Redness! Burning! Irritation! These words are enough to make your eyes water but you can’t. The reason is dry eyes. There are a number of causes for this and luckily, relief for red eyes can come through alternative medicine that is safe. This is a common ocular problem in the Southwest because of the low humidity, which produces an extra demand on our tear glands to keep the eyes lubricated. Other symptoms of dry eyes are a sensation that something is in the eye or even severe pain.  These symptoms tend to be worse in dry cool weather and worse during a windy day. Dry eyes can also be aggravated by pollution and underlying allergies.  The eye discomfort is worse when reading and worse toward the end of the day. If you are asking the question “Can people with dry eyes wear contacts?”, then  the answer is that it can be highly uncomfortable for obvious reasons..

There are 5 common causes of Dry Eyes:

1. Decrease in blinking. Blinking helps to spread tears across the surface of the eye and lubricate the surface. Any decrease in blinking will cause symptoms of dry eyes.
2. Aging. Tear production decreases with aging. The volume of tear production can be 60% less at age 65 than at age 18.
3. Environment. High altitudes; sunny, dry windy conditions; and the use of heaters, blowers and air conditioning increase tear evaporation and cause symptoms of dry eyes.
4. Contact lenses can dramatically increase tear evaporation. Dry eyes are the leading cause of contact lens discomfort.
5. Some medications decrease the body’s ability to produce lubricating tears. These include decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics and many other allopathic medications.

Alternative medicine can help!

Relief for red eyes can come through the following inclusions in diet and alternatie medicine. Deficiency of Vitamin A has been shown to contribute to dry eyes. The first line of treatment should be a healthy diet with fresh dark green leafy vegetables or supplemental vitamin A. I would recommend 10,000 Units of Vitamin A once a day. Vitamin A can be toxic to the liver so be sure to consult with your health care practitioner.

Primrose Oil 1000 mg twice a day can also be helpful. It is a source of essential fatty acids that aids in the production of several tear components.

A product that I recommend is the Dry Eye and Blepharitis Nutritional Formula sold by Nutritional Research. (www.nutritionalresearch.net or 1-877-341-2703) One packet everyday supplies essential vitamins and nutrients to relieve symptoms of dry eyes.

Artificial tears and lubricating eye drops are the second line of treatment. They can be used as often as every hour to help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. There are many brands of artificial tears on the market. The best are those that are preservative free. A  homeopathic artificial tear that I recommend is  Similasan Eye Drops #1 one to two drops every hour as needed.

In addition begin eye compresses or soaks using Euphrasia or Eyebright Tea.  Obtain some Euphrasia tea bags and soak them in hot water. Use a clean cloth and soak your eyes twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes. You can also drink the tea for some additional benefit!  Similasan and Euphrasia can also be ordered from Nutritional Research.

Common homeopathic remedies for dry eyes.  Suggested dosage is a 6 or 12C twice a day. As with all homeopathic remedies you should stop the medication when symptoms improve.

ACONTINUM NAPELLUS (Acon.)
Symptoms from an exposure to a cold dry wind. Dryness, burning, sensitiveness to air.  Burning in the eyes especially worse in the evening.

ARSENICUM ALBUM (Ars-a)
Burning of the margins of the lid. Feeling of sand in the eyes in the evening. Pulsating and throbbing eye pain after midnight. Light sensitivity.

BELLADONNA (Bell.)
Feeling of heat in the eyes. Feeling as if the eyes are protruded.  Severe throbbing pain in the eye and head, worse at night.

EUPRHASIA (Euphr.)
Eyes irritated, burning with acrid and profuse tearing. Light sensitivity with intense blinking.

PULSATILLA (Puls.)
Eyelids are stuck together by yellow discharge in the morning. Symptoms better in the cool  open air.

MERCURIUS (Merc.)
Redness of eyes with thin and acrid tearing which is worse at night. Marked light sensitivity. Symptoms similar to Euphrasia but they are more marked and there is night time aggravation.

SULPHUR (Sulph.)
Watering in the morning followed by dryness. Redness of the eyes during the day. Redness and burning of the eyelids.

ZINC
Eyelids stick together in the morning. Eyes are painful in the evening  with a sensation of sand in the eyes with frequent watering. Constant burning in the eyes with a feeling of dryness. Hot scalding tears.

In addition to dry eyes, Homeopathy can also be of value in the treatment of many eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. It is best to see an experienced homeopathic practitioner for the evaluation of these conditions.

Read more on relief for red eyes.

Dr. Edward Kondrot is a board certified ophthalmogist and certified homeopathic doctor. He is the author of Healing the Eye the Natural Way: Alternative Medicine and Macular Degeneration, and Microcurrent Stimulation: Miracle Eye Cure. In addition, he is the director of the Farrington School of Homeopathy in Pittsburgh and is a core faculty member at the Desert Institute of Classical Homeopathy in Phoenix.  His two main offices are in Phoenix, Arizona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His web page is www.homeopathiceye.com and he can be reached at 1-800-430-9328.

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Alternative complementary medicine statistics with homeopathy can be used as a compliment to conventional treatment for eyes.

Not Herbal Therapy, Not Vitamin Therapy. Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the principal of “like cures
like”.

Homeos meaning “similar”
Pathos meaning “suffering”

Homeopathy is effective. When the correct remedy is taken, results can be complete and permanent. Homeopathy is completely safe. Even babies and pregnant women can use homeopathy without the danger of side effects, interactions with prescription drugs, herbs or vitamins. For allopathic medication, often homeopathy makes weaning off allopathic medicines possible.

Learn more about vision therapy below and by going to http://www.HealingTheEye.com

1. Introduction to Homeopathy Healing the Eye Vision therapy and restoration Edward C. Kondrot, MD, MD(H) CCH, DHt www.healingtheeye.com
2. What is Homeopathy? Not Herbal Therapy Not Vitamin Therapy Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the principal of “like cures like”. Homeos meaning “similar” Pathos meaning “suffering” www.healingtheeye.com
3. What is Homeopathy? Not a new idea: Dates back to Hippocrates, 460-370 BC, who said: “Through the like, disease is produced, and through the application of the like it is cured.”
4. History of Homeopathy It was not until the end of the 18th century that a brilliant German doctor and chemist, Samuel Hahnemann, started experimentation which led to the system of medicine we now know as Homeopathy. 1755-1843
5. History of Homeopathy Disillusioned by the savage medical practices of the day, Hahnemann had retired to a life of translating medical texts. 1755-1843
6. History of Homeopathy While translating these medical texts, he noticed that the substance Peruvian Bark or Cinchona, was listed as causing symptoms, such as numbness of extremities, anxiety, intermittent fevers, similar to symptoms of Malaria, which it was then used to cure.
7. History of Homeopathy Hahnemann based this new system of medicine on certain laws and principles: •Law of Similars •Law of Proving •Law of Potentization •Law of the Single Remedy
8. The Law of Similars “Any substance which produces specific toxic symptoms in a healthy person, when given in it’s full strength form, will cure a sick person with those same symptoms in a very diluted form.” -Hahnemann
9. The Law of Similars Cold or allergy symptoms such as watery eyes and burning nasal discharge can be treated with the homeopathic remedy, Allium Cepa, made from the common red onion.
10. The Law of Similars The substance Ipecac, known for inducing vomiting in the case of accidental poisonings, can be used homeopathically to alleviate the symptom of incessant nausea or vomiting. For example as in the case of someone with the flu or morning sickness.
11. The Law of Similars Likewise, angry red swellings, however caused, may be treated with homeopathically prepared Apis, which is made from the honeybee.
12. The Law of Proving How Homeopathic remedies are discovered: The knowledge of homeopathic remedies is based on scientific experiments called “provings”.
13. The Law of Proving In a proving, healthy volunteers are given homeopathically prepared doses of a substance until they began to “prove” the remedy, or experience symptoms — mental, emotional as well as physical.
14. The Law of Proving This information is carefully recorded and repeated many times. The information from provings make up our Homeopathic Materia Medica, which is a description of symptoms caused by each remedy and therefore the symptoms it can be used to alleviate.
15. The Law of Proving These same symptoms are also recorded in texts known as a Repertory, which is an index of symptoms that lists all remedies known to have that symptom.
16. The Law of Potentization How homeopathic remedies are made: In his experiments on himself and others, Hahnemann found that even in small amounts the substances were still capable of producing side effects. Hahnemann found that by diluting further, the side effects disappeared.
17. The Law of Potentization He also established that if the substances were shaken vigorously during the dilution, a practice known as “succussion”, this released a previously dormant energy, making the remedy more potent than before.
18. The Law of Potentization Each remedy was diluted to such an extent that no actual material of the original substance was left. Hahnemann believed that what existed after this dilution and “succussion” was the transference of the energy of the original material into a new, neutral material.
19. The Law of Potentization Dilution Potency 1:100 1C 1:1000 2C 1:1000 3C 1: 100000 4C 1:10(200) 200C The potency of the remedy is designated by the amount of dilution. The more a remedy is diluted and shaken, the more “potentized” it becomes.
20. Potencies The most common strengths are 3, 6, 30, 200, 1000, 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000. Decimal scale: The ratio is 1:10 and is designated by X after the number. Centesimal scale: The ratio is 1:100 and is designated by C after the number.
21. Potencies Remedies today are made according these homeopathic pharmacological principles, and in accordance with the United States Food and Drug Administration. www.healingtheeye.com
22. Potencies The remedies are made from natural Substances — plant, animal and mineral. They are considered to be very safe, available over-the-counter and completely non-toxic.
23. Potencies Each homeopathic remedy bears a National Drug Code number, ensuring the consumer that the product has been made in accordance with The Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States.
24. Placebo Effect? Because homeopathic remedies are in such minute doses, physicians and scientists frequently assert that they cannot work. An increasing number of controlled studies are proving them wrong.
25. Placebo Effect? There are many scientific studies on homeopathic medicine indicating its effectiveness. There are studies published in respected scientific journals such as The Lancet and The British Medical Journal.
26. Lancet Study The Lancet published the most significant and comprehensive review of homeopathic research, which appeared in its September 20, 1997 issue. This article was a meta-analysis of 89 double-blinded, randomized, placebo- controlled clinical trials. The authors conclude that the clinical effects of homeopathic medicines are not simply the results of placebo.
27. Lancet Study (cont’d) The researchers uncovered 186 studies, 119 of which were double-blind and/or randomized placebo-control trials, and 89 of which met pre- defined criteria for inclusion into a pooled meta- analysis. The researchers found that by pooling the 89 trials together that homeopathic medicines had a 2.45 times greater effect than placebo. — Dana Ullman, M.P.H.
28. Current Research Breakthrough discoveries in quantum physics show: Water retains memory when substances are diluted and shaken. Instead of molecules separating, some actually combine. (Lo, SY, 1996, 1998)
29. Law of the Single Remedy Individualization: Classical Homeopathy is based on the principal of the single remedy. That is, no matter how many symptoms are experienced, only one remedy is taken, and that remedy is aimed at all those symptoms.
30. Law of the Single Remedy Individualization: In this way, Homeopathy is truly holistic, treating the whole person — mentally, emotionally as well as physically. www.healingtheeye.com
31. The Vital Force The concept of life force energy or vitality is an important one in Homeopathy. Hahnemann named this energy the “Vital Force” similar to the concept of Chi meaning life force in Eastern Medicine or Prana meaning vital energy in Ayurveda or Yoga .
32. The Vital Force He maintained that this “Vital Force” constantly seeks to maintain balance. Symptoms, no matter how uncomfortable, are always the body attempting to restore itself to health. www.healingtheeye.com
33. The Vital Force For example, we can observe it in action with an illness such as a fever or a cough. The fever is the body’s defense mechanism used to burn up the infection and the cough is there to prevent accumulation of mucus in the lungs.
34. Susceptibility The issue of how vulnerable different people are to disease and ill health is an interesting one. Some people have amazingly robust constitutions, rarely succumbing to illness, regardless of their lifestyle.
35. Susceptibility Others are susceptible to every illness imaginable, even if they exercise daily eat a balanced diet.
36. Susceptibility Genetic inheritance is an important factor in the strength of constitution. Illnesses and weaknesses that run in families are often passed down through generations.
37. Susceptibility Many people have health patterns, such as a tendency to asthma or eczema or one area that is always affected during stressful times such as headaches or digestive upset. Homeopathy can help strengthen the weak areas in ones constitution and change one’s pattern of susceptibility, thereby not only acting curatively, but as a prevention of disease.
38. Hering’s Law of Cure • Healing progresses from within, out. From the deepest level (mental and emotional) to external (skin and extremities). • Healing progresses in reverse order of the original appearance. • Healing progresses from above down. From upper parts to lower parts.
39. Conventional Medicine Allopathy: “Allo\” meaning other, gives substances that cause symptoms different than what they are experiencing. Conventional medicine seeks to eliminate symptoms and manage the illness, taking each symptom as a separate part of the system to be eliminated.
40. Conventional Medicine Allopathy: A patient with recurring cystitis, eczema, and depression would be treated in parts — antibiotics, cortisone, and antidepressant medication to control the symptoms — doing nothing to address the underlying disorder.
41. Conventional Medicine Inherent problems: · If the disease cannot be diagnosed there can be no treatment. All tests indicate you are in perfect health, yet you feel terrible. Many patients have symptoms years before the disease can be diagnosed. May be told to use one drug or another for symptomatic relief until a definitive diagnosis can be made.
42. Conventional Medicine Inherent problems: · For many diagnosable problems, no treatment exists. For example in the case of Viral disease, antibiotics are useless.
43. Conventional Medicine Inherent problems: · Treatment for recurrent problems does little to prevent future incidents. Health problems occur due to susceptibility of the patient. The conventional approach rarely addresses susceptibility. Each recurrence is like a revolving door experience.
44. Conventional Medicine Inherent problems: · Drug side effects · Adverse reactions · Bacterial resistance to antibiotics due to their overuse
45. Conventional Medicine Inherent problems: · High cost of health care. A few benefit, but most are merely undergoing increasingly expensive evaluations only to find out they have a disease where no satisfactory treatment exists.
46. Conventional Medicine Indications: · Urgent problems that require immediate control of the disease for the preservation of life or limb. · Life threatening infectious diseases, such as bacterial spinal meningitis, myocardial infarction, hypertensive crisis.
47. Conventional Medicine Indications: · Surgical Care: hit by a truck or appendicitis. Homeopathy can be started while waiting, some resolving without surgery. Overuse of surgery: •Children getting tubes placed in the ears •Gynecological problems.
48. Complementary Medicine Homeopathy can also be used as a compliment to conventional treatment. For example in the case of severe asthma, it would not be safe to abruptly stop an allopathic medication. Often homeopathy makes weaning off allopathic medicines possible.
49. Advantages of Homeopathy · Homeopathy is effective. When the correct remedy is taken, results can be complete and permanent. · Homeopathy is completely safe. Even babies and pregnant women can use homeopathy without the danger of side effects, interactions with prescription drugs, herbs or vitamins.
50. Advantages of Homeopathy · Homeopathy is natural. Homeopathic remedies are normally based on natural ingredients. · Homeopathy works in harmony with your immune system. Unlike some conventional medicines which suppress the immune system. For example, cough medicines suppress the cough reflex, which is your body’s attempt to clear the lungs.
51. Advantages of Homeopathy · Homeopathic remedies are not addictive. Once relief is felt, you should stop taking them. If no relief is felt, you are probably taking the wrong remedy. · Homeopathy is holistic — it treats all the symptoms as one picture. In practical terms, means that it addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms. This often means that symptoms alleviated by homeopathy do not recur.
52. Finding a Homeopath National Center of Homeopathy Maintains a national directory. Online: www.homeopathic.org Telephone: 877-624-0613
53. Finding a Homeopath Council of Homeopathic Certification Maintains directory of practitioners who have passed rigorous national certification in classical homeopathy. Telephone: 866-242-3399 www.healingtheeye.com
54. Buying Homeopathic Books Homeopathic Educational Services www.homeopathic.com 800-359-9051 Minimum Price www.minimum.com 800-663-8272
55. Home Remedy Kit
56. Homeopathic Pharmacies Hahnemann Pharmacy 888-427-6422 Washington Homeopathic Pharmacy 800-336-1695 Dolisos Pharmacy 800-365-4767
57. Suggested Reading · Homeopathy: Beyond Flat Earth Medicine by Timothy Dooley, N.D., M.D. · Homeopathic Medicine at Home by Panos and Heimlich · Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicine by Dana Ullman and Steven Cummings
58. Suggested Reading · Homeopathy: Science or Myth? by Bill Gray, M.D. · Poisons that Heal by Eileen Nauman · Materia Medica with Repertory by Boericke Kent’s Repertory By Kent
59. Suggested Reading · Divided Legacy by Harris Coulter · Desktop Guide Roger Morrison Organon Samuel Hahnemann For more info contact Dr. Edward Kondrot at info (at) healingtheeye.com www.healingtheeye.com

Many people with excellent eye sight discover their vision beginning to fail in their 40’s and 50’s. It is a shock to discover that small print is impossible to read, there is never enough light and your arms are never long enough! This is where the troublesome dependency on reading glasses begins! Can you turn back the clock or at least slow the ticking? What can be done? Vision therapy

The first step is good nutrition. Colorful foods will help give us colorful vision and reduce eye strain. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables which have bright colors. These are rich in antioxidants and bioflavonoids which are essential for healthy vision. Avoid foods that are toxic to your body and of course avoid alcohol and, if you have the unfortunate habit, do everything possible to stop smoking.

The second step is exercise. Dr. William Bates, a famous vision therapist, discovered that all eye disease is caused by stress around the eye. He believed that by reducing this stress dependency on glasses could be reduced or even eliminated. He developed several eye exercises to reduce stress and improve vision. For more information on the Bate’s exercises read chapter three in Healing the Eye the Natural Way.

Step three: heal your eyes from within with homeopathy. Homeopathy is a system of medicine which stimulates the body to heal itself. There are several homeopathic remedies that are useful for reducing eye strain and improving vision. One of these is Ruta which can help reduce eye strain and relieve the headaches from over worked eyes.

And finally, Step four: science to the rescue! There is a new procedure to “turn back the clock” and give you back your young reading eyes. The procedure is called Conductive Keratoplasty or CK. It is a recently approved FDA procedure. It uses no laser and no cutting is involved. How does it work? Radio frequency waves are delivered to the outer part of the eye. These waves reshape the cornea to improve reading vision. Over 14,000 procedures have been performed with an extremely high success rate. If you are over the age of 40, have had good vision all your life and now need reading glasses (and you hate them) this procedure may be just what you are looking for!

Attend a Healing the Eye and Wellness Seminar to begin to restore your eyesight and clarity of vision. These one and three day seminars focus on nutrition, homeopathy, stress reduction, meditation, the mind body connection and yoga for your eyes. Nutritional and Homeopathic evaluations along with treatments such as massage, acupuncture, microcurrent stimulation and chelation therapy will be available during the three day seminar.

Dr. Edward Kondrot is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and certified homeopathic doctor. He is the author of Healing the Eye the Natural Way: Alternative Medicine and Macular Degeneration, and Microcurrent Stimulation: Miracle Eye Cure. His Healing the Eye and Wellness Centers are located in Phoenix, Arizona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His web page is www.homeopathiceye.com and he can be reached at 800-430-9328.