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Acupressure Massage each point for 30 seconds, twice a day:

Points

1.Bladder 1 (Jing Ming)

2.Gall Bladder 1 (Tong Zi Liao)

3.Gall Bladder 14 (Yangbai)

4.Kidney 6 (Zhaohai)

5.Large Intestine 4 (Hoku)

6.Liver 8 (Ququan)

7.Stomach 1 (Cheng Qi)

8.Stomach 36 (Zu San Li)

9.Bladder 23 (Shen Shu)

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DRY EYES PREVENTION PROGRAM

Medications Recommended eye drops are Thera Tears, Similisan #1 (#2 for allergic irritations) or Viva eye drops (see Resources). Follow instructions on label for frequency of application.

Exercises Do 20 minutes of both aerobic and eye exercises at least four times per week (see Chapter 1).

Spinal Consult a qualified chiropractor or osteopath to Manipulationmake sure that the spine and neck are free from any

energy blocks that might cause poor circulation and, thus, lack of energy to the eyes.

Emotional Decrease stress from your life. Try meditation, yoga, Health tai chi, biofeedback techniques, qi gong or

psychotherapy.

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Chapter 6

Sties

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The common sty is simply an infection or inflammation of one of the oil or sebaceous glands that lies along the edge of the eyelid. Sties appear as painful red lumps and then develop heads of whitish pus. Usually some unnoticed chronic infection of the eyelid is the cause. They are not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.

Children tend to develop sties more often than adults, probably because children's glandular secretions are more erratic, especially during puberty, and children tend to be less careful about keeping their hands clean and away from their eyes.

Conventional Treatment

When treatment is begun early right after a sty is first noticed it will usually clear up in a couple of days. Sties are usually treated with plain hot compresses, although you could also use a boric acid solution. Many doctors prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment to control the infection. Sties rarely require excision, and under no circumstances should a sty be squeezed the eyelid is the thinnest skin on the body and is easily damaged.

Holistic Treatment and Prevention

The Vision Diet

There is often a relationship between a patient's diet and digestive system and diseases of the eyelid. Poor digestion and improper diet (such as fried foods) often can cause problems such as sties. If this is the case, the onset of the sty is typically more gradual.

If you are prone to sties, reduce your intake of saturated fat and avoid hydrogenated oils and fried foods. Take 1,500 mg of essential fatty acids (EFAs) per day such as flaxseed, borage and/or evening primrose oils. (See Chapter 1 for more information on EFAs.) In addition, to maintain overall health and circulation, take a good multi-mineral vitamin containing the nutrients recommended in the Sty Prevention Program at the end of this chapter.