Herbal Cures for Eye Disease

The eye is an important but sensitive organ and can be affected by a wide number of disorders, including glaucoma, conjunctivitis, cataracts and optical neuritis. Some herbs have been used traditionally to treat eye problems and diseases, and many have now been studied in clinical trials by the scientific community, with some encouraging results.

Eyebright

• Eyebright is an herb that has a long history of use in western herbalism for treating disorders of the eyes. A study published in the The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in Septmeber 2007 tested an eyedrop made from eyebright on patients with conjunctivitis. The study found that over 80 percent of the patients reported a complete recovery within two weeks of treatment. Eyebright can be purchased as an eyedrop or as a loose-leaf herb from which poultices and tea bags that are placed directly on the eyes can be made.

Turmeric

• Turmeric is a bright orange spice used in Indian cuisine and has recently drawn attention from the health community for its powerful anti-inflammatory actions. In a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research in June 1999, researchers tested turmeric on patients suffering from chronic uveitis. Uveitis is an inflammation of the middle part of the eye that can lead to permanent damage and even blindness, according to the The Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The study found that turmeric was able to improve the symptoms within two weeks and that its effects were comparable to the cortisone drugs usually employed to treat this disorder. Turmeric can be added to soups, curries, sauces and meat dishes and can also be purchased in supplement form at many health food stores.

Bilberry

• Cataracts are a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and can cause a variety of visual problems. The dark blue bilberry is the wild cousin of the common blueberry and has been used in traditional western herbalism to treat vision problems for hundreds of years. A study published in the journal Advances in Gerontology in 2005 found that a bilberry extract was able to prevent both cataract formation and macular degeneration in rats. Bilberry supplements can be purchased at most health food stores or from online retailers.