Natural Remedies for glaucoma and other vision problems

There are varying symptomatic presentations for glaucoma.  Glaucoma is generally diagnosed by excess pressure in the fluid of the eye.  In this kind of glaucoma, the treatment of choice is to reduce the eye pressure using beta blockers, prostaglandin analogs, or another pharmaceutical.  Treating the symptom of the glaucoma sometimes slows down the progression of the disease.

But glaucoma can still occur when there is normal pressure on the eye.  In this circumstance the retinal nerve lacks nourishment — either because of insufficiencies in the diet or because the blood flow to the eyes is compromised. This is the kind of glaucoma, Mr. Joybilee has.

In all cases of glaucoma, there is evidence of blind spots in one or both eyes that show that the optic nerves are damaged.

What causes glaucoma?

Researchers now believe that elevated inter-ocular eye pressure is a RISK indicator in glaucoma but is not the cause of glaucoma.  Research points to inflammation and oxidative stress being the underlying cause of glaucoma.  Surprise! Inflammation and oxidative stress seem to be the foundation of every disease process.

I made this herbal remedy to help Mr. Joybilee.  This herbal tincture offers support for the circulatory system.  It helps the heart beat more efficiently.  It is a heart tonic.  It offers the specific nutrition that the optic nerve needs to function. It is also protective against oxidative stress.

It is anti-inflammatory, nutritive, tonic, and rich in anthocyanins, zeaxanthin, and lutein — flavinoids that the eyes use for nutrition.  These nutrients also are protective of the eyes and blood vessels, scavenging free-radicals, protecting against oxidative stress, and reducing inflammation.

These specific herbs were picked because they are easy to grow in most back yard gardens and the seeds or plants are readily available.  If you live in zone 2 or higher you will be able to grow them.  If you find bilberry difficult to find, black currant, black elderberries, and black raspberries are all high in anthocyanins and are also effective, as is wild or low-bush blueberry.  Bilberry has been traditionally used for eye health and to improve night vision.

This is a supplement NOT a drug.  It will take time before you will notice results.

I found from my research that the same herbs and nutrients that would support the eyes for glaucoma also prevent the formation of cataracts and inhibit macular degeneration.  The eyes use the flavinoids lutein and zeaxanthin, found in many foods but also found in the petals, leaves, and stems of marigolds and calendula flowers.  In fact, if you eat foods containing these two flavinoids, lutein and zeaxanthin will go directly to your eyes, rather than hanging out in another part of your body.  That’s good news, when you are looking for something that will help your eyes.

People with glaucoma and other eye problems will also benefit from natural vitamin C supplementation, and keeping their vitamin D levels optimized.  Surely eating a variety of colourful, organic, fruits and vegetables, organic dark chocolate, organic tea and coffee, and other flavinoid rich foods will also be of benefit.  Glaucoma is a symptom of oxidative stress and a lack of nutrients that the eyes need.  Correcting the oxidative stress, inflammation, and mal-nourishment should bring improvement.

Remove foods that increase inflammation like processed sugar, gmo foods, and liquid oils, other than virgin olive oil.  These can increase inflammation in the body and worsen all diseases.  Replace these foods with more raw fruits and vegetables, especially purple food.  The anthocyanins of purple cabbage, purple rice, blueberries, black currants, black hawthorn, and other purple and blue foods are antioxidants and prevent free radical damage in the body.

Vision Health Tincture

Eye support tincture for glaucoma where there is an insufficiency of blood flow to the eyes and/or a lack of nutrients for the retinal nerves.

Goal:  To reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, reduce pressure in the ocular nerve, if necessary, and increase circulation and nutrition to the ocular nerve and the retina.

Vision Health tincture for glaucoma treatment:

Yield: 5 —  100 ml bottles of tincture — 1 month supply for 1 person

Ingredients:

1 cup dried organic bilberries

1 cup wilted organic marigold flowers – yellow and gold — petals only

½ cup wilted organic calendula blossoms

½ cup dried organic hawthorn leaves and blossoms

Vodka to fill a 1 quart jar

Method:

1. Place bilberries, marigold flowers, and calendula blossoms in a quart jar.
2. Fill quart jar with 100 proof vodka.
3. Place a tight lid on the jar.
4. Label the jar and date it.
5. Shake the jar as you think of it, over a 4 to 6 week period.  You can strain the tincture anytime after 4 weeks.
6. Strain tincture by pouring through a sieve lined with cloth, or through a fine stainless steel sieve.
7.  Press contents to recover as much liquid as possible.
8. Pour into coloured glass bottles and label.

Dose: 1 tsp. 3 or 4 times a day.  Use to improve eye sight and nourish the eyes. Use for glaucoma caused by lack of circulation to the eye and lack of nutrition. Also helpful with cataracts and macular degeneration.

Lutein and zeaxanthan are flavinoids specifically used by the eyes to help them do their job.  If you have them in your diet, they will go directly to your eyes.  Eat lots of yellow and orange fruits and vegetables to get more of them in your diet.  Surprisingly, carrots are not as high in these two nutrients as onions or corn.

Purple fruits, vegetables, and even purple rice and maize, contain anthocyanins.  These help prevent oxidative stress and free radical damage in the body.  They also help reduce inflammation.

Bilberries are for eye support

• Improves vision
• Nourish eyes
• Antioxidant
• Improves circulation
• Prevents platelets from clumping together
• Prevents macular degeneration
• Prevents cataracts
• Improves night vision

Marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta) (African marigold) nourish

• Nourish eyes with lutein and zeaxanthin
• Improve vision
• Nourishes retina
• Slows macular degeneration
• Prevents cataracts
• Antioxidant

Calendula flowers are anti-inflammatory and nourishing

• Nourishes eyes with lutein and zeaxanthin
• Improves vision
• Nourishes retina
• Prevents cataracts
• Antioxidant
• Slows macular degeneration
• Angiogenic
• Protects liver and kidneys from toxins

Hawthorn leaves and blossoms are tonic

• Improve circulation
• Cardiac Tonic
• Normalize blood pressure and possibly ocular pressure (?)
• Strengthen heart and blood vessels

** This recipe is for information and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care.  If you suspect you have glaucoma please talked to your optometrist.  Untreated glaucoma can cause permanent blindness. 

If you are taking heart medication consult with your doctor before supplementing with Hawthorn.

References:

http://www.surveyophthalmol.com/article/S0039-6257%2812%2900190-7/abstract

http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/Natural-Therapies-Ocular-Disorders-Part/74510830.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039625708001161