Body Care
Like the skin and hair, the eyes tell a great deal
about the state of your health, your habits and lifestyle. Illness, nutritional
deficiencies, lack of sleep, anxiety and stress can all be reflected by
eyes that are dull, tired and strained.
Eye care has increased in importance and relevance
in modern times. Progress has certainly taken its toll. Never before have
we put the eyes to as much strain as we do now, focusing on television
and computer screens, on intense reading or pouring over figures. During
the ancient times, the eyes were used in occupations that actually exercised
them and kept them healthy. The farmer, hunter, fisherman, used a variety
of natural eye movements, focusing on distant objects.
We hardly exercise the muscles of the eyes. And,
this kind of eye strain begins at an early age. With immobility, the eye
muscles are tired and tense. With time, they get distorted and cramped.
Unless we conciously exercise them and help them to relax, they cannot
perform well, stay healthy, or look beautiful.
Take a few minutes off from close eye-work to
exercise your eyes.
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Cup your palms over closed eyes, without touching
them. Look into the blackness. This can be very restful.
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Sit in a relaxed position. Move your eyes. in a wide
circular motion, frist in one direction and then the other. Move the eyes
to the right and left and then up and down.
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Hold your forefinger in front of your face. Keep
looking at it and move your finger further away from you. Then look past
the finger as far as you can see and then back to your finger. Slowly bring
your finger back. Repeat this 3 or 4 times.
Whenever you are out of doors, conciously look at
the trees and plants. The green colour is soothing to the eyes. No wonder,
nature has been so generous with green.
Remember ....
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Blinking is absolutely necessary for the eyes. While
doing close eye-work, blink a few times. When we blink, the eyes are bathed
in natural moisture. Taking a minute off to just close the eyes also helps
to prevent eye fatigue.
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The light you work in should not be too bright or
too dim.
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Smoking affects the eyes. Not only do they lose their
brightness, but the nicotine can cause discolouration, giving the whites
a yellowish tinge. Premature wrinkles can also form around the eyes.
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Your daily diet should provide adequate amounts of
Vitamin A, to keep the eyes healthy. Milk and milk products, fish, eggs,
yellow and green fruits and vegetables, like carrots, spinach, apricots,
papaya and peaches are rich sources of Vitamin A.
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Sleep is absolutely imperative. Inadequate sleep
tells on the eyes more than on any other part of the body. Sleep soothes
the eyes and relieves fatigue. They are renewed and refreshed. Catch up
on lost sleep whenever you can.
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If you work for long hours on a computer, consult
your ophthalmologist for a lotion or eye-drops, to soothe the eyes and
keep them lubricated.
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Sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses is not just a fashion statement.
It actually helps to protect the eyes from the damage caused by the sun's
radiation. This is more so in summer. So, think of quality when you buy
sunglasses. The lenses should be good, without any scratches or distortions.
Poor quality lenses can cause eye-strain.
Some home remedies to relieve eye fatigue
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Splash the eyes with cool and clean water. Use boiled
and cooled water.
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Alternate warm and cold water washing helps to improve
circulation, relieve congestion and soothe the nerves.
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Soak fennel (saunf) seeds in a little water. Strain
the liquid and use it to wash the eyes. Soak the seeds overnight.
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Soak cotton wool pads in rose water and use them
as eye pads. They help to improve the skin-texture around the eyes and
also add brightness.
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Cucumber slices or cucumber juice can also be used
on the skin around the eyes.
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Potato juice applied on the skin around the eyes
helps to reduce puffiness.
Never compromise on quality while choosing cosmetics
for the eyes. If there is any itching, irritation, or inflammation, stop
using eye make-up. Soothe the eyes with cold water and see your doctor
immediately.
Under-eye bags and puffy eyes
Under-eye bags can be hereditary. They can also
result from a builtup of toxins and wastes in the system. Cut down your
tea intake and try to eliminate coffee from your diet. Drink adequate quantities
of water to keep your system flushed. It is also important to consult your
physician to overrule a kidney problem. One and a half litres of plain
water, taken daily, is said to maintain ther proper functioning of the
kidneys. Freshly extracted juices of carrots and cucumber, diluted with
water, also benefit the function of the kidneys. But, first take your doctor's
advice if you suspect a kidney problem.
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