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Diseases of the Eyes

Picture
Slacks Herbal, 1892


The 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).


Western Tradition

Eye Diseases in general

Syrup of Betony (Augustana)
Syrup of the Juice of Betony
Honey water distilled
Conserve of Eyebright
Wine of Eyebright

Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)


Purgatives

Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)
Arabian Pills (Nicholas)
Golden Pills (Pilulae Aurea) (Nicholas)
Pills without which I would not be (Pil. Sine Quibus)

1.  Myrobalans, Emblic, Yellow   2 drams ea.
    Turbith                                        1 dram
    Fennel seed, Aniseed             3 drams ea.
    Ginger                                        2 ½ drams
    Nutmeg                                     2 drams
    Cinnamon                                  1 dram
    Sugar                                   weight of the rest
Dissolve the Sugar in Fennel or Eyebright Water and form an Electuary.


Topical

Water of Emperor Constantine for the Eyes
Water of Emperor Frederick for the Sight


Primary TCM formulas for the Eyes

Fang Feng Tong Sheng San (Acute Wind-Heat)
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (Acute, Liver Heat)

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (Weakness, chronic)

Conjunctivitis

Western Tradition

Powder of Rhubarb (Fuchs)
Eyewash of Calamine
Eye Drops (Riverius)
Eye Drops (Wirtzung)
​

TCM Classification

Wu Wei Xiao Du Yin
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Topical applications:
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

Western Tradition

Visum conservat – Preserves vision

Eyebright
Hyssop


Visum augent – Increase vision

Aloe prepared with fennel juice
Hyssop
Senna
Opopanax


Sharpen the Sight

1. Every morning chew 5 Juniper berries
2. Eat Blueberries often

Vinegar of Squill
Syrup of Betony (Augustana)
Syrup of the Juice of Betony
Distilled Water of Wild Strawberries
Eyebright Wine
Powder for the Eyes
Chebulic Myrobalan Confected
Conserve of Eyebright

Confection of Montagnana for the Sight
Electuary for the Eyes (Grulingus)
Powder for Weakness of Sight (Nicholas)
Arabian Pills (Nicholas)
Golden Pills (Pilulae Aurea) (Nicholas)
Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)


Visus obscuritatem purgant – Dimness of Sight

1. Drop Distilled Water of Dandelion, Chicory, Eyebright or Self Heal Water into the eyes.

Sagapen
Chebulic Myrobalan Confected
Pills of Hiera
Pilulae sine Quibus (Nicholas)
Powder to Clarify the Eyes (Nicholas)
Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)


Visum post purgationem deperditum recuperant–Recover lost sight after Purging

Coriander
Quince
Aloe
Bile (incl. Goat)
Decoction of Wormwood
Fennel juice
Celandine juice
Infusion of Hiera
Oxymel of Squill
Friction of the tibia (shin)
Sleep



Sight Loss due to Bilious Vapors [Liver Heat]

Triphera Persica


To Purge the Head and Clarify the Sight

Pills of Hiera
Triphera Persica
Arabian Pills (Nicholas)
Golden Pills (Pilulae Aurea) (Nicholas)
Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)
Pills without which I would not be (Sine Quibus) (Nich.)

Topical Medicines

Water of Emperor Constantine for the Eyes
Water of Emperor Frederick for the Sight


TCM Classification

Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency
enlarge pupils, blurred vision, photophobia, tearing, light headache, vertigo, cataracts

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
Ming Mu Di Huang Wan


Liver Heat affecting the Eyes
Red, itchy eyes, headache, red tongue, big pulse

Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San














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)


14. Confection of Montagnana for the Sight

Research
1. Useful Medicinal Plants for Vision Impairment in Traditional Iranian Medicine

Night-blindness

Simples:
Lycium Gou Qi Zi
Blueberries


Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores Mesue)

1. Betony, Eyebright, Marjoram, Balm, Rue, Elecampane, Orris root, Valerian, Fennel seed; steep in alcohol and distill.

Red & Inflamed Eyes

Open the Head vein on the opposite side; Cup the shoulders.
​
Western Tradition

Powder of Rhubarb (Fuchs)
Electuary of the Juice of Roses (Mesue)
Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)
Eye Drops (Riverius)
Eye Drops (Wirtzung)
Eyewash of Calamine

TCM Classifications

Liver Heat

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang


Yin Deficiency

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
​

1. Mothers milk mixed with a beaten Egg white.
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

Western Tradition

Oculorum doloribus conferunt–Pain of the Eyes

Blanca Nicolai
Electuary of Rose

Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)
Arabian Pills (Nicholas)
Eye Drops (Riverius)
Eye Drops (Wirtzung)
Eyewash of Calamine

TCM Classifications

Wind-Heat

Fang Feng Tong Sheng San

Liver Heat

Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang

Yin Deficiency

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
​

1.     Beat an egg white and mix with oil of Roses; apply
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

Western Tradition

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

Western Tradition

Lesser Pills of Cochia
Powder to Cleanse the Sight (Wirtzung)
Pills without which I would not be (Pil. Sine Quibus)

Pills to Clarify (Pilulae Lucis Majores) (Mesue)
Triphala Electuary of Stoecha (Itrafil Kishneez)

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

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.


Other

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.


Research–General
1. Anti-inflammatory and Antihistaminic Study of a Unani Eye Drop Formulation

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