Conjunctivitis refers to the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent membrane covering the front of the eye and is a very common form of eye trouble and mostly also known as "sore eyes". It spreads from person to person through direct contact, due to overcrowding, dirty surroundings and unhealthy living conditions.
Symptoms of Conjunctivitis:
The eyeball and under side of the eyelids become inflamed. At first, the eyes are red, dry and burning and in the later stage, there may be a watery secretion. In more serious cases, there is pus formation. And while sleeping, this material dries, making the eyelashes stick together.
Causes of Conjunctivitis:
•Conjunctivitis results from bacterial infection, viruses or eyestrain and also due to unhealthy living conditions.
•Even prolonged work under artificial light and excessive use of the eyes in one way or the other undoubtedly contributes towards the disease.
•But its real cause can be traced to a catarrhal condition of the system resulting from general toxemia due to dietetic errors and faulty style of living.
•The patient generally suffers from colds or other ailments indicative of a general catarrhal condition.
The Treatment of Conjunctivitis by Nature Cure:
The treatment of conjunctivitis through salves and ointments does not cure the disease. To be effective, treatment must be constitutional. A thorough cleansing of the system and adoption of natural laws in diet and general living alone can help eliminate conjunctivitis.
•For those who seriously have conjunctivitis, the best way to commence the treatment is to undertake a juice fast, consisting of either an orange juice or carrot juice, in a glass of warm water, if desired, every two hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, for about three or four days.
•A warm water enema should be taken daily during the period of fasting.
•The short juice fast may be followed by an exclusive fresh all-fruit diet, consisting juicy fruits in season such as apple, orange, pears, grapes and pineapple for about seven days.
•The patient should however, avoid an excessive intake of starchy and sugary foods in the form of white bread, refined cereals, potatoes, puddings, pies, pastry, sugar, jams and confectionery, which cause the general catarrhal condition as well as conjunctivitis. He should also avoid the intake of excessive quantities of meat and other protein and fatty foods, strong tea and coffee, too much salt, condiments and sauces.
•Thereafter, the patient may adopt a general diet scheme on the following lines:
Breakfast: Any fresh fruits in season, except bananas.
Lunch: Large mixed raw vegetable salad with whole meal bread or chappatis and butter.
Dinner: Two or three steamed vegetables, other than potatoes, with nuts and fresh fruit.
•Raw juices of certain vegetables, especially carrots, and spinach, have been found valuable in the treatment of conjunctivitis. The combined juices of these two vegetables have proved very effective. 200 ml. of spinach juice should be mixed with 300 ml. of carrot juice in this combination.
•Vitamin A and B have also been found valuable in the treatment of conjunctivitis. The patient should take liberal quantities of natural foods rich in these two vitamins. Valuable sources of vitamin A are: whole milk, curds, butter, carrots, pumpkin, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, mangoes and papaya. Foods rich in vitamin B2 are green leafy vegetables, milk, almonds, citrus fruits, bananas and tomatoes.
Home Remedies for the Treatment of Conjunctivitis:
For the home remedy, a cold foment renders almost immediate relief by chasing away an overactive local blood supply. The procedure is as follows:
•Fold a small hand towel and saturate it with cold water. Squeeze out excess water and place the towel gently over both eyes. Cover it with a piece of warm cloth to retain the temperature.
•Repeat the process as soon as the foment gets warmed. Carry out the procedure for one hour. After terminating the wet pack treatment cover the eyes with a dry towel and lie back and relax. The damaged eye tissues quickly return to the normal level.
The treatment should be repeated every night for a week.
Magnetic Therapy:
Two North Pole of magnets-of the CCM types should be applied directly over both eyes for 20 minutes twice daily. The eyes should also be washed with North Pole magnetized water. In case of excessive irritation and burning, Rose water magnetized on the North Pole should be used an eye-drops once during the day and again at bedtime.