The eyes can suffer from many problems including everything from mild irritation to serious disease. From redness to loss of vision, the range of conditions and diseases that affect the eye is varied and wide.

There are herbs that are especially suited for treating eye problems. Eyebright, chickweed, elderflower, and chamomile are known to help heal many eye problems including conjunctivitis. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include red, itchy eyes with a yellow discharge and may be soothed with applications of a warm herbal compress. Other symptoms of conjunctivitis include a gritty feeling in the eyes, sensitivity to light, soreness, swelling, red eyes, and scaly eyelids.

Herbal eye-washes were used for centuries to treat conjunctivitis and other eye problems. Herbal teas were carefully strained and cooled before application. If using a homemade eye-wash please use caution and a lot of common sense. A tiny piece of foreign matter from herbal plant material, a microscopic grain of sand, or water contaminates can cause more harm than good. If you must use a homemade eye-wash, straining through doubled coffee filters should help remove damaging particles.

Yes, cucumber slices and wet tea bags are good for puffy and tired eyes. So are cool compresses made with rosewater, calendula, cornflower, or strawberry leaves.

Mild eye infections and irritations can be soothed with agrimony tea compresses. Leave on eyes for fifteen minutes three or four times a day. Echinacea and goldenseal tea should be taken internally three times a day to build immunity. Other herbs to try include bilberry, parsley root, aloe vera, gingko biloba, burdock root, hawthorn, yellow dock root, dandelion root, and barley grass.

Calendula compresses are extremely useful in the treatment of sties. Use often until sore is healed.

Weak eyes and blurred vision can be a sign of liver malfunction. A good diet with lots of vitamin A can really help. A good health drink for the eyes is a cup of carrot juice, a cup of eyebright tea, a tablespoon of wheat germ, a teaspoon of powdered rosehips, a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of sesame seeds, a teaspoon of brewer's yeast, and a teaspoon of ground kelp.

Stress causes many eye problems. Seeing sparks of light or color with your eyes closed is a sign that the body needs to relax. Try sipping rosemary tea while resting in a peaceful atmosphere.

There are many ways to improve vision. Blink regularly. Change your focus every five minutes when driving or using the computer. Massage the temples and skin between the brows frequently when doing any close-up work. Squeeze eyes shut and then open them wide, ten or fifteen times to increase blood flow to the eyes.

To improve eye health avoid all smoky environments, air pollution, chemical diuretics, aspirin, antihistamines, nicotine, hard liquor, cocaine, and methamphetamine. To slow the progression of macular degeneration wear amber or blue wrap around sunglasses especially while driving and add extra antioxidants to the diet.

* Always consult with a healthcare professional before using any herbal remedy.