Do you know that eyes are a reflection of your overall health? Clear and bright eyes are related to kidney function and may instantly show a person’s overall health and vitality. Dull or mismatched eyes may show the weakening of physical and mental health, however.  

Eyesight is regulated by a healthy balance of our liver, spleen and pancreas and when these organs are functioning well, eyesight tends to be better. However, when a person’s diet negatively impacts these organs, they may be in danger of reducing their eyesight and vision. 

Actually, in Oriental medicine, the liver regulates the right eye and the spleen and pancreas regulate the left eye and the overall balance of both eyes. In essence, the liver really controls the entire right side of the body and fat metabolism and detoxification. The pancreas has digestive functions and regulates blood sugar and the spleen is the head of the lymph system. So, in order to keep these in balance each organ must be kept healthy.

Macrobiotic counseling can help. The best way to keep balance is to minimize or avoid animal or dairy foods, as well as highly processed foods and sweets. Macrobiotics incorporates a plant-based whole food diet with many leafy greens and orange or red colored vegetables and fruits. These are likely to provide enough vital nutrients to promote healthy eyes. So, macrobiotics helps with eye health by providing guidance on food choices and health practices that promote good vision and healthy eyesight.

One particularly valuable ingredient to use in your food preparation is toasted sesame seeds. They are anti-inflammatory and rich in a variety of nutrients and anti-oxidants. Remember, inflammation impacts all levels of health, including the eyes. Sesame seeds can be added as an enhancement to many dishes as well. Many people talk about flax seeds and hemp seeds and they seem to be getting more attention lately. But, when it comes to your health, sesame should be thought of as the king of the seeds!

Learning to use the body rub as a part of a macrobiotic practice can also improve eye sight. By gently rubbing the eyes both horizontally and vertically, you can help clear and sharpen your vision. The key is to place your fingers gently outside the eyelids, while closed, and rub in a vertical and horizontal direction. Remember to also cover the areas around, above and below your eyes. 

Additionally, exposing your eyes to natural light as much as possible can help eye performance. If you are forced to sit for long periods of time at a computer, phone, or television, it is very important to take small breaks as frequently as possible for at least a couple minutes at a time.

Your eyes need to see the sun and being exposed to natural light is very good for them. Many people have been groomed to wear sunglasses everyday in order to avoid cataracts, but over-using them can have a negative impact on your eyes as well as they need to see the full spectrum of light. Even using incandescent bulbs at home can make a huge difference rather than LED or fluorescent lighting.