Protecting your eyes starts with a chrysanthemum: daily eye protection from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine

In modern life, long-term use of eyes has almost become the norm: computers, mobile phones, and tablets are taking turns, and many people are graduallyDry eyes, sore eyes, visual fatigue, photophobia, red eyes and even headachesetc. questions. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the eyes are not only “organs for seeing”;External reflection of body organ functions. Among the many eye-protecting medicines and dietary treatments, chrysanthemum is the mildest, most common, and often underestimated.

1. How does Chinese medicine view "eyes"? ——The eyes are the orifices of the liver

There is a classic theory in traditional Chinese medicine:"The liver opens up the eyes."Meaning: Eye health is closely related to liver blood, liver qi, and liver yin. When the following conditions occur in the body, they are often easily reflected in the eyes:

• Insufficient liver blood→ Dry eyes and blurred vision
• Liver-fire inflammation→ Red eyes, swollen eyes, photophobia
• Liver Qi stagnation→ Eye fatigue, soreness and swelling, often accompanied by emotional stress
• Yin deficiency and internal heat→ Dryness and burning sensation are obvious

Therefore, TCM eye protection is not just about "eye drops", but starts from the overall idea of ​​regulating the liver, clearing away heat, nourishing yin, and improving eyesight; the specific syndrome differentiation and medication must be done byLicensed Chinese PhysicianFace to face consultation.

2. Why is chrysanthemum called "natural eye-protecting grass"?

In traditional Chinese medicine, chrysanthemum tastes sweet and bitter, and is slightly cold in nature.Liver and Lung Meridians, common functions include: clearing the liver and improving eyesight, dispelling wind and heat, helping to relieve visual fatigue and improve some discomfort caused by excessive eye use. "Compendium of Materia Medica" also has records such as "Chrysanthemum can treat wind and heat in the head and eyes, and improve eyesight". For modern people who use their eyes a lot, are under a lot of pressure, and have a tendency to get angry, chrysanthemum is one of the more commonly used medicinal and food choices, but it still needs to be combined with physical constitution and spleen and stomach conditions.

3. Which eye problems are more suitable to be treated with chrysanthemum under the guidance of a doctor?

1. Eye fatigue caused by looking at screens for long periods of time

Common manifestations:Eyes sore, swollen, and blurry after looking for a long time. Chrysanthemum can clear the liver and relieve stagnation of heat, so it is often friendly to this group of people, but it is not suitable to replace rest and refractive correction evaluation.

2. Red eyes, dryness, photophobia (more likely to cause internal heat)

It is common in staying up late, being under great emotional stress, being addicted to spicy alcohol, etc. Chrysanthemum clears liver fire and reduces deficiency heat. It is often used clinically according to the situation.Lycium barbarum, cassia seedFor compatibility, please consult a Chinese medicine practitioner for specific proportions and treatment duration.

3. Mild headache, eye swelling and irritability

Traditional Chinese medicine mostly differentiates syndromes from the perspectives of liver fire or liver qi stagnation. Chrysanthemum has the effect of dispelling wind and clearing away headaches. Whether it is suitable for long-term use still requires individualized evaluation.

4. Different physical constitutions require different usage of chrysanthemum.

Many people have "no effect" on drinking chrysanthemum tea. It is often not that the chrysanthemum itself is ineffective;No combination of physical constitution and compatibility. The following is a popular science reference, not a prescription:

• Liver fire is strong and easy to get angry:After consulting a doctor, you can consider chrysanthemum with cassia seeds, or chrysanthemum with a small amount of honeysuckle, etc. to clear the liver and reduce fire and relieve the tendency of red eyes.
• Long-term use of the eyes, dry eyes but not obvious "irritation":Chrysanthemum combined with wolfberry is both clear and tonic, taking into account both eye protection and righteousness.
• People with yin deficiency, staying up late, and obvious dry eyes:Under the guidance of a doctor, chrysanthemum combined with wolfberry, lily, etc. can be considered as part of the plan to nourish yin and moisturize dryness, which is suitable for those with long-term care.

5. Traditional Chinese medicine protects eyes with more than one chrysanthemum

In addition to replacing tea, it can also be used daily with:

1. Massage eye acupuncture points: Such as Jingming, Cuanzhu, Taiyang, and Ganshu on the back, etc., about 5-10 minutes each time, with moderate intensity; please seek medical attention first if you have inflammation, trauma or surgery around the eyes.
2. Use your eyes to "retract and release": Look into the distance for about 5 minutes every 40–50 minutes; avoid scrolling on your phone for long periods of time in a dark environment.
3. Pay attention to sleep: As the saying goes, "When a person lies down, blood returns to the liver." Staying up late not only damages liver blood, but also aggravates dry eyes and visual fatigue.

6. When should we be vigilant instead of just relying on chrysanthemums?

If the following situations occur, it is recommended to undergo an eye examination or related specialist examination as soon as possible and cooperate with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation instead of relying solely on chrysanthemum tea:

• sudden loss of vision
• persistent eye pain
• Frequent eye redness and increased secretions
• Headache with abnormal vision, etc.

Chrysanthemum is suitable for daily maintenance and preventive auxiliary ideas,Not a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment。

Conclusion

The eye protection concept of traditional Chinese medicine focuses onGentle, long-lasting, holistic care. A chrysanthemum may not be able to change your lifestyle alone, but it can be the starting point for daily eye care: remind yourself to slow down, give your eyes a chance to rest, and make your liver qi more comfortable. If you have long-term eye fatigue, dryness, headaches or sleep problems, welcome toFlushing, New York Guoyitang, Chinese medicine practitioners will discuss eye protection and overall care plans that are more suitable for you based on your physical constitution.