Eye Care at home

 Eyes are being strained a lot nowadays, especially with the use of mobile, laptop, tv etc.

Additional regular self-care shall help. 

Here are few natural, nourishing tips (tried & tested, mostly), which can be useful for most individuals & families:

1. Eye exercises

a. Pointing your eyes to look in different directions, one by one, for example :

i) Look up & down, ii) left & right,  iii) diagonally opposite top left, bottom right corners etc.

b. Eye rotation clockwise & anti-clockwise 

c.  Finger gazing examples: i) look at your finger at an arm's distance for around 2 minutes. Repetetion of this or' Tratak' exercise helps enhance concentration, over time. Candle light may also be used for gazing, instead of your finger

ii) move the finger towards & away from yourself while gazing at it iii) move finger left & right and continue looking at it

2. Eye cleaning & washing 

a. Fill water in an eye-wash cup and dip each eye in that for couple of minutes, one by one 

b. Splash water on your eyes, gently, multiple times & wash them regularly from inside 

Another way is to fill mouth with water, close your eyes and splash water on them, around 30-50 times

c. Washing eyes with Triphala water is recommended in Ayurveda.

i) Soak Triphala powder (1/2 tsp) in a glass of warm water, overnight or around 8 hours. Filter and use this water for washing eyes, after that.

3. Eye relaxation & cooling

a. Cupping your palm around eyes (called as palming) for couple of minutes after exercise, reading or whenever eyes feel tired, helps.

b. Putting around 2 drops of pure rose water in eyes helps in cooling and taking care of the same.

c. Massage very gently in the around the eyes and eyebrows for 1-2 minutes. A drop of 'badam' (almond) oil or 'deshi' pure ghee may be used for this.

d. Cut cucumber into slices and put one sliced piece on each eye, while you lie down with eyes closed, This practice can be done, for around 15 min or so. 

4. Diet for eye care 

Vitamin A foods like i) Carrots, ii) Dark Green leafy e.g. Spinach, Kale and iii) Sweet potatoes iv) Apricots etc. are suggested for eye health

Vitamin C rich foods- 3 suggestions, like i) Citrus fruits (Oranges, Lemon), ii) Orangish color vegetables & fruits like Red bell peppers, strawberries, peaches iii) Grapefruit etc.

Other foods like i) Dry fruits & seeds Almonds, sunflower seeds are good sources of Vitamin E while Zinc is provided by ii) Peas & beans like black eyed peas, kidney beans etc.

5. Using eyes carefully

Reduce the screen time as best possible. Take micro breaks for example: look somewhere else or close your eyes for a few seconds, at regular intervals. If possible palming can be done, to relax strained eyes.

Wear glasses while travelling outside especially when encountering fast wind or dust (e.g. while biking). Cover your head and use sunglasses for eyes, while in hot sun, to protect them from glare & heat. 

Don't read in dark or dim light, use a table lamp instead. Sleep timely, in a dark room, to give proper rest to yourself.

"Your eyesight is a wonderful gift of God , don't dim this ability, due to your own carelessness!"

Take Charge of Self-Care, 

Swaadhin Org 

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