Natural treatments for watering or irritated eyes

I have blepharitis in my eyes, which means that my eyes are constantly watering and irritated. Is there any natural treatment to help with this problem?

Blepharitis is more common than you would think, and can be difficult to keep in check. The cause is typically a low-grade bacterial infection, or can be a secondary symptom of a condition such as acne rosacea or dandruff.

There are two main forms of blepharitis – anterior, affecting the area outside the eyelid where the eyelashes are attached; and posterior, due to problems with the oil glands of the inner eyelid. Both types result in eye irritation, which can lead to burning and watering, usually with crusting at the eyelid margins.

The trouble with treatment is that the blepharitis can return. Keeping the area clean is essential – use a warm water compress and gently bathe the affected area in order to remove any crusting (and help unblock the oil glands in posterior blepharitis).

Using a herbal infusion instead of plain water is even more effective: eyebright for general eye health, and goldenseal to treat and prevent infection. Filter the infusion well to avoid getting any pieces of herb in your eyes.

A simple process of journalling the foods you eat and noting if there is a flare up of symptoms associated with any particular food or food group can be a game changer when it comes to clearing symptoms. While dairy and/or gluten can be triggers, this is not the case for everybody.

Do you have any advice regarding Ménière’s disease?

My grandmother is really struggling to live a normal life due to the vertigo and tinnitus. I would love to be able to help her or restore some sense of normality for her.

Ménière’s is a difficult condition to live with — vertigo or tinnitus alone are both maddening conditions, but to have issues with both at the same time is more than most people can bear.

Lifestyle changes and forms of therapeutic treatment may still be of some use at this stage. Vertigo alone usually indicates the early stages of Ménière’s, and tinnitus suggests that it is progressing further. As this disease takes hold, the tinnitus becomes a permanent feature, and some hearing loss is typical. The vertigo shifts from being single attacks into clusters or groups.

It is believed the underlying cause of Ménière’s is an excess accumulation of endolymph (an inner ear fluid), which is then secreted into the inner ear, affecting the delicate cells involved in balance and hearing. Initially the extra fluid can be felt as a sensation of fullness in the ear, which then clears after each spell of vertigo. The recurrent damage to the cells is the reason why this disease progresses in stages, which is why it is important to get appropriate treatment as early as possible before irreversible damage occurs.

If your grandmother is open to trying out alternative treatments, then she may be interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A good TCM practitioner will look at the individual history and general state of health rather than using a one-size- fits-all approach to treating a condition. Remedies and treatments are prescribed for the individual rather than the disease.

Is there a natural cream for vaginal thrush?

The best natural cream I have come across to treat vaginal thrush is Kolorex. It is also available as capsules, which is a great idea, since any type of candida imbalance is best treated internally as well. Long-term dietary and lifestyle changes are important to keep Candida albicans in check – avoid processed foods, sugars, and fats.

Kolorex is formulated using the New Zealand native herb, Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata).

This plant has active compounds in the leaves which discourage attack from fungi — making it the ideal remedy for thrush and other candida-related problems.

Forest Herbs Kolorex is available with a prescription from health practitioner from Noma Ltd, contact by phone on 00 44 2380 770 513 or email [e-mail]