Allergies, lack of sleep, dry air, your
co-workers overwhelming perfume…lots of things can cause itchy, puffy, dry
eyes.
And while we’re led to believe that eye drops
must be purchased for our own good, it is entirely possible to make your own
simple eye drops for times when
you find your eyes itchy and irritated.
The most important thing is that everything you
use is clean and sterile to prevent any infection causing microbes from causing
problems.
I love this solution to keep on hand, as it instantly soothes
itchiness, flushes away dirt and debris, and relieves uncomfortable dryness.
This is, basically, a saline solution.
However, it is important to use purified water, and sodium
chloride tablets (these are just “pure” salt tablets, as opposed to table salt,
which has iodine and anti-caking agents) to keep it sterile and non-irritating.
The tablets can be found in any pharmacy or ordered online.
You will need:
-1 cup of purified or filtered water
-2 sodium chloride tablets (2 grams)
-An eye dropper
-A mason jar
-2 sodium chloride tablets (2 grams)
-An eye dropper
-A mason jar
Directions
Boil the mason jar and it’s lid and dip the glass part of the
eye dropper into the boiling water to rid them of any contaminants. Fill the
mason jar with 1 cup of purified water, and then add in the sodium chloride
tablets. Shake well.
Apply 2-3 drops in each eye as needed for relief from
irritation. It goes without saying but…discontinue use and contact an eye
doctor if you experience any discomfort.
Here
are 4 other Home Remedies for Itchy, Puffy, Dry
eyes
1. Get Less Sodium
Ingesting
too much sodium is a common cause of water retention, even if you don’t have a
pre-existing condition that would make you prone to it (such as kidney
disease.)
Because
of the imbalance of salt and water, water gets drawn out of your cells and
puffs up your tissues. The resulting bloating can affect even your eyes,
filling out the tissues around the eye cavity, and causing puffy eyes. Less salt = less
puffiness
If
you’re worried about how you’ll possibly flavor your food, don’t panic. Steady
research has shown that the less salt you eat, the less you want. Your taste
buds will adjust to the lower levels over time.
A
month or so after you’ve made the change, sample your food with the amount you
used to eat, and you’ll probably be disgusted!
You will need…
-Self-control
and perseverance
2. Chamomile Tea
Bags
Chamomile
is effective for reducing puffiness caused by allergies. While it can help with
inflammation in general, when it comes to your eyes, it’s really the properties
that soothe itchy and irritated skin that make the difference with any
swelling.
Chamomile
also works wonders when it comes to tired or strained eyes. Resting the tea
bags directly over your eyes can help reduce discomfort and the appearance of
irritation/swelling, and you have two options when it comes to what you use.
I
like to bulk order my own tea bags and fill them with herbs-in this case, of
course, I’d fill them with dried chamomile- so I know exactly what I am putting
on my skin.
However,
you can use store bought as well if you’re looking for something more
convenient, just be sure there isn’t a bunch of other herbs added!
You will need…
-2
chamomile tea bags
-Approximately ½ cup of fresh water
-A place to lie down
-Approximately ½ cup of fresh water
-A place to lie down
Directions
Boil
the water and then soak the tea bags for about 5 minutes. After removing the
bags let them cool off, and then squeeze out any excess liquid. Lie down and
place them over your eyes for at least 10 minutes twice a day.
3. Cold-Compress
A
cold compress can temporarily diminish the appearance of the puffiness. The
cold constricts blood vessels, which slows down the flow of fluid into the
tissues and reduces the puffiness.
You
can obviously just pop some ice into a bag, or make a compress (link to post)
that can be used for both heat and cold, but I really enjoy gel packs for some
occasions. And while I really truly do not like corn syrup, it makes for a
dandy DIY cold gel pack.
You will need…
-A
small plastic zip lock bag
-Corn syrup
-Food or natural coloring (optional)
-Corn syrup
-Food or natural coloring (optional)
Directions
It’s
pretty straightforward. Simply fill up the bag with corn syrup and add a little
bit of coloring if you want to make it fun-like the classic blue color of store
bought cold packs. Pop it in the freezer and use when necessary.
Because
of the high sugar content, the syrup will not freeze solid, but it does get
close. I let it sit out for 5-10 minutes to soften up first.
*If
you don’t have time for resting a compress on your eyes, splash your face with
cold water in the morning.*
4. Do The Elevator
If
you tend to wake up with bags under your eyes that diminish as the day goes on,
elevating yourself while you sleep may help reduce the appearance first thing
in the morning.
It
depends on the individual, but fluid can pool and build up around the eyes when
you’re lying flat and sleeping. Propping yourself up or even just sleeping on
your back can help keep everything in circulation, which diminishes the
puffiness first thing in the morning. As a plus, propping yourself up can help
with snoring as
well.
You will need…
-An
extra pillow OR wood blocks to rest under your bed legs
Directions
Use
an extra pillow to elevate your head or, if you’re worried this may make you
wake up with sore muscles, place small blocks of wood beneath the legs at the
top of the bed to raise it slightly.
Just
a reminder-make sure it’s extra steady if you do the latter. It’s not fun to
wake up in the middle of the night if your bed slides off and thumps down.
You can also watch this Video HERE and HERE TOO to learn about other home
remedies for itchy, puffy, dry eyes.
By Claire Goodall
(a bee-obsessed natural-convert from Minnesota) who is a holistic health lover.
She is the author of Everyday Roots Book.
It's a Book that
she creates to help you replace the toxic products and medications in your home
with healthier, all-natural alternatives.
It contains 215+
effective home remedies and covers everything you will need to protect your
family and save money every month.
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