Diseases of the Eyes
Slacks Herbal, 1892The Eyes are connected to the Liver in TCM, so many diseases of the Eyes are related to either Liver Heat / Bile Humor (acute), or deficiency of the Liver Yin (chronic).
Conjunctivitis
1. A strong infusion of any of the following herbs can be used as a wash:
Barberry, Camomile, Coriander seed, Eyebright, Fumitory, Licorice, Neem, Turmeric
2. Borax, half teaspoon in half a cup of water used as a wash
Internally:
1. Turmeric, Neem, Madder (equal parts)
Weakness and Dimness of the Sight
To Benefit the Sight and Strengthen the Eyes:
1. Fennel seed and Water and Conserve of Eyebright is especially good before and after food.
2. Also a tea of Rue taken with food.
3. Regular purging with Pil. Cochia or Stomach Pills is good (if there is excess Humors)
4. Applying Women breast milk to the eyes is very beneficial
5. Washing the face with fresh, cold water
6. Dropping Almond oil into the ears and nose is also good.
7. Leek juice mixed with Child’s Urine, applied. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)
8. Goat Bile mixed with Honey and applied. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)
9. ‘To Renew the Sight of Old Men‘: Take Honey and the Bile of Cocks, Eels, Hares and Cormorants. Mix and seal in a glass vessel. Leave in the sun 30 days, then distil. Drop into the eyes ‘you shall see a marvellous effect’. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
10. Compound Wines:
i. Elecampane 4 oz.
Eyebright 4 handfuls
Fennel seed, Lovage seed 2 oz. ea.
Bruise, put into a bag and hang in Hydromel (or Wine); drink morning and evening.
ii. Eyebright 2 handfuls
Fennel seed ½ oz.
Cinnamon 3 drams
Bruise, put into a bag and hang in Rhenish wine.
11. Take Sal Ammoniac, burnt and powdered, and mixed with Child’s Urine. Apply to the eyes and eyelids. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
12. Benzoin 1 oz.
Honey ½ oz.
Fennel Water, Rue Water 2 oz. each
Marjoram water 1 oz.
Distil. ‘This Water hath made some see that have been quite blind, washing twice or thrice a day with it: (Hartman, 1682)
13. To Restore the Sight:
Betony
Rue
Celandine
Saxifrage
Lovage
Pennyroyal
Aniseed
Cinnamon
Eyebright 1 handful ea.
Grains of Paradise
Ginger
Fennel seed
Parsley seed
Hyssop
Oregano
Osier (Mountain Willow) 1 dram ea.
Galangal
Sugar 1 oz. ea.
Powder and eat every day with food. This was said to have restored sight in one who used spectacles for 12 years yet couldn’t read. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
Research
1. Useful Medicinal Plants for Vision Impairment in Traditional Iranian Medicine
2. Indian traditional medicinal plants in ophthalmic diseases
Night-blindness
Simples:
Lycium Gou Qi Zi
Blueberries
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Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores Mesue) |
Bu Gan Tang Ming Mu Di Huang Wan Qi Ju Di Huang Wan |
Red & Inflamed Eyes
Open the Head vein on the opposite side; Cup the shoulders.
2. Decoct Linseed, or Fenugreek, or Camomile; use as an eyewash
3. Nightshade juice, mixed with beaten Egg white and Oil of Roses; apply
4. Wormwood juice mixed with beaten Egg white; drop into the Eye
5. Beaten egg white with Oil of Roses; dip cotton in; apply to eyes, temples, forehead
6. Beat Frankincense, Rock Salt 1 dram ea.; mix with womans milk and apply.
7. Confected Chebulic Myrobalan eaten stops redness of the Eyes, and protects sight.
8. Nutmegs confected in honey does the same
9. Broad leaf Plantain water 1 pint
beaten Verdigris 1 oz.
Red Earth, Dragons Blood ½ oz. ea.
Camphor 2 drams
Distil; this is not only good for Red and Sore Eyes, and swelling of the eyelids, but also for
Bad Breath (as a gargle), and especially all Ulcers of the Genitals.
10. Aloe 3 parts, Camphor 1 part; steep in Rose water and drop it in.
11. Waters of Vervain,
of Eyebright,
of Marjoram ½ oz. ea.
Fennel water 1 oz.
Camphor ½ dram
Mix; use as Eye drops.
12. Barley
Quince seed
Camomile ½ oz. ea.
Fennel seed 2 drams
Decoct until one-quarter is wasted, then use as an eye wash. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
13. Tutty, heated and quenched
15 times in Rose water;
then powder ½ oz.
Calamine 2 drams
Cloves 3 in number
Infuse in Malmsey; shaking often; use the clear water as eye drops.
14. Tutty prepared, Mastic,
Sarcocolla, Gum Arabic equal parts
Powder, dissolve in Rose water and use as eye drops.
15. Hyssop, Marjoram, Fenugreek,
Camomile, Meliot, Rose equal parts
Boil and let the vapors go in the eyes.
16. Rose water
Eyebright water 2 oz. each
White Troches of Rhasis 1 dram
Tutty 20 grains
Mix. Let them settle. Wash the eyes with it 3 times daily.
Eye Pain
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Western Tradition Oculorum doloribus conferunt–Pain of the Eyes Blanca Nicolai Confection for all Diseases of the Eyes Electuary of Rose Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue) Arabian Pills (Nicholas) Eye Drops (Riverius) Eye Drops (Wirtzung) Eyewash of Calamine Clarifying Lloydia 15 (Gsal byed a wa bco lnga) (Tibetan) Goethite 25 (Mdung rtse nyer lnga) (Tibetan) |
TCM Classifications Wind-Heat Fang Feng Tong Sheng San Liver Heat Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San Long Dan Xie Gan Tang Yin Deficiency Bu Gan Tang Qi Ju Di Huang Wan |
2. Take celandine juice and honey, equal parts; heat together; apply
3. Plantain, Eyebright, Fennel; Boil and expose the eyes to the vapor.
4. Prepared Tutty, Camphor beaten, 1 scruple ea.
With 1 oz. of Rose water and 0.5 oz. of White Wine; mix; put a drop into the Eye.
5. The White Powder of Rhasis is very strong to ease pain.
Tearing or Watery Eyes
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Western Tradition Confection for all Diseases of the Eyes Electuary for Watering of the Eyes (Andrezeos) Eyewash of Calamine Electuary of the Juice of Rose (Mesue) Oil of the Philosophers |
From TCM Qi Ju Di Huang Wan |
Cataract
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Western Tradition To Purge Lesser Pills of Cochia Powder to Cleanse the Sight (Wirtzung) Pills for Cataracts Pills without which I would not be (Pil. Sine Quibus) Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue) Triphala Electuary of Stoecha (Itrafil Kishneez) To Strengthen after Abbots Confection of Roses (Diarrhodon Abbatis) Warming Pearl Powder (Diamarg. Calidum) (Mesue) Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mesue) 1. Prepare a decoction of Triphala by boiling half teaspoon in a cup of water for several minutes; cool, strain and filter. Use as an eyewash morning and night. 2. Boerhaavia, Asparagus root, Bacopa (take twice daily) |
TCM Classification Kidney Deficiency Shen Qi Wan (Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan) (Rehmannia 8) Zuo Gui Yin |
Research:
1. Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Used in Cataract Management
2. Effect of Kohl-Chikni Dawa – a compound ophthalmic formulation of Unani medicine on naphthalene-induced cataracts in rats
Eye Trauma, Bruising
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1. Wash the eyes with distilled water of Fenugreek. 2. Make an infusion of powdered Frankincense in warm water, strain and mix with Fennel Water and drop into the eyes. The same may be done with Myrrh, Aloes or Saffron. 3. Saffron ½ dram Oil of Roses 1 oz. Egg Yolk 1 Powfder the Saffron, mix wit the oil and yolk, and apply to the Eye. 4. Tutty (Zinc oxide) Saffron Myrrh 1 dram Rue juice Marjoram juice sufficient Mix and make a Collyrium to appl to the eyes. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) 5. Tutty (Zinc oxide) ½ oz. Mastic Frankincense Aloe 1 dram Camphor 1 scruple Juice of Sour Grapes 1 pound Powder all that can be powdered, infuse in the Juice and apply to the eyes. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) 6. Red Earth ½ dram Dragon’s Blood Tragacanth Gum Arabic 2 drams Rose Water ½ pound Powder the herbs, put in a glass with the Rose water and boil in Balneo Marie (water bath) for 1 hour. Let it stand to settle and pour of the clear liquor. Use as an eye wash. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) 7. The warm blood of a Cock, Dove or Partridge can be dropped into the eye. 8. Sponges dipped in warm wine and applied to the eyes. Confection for all Diseases of the Eyes |
Other
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Fistula in the Corner of the Eye Mumiya (Shilajit) Red Earth Juice of Sloes Frankincense Mastic 1 part each Cypress nuts Galls Tragacanth 2 parts each Make a plaster with a little vinegar and Rose water and apply. |
See also
Topical Preparations for the Eye
Research–General
1. Anti-inflammatory and Antihistaminic Study of a Unani Eye Drop Formulation