Herbal Teas for Eye Health: TCM Recipes for Better Vision

Traditional Chinese herbs have plenty of benefits when added to your regular diet, including imparting benefits to your eye health and nourishing the body. There are plenty of ways you can add herbs to your diet, and herbal teas are one such common method.
  
Herbal teas are often used to complement TCM treatments or for general maintenance of your health. Given the importance of eye health, you can also find herbal teas that help address specific imbalances in the body that impact your vision. After all, TCM looks to treat the underlying problems that negatively affect your well-being, and herbal teas are one such element that can help treat whatever ails you.
 
 

Why is Herbal Tea for Eye Health Essential?

Herbal teas, made from a blend of herbs, flowers, seeds, and roots, have been a part of TCM treatments for centuries and offer many health benefits to those who drink these teas. Unlike herbal remedies tailored to treating specific conditions and concerns, herbal teas are easier to prepare since they generally do not require many ingredients. In fact, most herbal tea recipes are easy enough to follow and prepare on your own, with ingredients readily available in your local marketplaces or even from online sellers. 
 
Herbal teas operate on principles similar to those adopted by TCM, in that they aim to provide holistic healing by addressing underlying blockages and disruptions to your internal functions. From improper Qi flow to negating heatiness and other pathogens, herbal teas are a great addition to aiding your gradual recovery and restoring bodily functions.
 
Here are a few herbal tea recipes you can try to maintain or improve your eye health over the long term.

 

Wolfberry & Cassia Seed Tea

Wolfberries, also known as goji berries, are an excellent source of antioxidants to fight harmful free radicals. If left alone, free radicals can damage cells and are a risk factor for various complications, including obesity. Two antioxidants in particular, lutein and zeaxanthin, are vital to improving eye health as they accumulate in the retina and lens of your eyes, providing a defensive line against free radical damage. Some studies indicate that lutein may help absorb excess light energy, which can be beneficial in absorbing blue light from computer and smartphone screens.

Cassia seeds, on the other hand, have been used in many herbal remedies for many years and are known to have cooling properties that reduce the build-up of heat in the body; this heatiness can stem from a poor diet or even a lack of sleep. Their role is significant in countering wind-heat accumulation to address dry eyes, redness or discomfort in and around the eyes, and light sensitivity.

A tea made from these two ingredients can help cool your body and give you a welcome dose of antioxidants and other essential nutrients to help maintain your eye health. At the same time, it addresses your body's systemic imbalances, especially against pathogens like heat, to restore your other internal functions beyond your eyesight.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp dried goji berries, unsweetened and preservative-free
• 1 tbsp cassia seeds
• Natural sweetener or sugar (optional)

 
Preparing the Tea

1. Roast the cassia seeds at low heat for 5 to 10 minutes until you can smell the fragrance. The seeds may puff up slightly during the process.
2. Leave the seeds to cool. Once sufficiently cooled, crush them finely.
3. Put the dried goji berries and cassia seeds together and boil them for about 10 minutes.
4. Strain the contents and add some sweetener if you desire.

 
 

Cassia Seeds with Honey

You can also mix cassia seeds with honey for a sweeter delight, though try to use natural or organic honey without preservatives or other additives. Honey is also rich in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties that benefit your overall eye (and general) health.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp cassia seeds
• Honey to taste

Preparing the Tea

1. Roast the cassia seeds at low heat for 5 to 10 minutes until you can smell the fragrance. The seeds may puff up slightly during the process.
2. Leave the seeds to cool. Once sufficiently cooled, crush them finely.
3. Boil the crushed seeds in water for about 10 minutes.
4. Strain the contents and leave it to cool for a while. Add honey to your liking.

 

Chrysanthemum Tea

The softly fragrant chrysanthemum tea is a popular choice in Chinese culture, possessing cooling and soothing properties to help combat heatiness on hot, sweltering days. Commonly known as a herb that helps “brighten the eyes”, this tea can help provide much-needed relief for eyes that are red and itchy. Its high Vitamin A and beta-carotene content also helps improve your eyesight.
 

Ingredients

• 1 litre of water
• Sugar
• 10g dried & rinsed chrysanthemum petals

 

Preparing the Tea

1. Bring water to a boil; once done, add sugar to your liking. Wait for the sugar to dissolve.
2. Add the dried chrysanthemum petals to a teapot, then pour the boiled water into the teapot.
3. Cover the teapot and let it steep for 15 minutes or more. The longer it steeps, the more prominent its taste.
4. You can add more hot water to the tea whenever you run out. This batch can last for two refills; the taste gets lighter with each subsequent refill.

 
 

Mulberry Tea

Usually black, white, or red in colour, the sweet, slightly elongated mulberry is packed with nutrients such as iron, vitamin C, and potassium needed for a well-functioning body and antioxidants that keep free radicals at bay. Mulberry's cooling nature also helps nourish the kidneys and liver and fight against heat.
 

Ingredients

• Mulberries
• Warm boiled water

 

Preparing the Tea

1. Prepare as many mulberries as you need, then put them all in a pot. You can lightly mush them into a paste beforehand.
2. Melt the mulberries over low heat until it starts to produce juice.
3. Stir constantly at low heat. Add some sugar and let it simmer for two to three hours for the paste to form.
4. Scoop a tablespoon of the mulberry paste into a glass and add warm boiled water.

 
 

Taking Care of Your Eye Health

Are you thinking of doing more to maintain your optical well-being? ICU Eye Care Unit is here to support your journey with comprehensive support from start to finish and a holistic treatment approach through the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Start your optical health journey with us today; contact us for more information on how we can help you!