, imagine all of your cells are being regenerated, and send gratitude to your eyes for carrying you through this life journey.
Cucumber Slices
Cucumber slices are an essential dry eye treatment and can be used often for sore and tired eyes. Cucumbers are incredibly hydrating and can reduce internal and external inflammation. They include compounds that help soothe damaged skin, reduce eye swelling, and decrease the appearance of dark eye circles, which rejuvenates the eyes instantly.
For best results, cut up two thin slices of (preferably refrigerated) cucumber and place each on closed eyelids so that they cover both the eyelids and under-eye skin. Leave them on for approximately 5 minutes by gently pressing on the slices with your fingers. Once the treatment is complete, leave the cucumber juice on your skin and use your fingers to massage the surrounding eye area.
Aloe Vera Gel
Just like cucumber, aloe vera gel is highly cooling and hydrating to the skin. To help lower inflammation in the eye area, rinse your face with a gentle cleanser, dry, and dab aloe vera gel away from the eye sockets and on the surrounding tissue. Leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse with cold water.
You can even combine the cucumber and aloe vera treatments or any of the treatments presented here for a more effective eye detox remedy.
Bonus Treatment
Another helpful tip is to always keep your eye area hydrated with a natural oil like olive oil or coconut oil, which will help keep your eyes lubricated and the surrounding skin wrinkle-free throughout the day!
You can even dab a bit of coconut oil on the inner edge of the eye socket and blink multiple times to distribute the oil to the eyeballs. Better yet, you can apply a bit of coconut oil on a cotton ball and gently squeeze it to funnel the oil inside of the eye.
Coconut oil is antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial and will help to improve eye dryness, inflammation, and irritation over a longer period of time.
Final Thoughts
Eyes are known as the windows to the soul – as well as the windows to the state of our bodily constitution. The art of Iridology, for example, focuses on reading the grooves, textures, colors, and lines in the irises to diagnose one’s state of health and potential predispositions to disease.
When the eyes are exhausted, tired, puffy, achy, and suffer from vision disturbances, chances are that our body also needs to take a break from electronic exposure and alkalize. Essentially, the dehydration symptoms of the body – such as constant thirst, as well as dry eyes, skin, and hair – are a sign of body inflammation and must be addressed holistically.
By improving your diet by introducing organic raw vegan foods, resting properly (and scheduling no-screen time), lowering stress levels and expressing your emotions, and drinking plenty of filtered water, herbal tea, or cold-pressed juices, your eyes will strengthen and become more resilient to irritation in no time!
Overall, these quick and effective eye detox treatments are short-term solutions for tired and irritated eyes, but to truly improve their health and function, you should always focus on improving your internal health and the state of your liver.
To help you navigate this process, you can sign up for my free guide on 3 Things to Know to Heal Illness Through Detox, which will teach you how to clean your body properly over time and provide you with a 3-month simple plan that will diminish your disease symptoms and help you feel more vital.