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Herbs have been used for centuries to nourish and protect the eyes. Take the example of ), which is thousands of years old. Contrary to the Western model of medicine, the TCM model of healing sees the body as a connected whole. Things don’t just “happen”. There is always a root issue.  

For instance, the eyes are related to the health of your liver and gallbladder. When our liver is inflamed, we could start to experience what is called “liver fire rising.” This could include headaches, irritability, anger, and eye issues, which might look like red, inflamed, dry eyes.

The circulatory system is another system of the body that directly relates to eye health. Proper blood flow is critical for eye health, as we have capillaries and blood vessels—along with muscles and nerves—that all work together. When our blood is stagnant or not flowing properly, we can start to see the effects in our eyes.  

Now, you don’t have to be an expert in TCM to take good care of your eyes. Simply adding herbs that support the eyes into your daily routine can help you maintain healthy eyes for the rest of your life. Let’s take a look at some of these herbs:

Natural Herbs for Healthy Eyes

1. Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Stabilize capillaries, night blindness, glaucoma and cataracts

Yes, blueberries! They are my top favorite herb for nourishing the eyes and keeping them healthy. And yes, TCM does consider blueberries a medicinal herb. See how to plant and grow blueberries in the fall.

Simply consuming ½ cup of blueberries a day can be very beneficial to your overall health, specifically for the eyes. Blueberries stabilize the small capillaries in the eyes. Consuming them regularly can help prevent and possibly even treat night blindness, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and a detached retina. Regular consumption can also help to prevent retinitis pigmentosa and cataracts. 

The blueberry is closely related to the bilberry. Both contain anthocyanins, which have been found to improve visual function in people with normal-tension glaucoma.

2. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

Strengthen the eyes, inhibit degenerative disease 

The cranberries that grace our tables at Thanksgiving provide nourishment to the eyes. We know cranberries as being our go-to remedy for urinary tract infections, but this berry is incredibly high in proanthocyanidins as well as anthocyanins (like blueberries and bilberries), helping with inflammation and oxidative stress for the eyes. 

Cranberries also help to strengthen the eyes and small capillaries, (again, like the blueberry) and inhibit the development of degenerative eye disease. Learn more about how to grow cranberries. I prefer to consume a bit of the organic, unsweetened juice to eating the berries since cranberries are hard to find outside of the fall season where I live in the Midwest.

3. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Strengthens the eyes, night blindness, age-related macular degeneration

Another excellent berry (are we seeing a pattern yet?) is known for supporting our immune system during cold and flu season, which actually provides nourishment for our eyes. 

Elderberries are rich in anthocyanidins, which strengthen veins, capillaries, arteries and the eyes, and are specifically indicated for night blindness and age-related macular degeneration. We harvest gallons of these beauties in late summer at , making syrups and elixirs for our apothecary. My favorite way to consume elderberry is through syrup, but you can certainly make tea or even elderberry vinegar! See how to make elderberry syrup.

4. Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale)

Nourishes the eyes

Yes, our yellow friend that graces our yards in the spring is an incredible wild medicine for many purposes, but the dandelion flowers specifically nourish the eyes. 

Remember when we talked about TCM and the liver connecting the eyes? In TCM, the dandelion flower is used because of its high lutein content to nourish the “Chinese liver” and, thus, the eyes. I like to harvest the flowers in the springtime and make herbal vinegar. You can also dry the flowers to use all year for tea. See dandelion recipes.

5. Goji berry (Lycium chinense)

Treat red, tired, dry eyes, night vision, detached retina, macular degeneration

One of my favorite herbs for the eyes, goji nourishes the Chinese liver and helps improve eyesight. Eating goji regularly helps to stabilize the integrity of the small capillaries and can be used for , red eyes, poor night vision, a detached retina, wet or dry macular degeneration, spots in the eyes (floaters), excessive tearing, and even cloudy vision. I like to nibble a few goji berries each day as a snack, and you can also add them to your teas. Learn how to grow goji berries!

6. Ginko (Ginkgo biloba)

Macular degeneration, visual acuity, and free radical damage

Christopher Hobbs says in his book Gingko: Elixir of Youth that gingko can help with senile macular degeneration; and one research study noted in the book showed improvement in visual acuity and free radical damage. The standardized extract is going to be its more potent form, and daily or regular use is important.

7. Saffron (Crocus sativus)

Age-related eye damage, retinal/visual function

Saffron is highly anti-inflammatory and brimming with antioxidants, which have been shown to protect the eyes against age-related damage such as macular degeneration and overall . 

Saffrons are autumn-blooming purple flowers that offer up a heaping mound of fragrant, delicious seasoning. Plant this hardy, quick-growing corm in early spring or fall—and harvest your own saffron! Learn how to plant saffron bulbs. 

If you don’t have a garden, saffron can be pricey, so it’s not my first choice. (It’s the most expensive spice in the world!) You can purchase it dried at and add it to your daily loose-leaf tea. 

Some more herbs for eye care.

Learn about more healing herbs. Names like selfheal and eyebright certainly speak to their age-old medicinal powers!

8. Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

Red, painful eyes

Selfheal is a perennial wildflower native to North America that is grown as an ornamental. It is known for its medicinal properties and is also called “heal-all,”“woundwort,” and “heart-of-the-earth.”

This medicinal herb can help ease the “liver fire rising” symptoms we discussed earlier, such as red, dry, painful eyes. This is one of my personal favorites, used as a tincture or a tea. Self-heal blooms in the summer and can be added to your daily tea. Both tincture and tea are used daily for a stretch of time until you see relief.

9. Eyebright (Euphrasia spp)

Red, itchy eyes caused by allergies or hay fever

Eyebright’s primary use is specifically for sinus and allergy issues. Many times, when we have allergies or sinus inflammation, our eyes are affected as well. Eyebright can help relieve red, itchy eyes caused by hay fever and can be used as an eyewash for conjunctivitis. You can use this herb as a tincture or a tea.

10. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Lost vision, inflammation of the eyelids

A Modern Herbal upholds that fennel has been used for centuries by herbalists to treat the eyes and lost vision. According to herbalist David Winston, a compress soaked with fennel tea can be used to treat blepharitis or inflammation of the eyelids. I love adding fennel to tea as well (if you enjoy the flavor) or even just chewing on the dried seeds. Learn how to grow fennel.

11. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Prevention of eye damage due to diabetes

Known for its anti-inflammatory power and its antioxidant curcumin, turmeric—when consumed regularly—has benefits for the eyes, including preventing eye damage due to diabetes. Add it to your meals or your teas. I actually love adding turmeric root to my morning juice. See my article on turmeric’s benefits and a drink recipe. 

Supporting Types of Eye Problems

Here’s a handy chart to help guide which herbs work best for eye care. Trust nature!

 

In summary, supporting the circulatory system and the liver can improve your eye health. Introducing simple foods such as blueberries, cranberries, and fennel into your life can truly support your ability to enjoy healthy eyes for years to come. 

Note: I am not a medical doctor; I am an herbalist. Before taking any new herb, it is a good idea to check with your healthcare provider. It is possible to be allergic to any herb, and you should check for herb/drug interactions if you are on medications. Listen to your body and only take something if it feels right for you. You are the #1 expert of your own body.