Slacks Herbal, 1892

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The Eyes are connected to the Liver in TCM, so many diseases of the Eyes are related to either Liver Heat / Bile Humor (acute), or deficiency of the Liver Yin (chronic).

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Conjunctivitis

Topical:
1. A strong infusion of any of the following herbs can be used as a wash:
Barberry, Camomile, Coriander seed, Eyebright, Fumitory, Licorice, Neem, Turmeric
2. Borax, half teaspoon in half a cup of water used as a wash

Internally:
1. Turmeric, Neem, Madder (equal parts)

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Weakness and Dimness of the Sight

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To Benefit the Sight and Strengthen the Eyes:

1. Fennel seed and Water and Conserve of Eyebright is especially good before and after food.
2. Also a tea of Rue taken with food.
3. Regular purging with Pil. Cochia or Stomach Pills is good (if there is excess Humors)
4. Applying Women breast milk to the eyes is very beneficial
5. Washing the face with fresh, cold water
6. Dropping Almond oil into the ears and nose is also good.
7. Leek juice mixed with Child’s Urine, applied. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)
8. Goat Bile mixed with Honey and applied. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)
9. ‘To Renew the Sight of Old Men‘: Take Honey and the Bile of Cocks, Eels, Hares and Cormorants. Mix and seal in a glass vessel. Leave in the sun 30 days, then distil. Drop into the eyes ‘you shall see a marvellous effect’. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
10. Compound Wines:
i.  Elecampane                              4 oz.
    Eyebright                                   4 handfuls
    Fennel seed, Lovage seed     2 oz. ea.
Bruise, put into a bag and hang in Hydromel (or Wine); drink morning and evening.
ii.  Eyebright                                   2 handfuls
    Fennel seed                              ½ oz.
    Cinnamon                                  3 drams
Bruise, put into a bag and hang in Rhenish wine.
11. Take Sal Ammoniac, burnt and powdered, and mixed with Child’s Urine. Apply to the eyes and eyelids. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
12. Benzoin                                     1 oz.
    Honey                                         ½ oz.
    Fennel Water, Rue Water        2 oz. each
    Marjoram water                         1 oz.
Distil. ‘This Water hath made some see that have been quite blind, washing twice or thrice a day with it: (Hartman, 1682)
13. To Restore the Sight:
    Betony
    Rue
    Celandine
    Saxifrage
    Lovage
    Pennyroyal
    Aniseed
    Cinnamon
    Eyebright                                 1 handful ea.
    Grains of Paradise
    Ginger
    Fennel seed
    Parsley seed
    Hyssop
    Oregano
Osier (Mountain Willow)       1 dram ea.
    Galangal
    Sugar                                       1 oz. ea.
Powder and eat every day with food. This was said to have restored sight in one who used spectacles for 12 years yet couldn’t read. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

Research:

1. Useful Medicinal Plants for Vision Impairment in Traditional Iranian Medicine
2. Indian traditional medicinal plants in ophthalmic diseases

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Night-blindness

Simples:
Lycium Gou Qi Zi
Blueberries

1. Betony, Eyebright, Marjoram, Balm, Rue, Elecampane, Orris root, Valerian, Fennel seed; steep in alcohol and distill.
2. Tabasheer is mixed with Violet oil, and a bit the size of a lentil is administered nasally. Within three nights a cure is achieved. (The Medical Formulary of Al-Kindi)

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Red & Inflamed Eyes

Open the Head vein on the opposite side; Cup the shoulders.

1. Mothers milk mixed with a beaten Egg white.
2. Decoct Linseed, or Fenugreek, or Camomile; use as an eyewash
3. Nightshade juice, mixed with beaten Egg white and Oil of Roses; apply
4. Wormwood juice mixed with beaten Egg white; drop into the Eye
5. Beaten egg white with Oil of Roses; dip cotton in; apply to eyes, temples, forehead
6. Beat Frankincense, Rock Salt 1 dram ea.; mix with womans milk and apply.
7. Confected Chebulic Myrobalan eaten stops redness of the Eyes, and protects sight.
8. Nutmegs confected in honey does the same
9. Broad leaf Plantain water        1 pint
beaten Verdigris                      1 oz.
    Red Earth, Dragons Blood       ½ oz. ea.
    Camphor                                     2 drams
Distil; this is not only good for Red and Sore Eyes, and swelling of the eyelids, but also for
Bad Breath (as a gargle), and especially all Ulcers of the Genitals.
10. Aloe 3 parts, Camphor 1 part; steep in Rose water and drop it in.
11. Waters of Vervain,
      of Eyebright,
      of Marjoram                             ½ oz. ea.
    Fennel water                             1 oz.
    Camphor                                    ½ dram
Mix; use as Eye drops.
12. Barley
    Quince seed
    Camomile                                    ½ oz. ea.
    Fennel seed                                2 drams
Decoct until one-quarter is wasted, then use as an eye wash. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
13. Tutty, heated and quenched
      15 times in Rose water;
      then powder                            ½ oz.
    Calamine                                    2 drams
    Cloves                                         3 in number
Infuse in Malmsey; shaking often; use the clear water as eye drops.
14. Tutty prepared, Mastic,
    Sarcocolla, Gum Arabic         equal parts
Powder, dissolve in Rose water and use as eye drops. 
15. Hyssop, Marjoram, Fenugreek,
Camomile, Meliot, Rose         equal parts
Boil and let the vapors go in the eyes.
16. Rose water
    Eyebright water                         2 oz. each
    White Troches of Rhasis          1 dram
    Tutty                                            20 grains
Mix. Let them settle. Wash the eyes with it 3 times daily.

Research:

1. Anti-inflammatory and Antihistaminic Study of a Unani Eye Drop Formulation

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Eye Pain

1. Beat an egg white and mix with oil of Roses; apply
2. Take celandine juice and honey, equal parts; heat together; apply
3. Plantain, Eyebright, Fennel; Boil and expose the eyes to the vapor.
4. Prepared Tutty, Camphor beaten, 1 scruple ea.
With 1 oz. of Rose water and ½ oz. of White Wine; mix; put a drop into the Eye.
5. The White Powder of Rhasis is very strong to ease pain.

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Tearing or Watery Eyes

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Cataract

Research:

1. Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Used in Cataract Management
2. Effect of Kohl-Chikni Dawa – a compound ophthalmic formulation of Unani medicine on naphthalene-induced cataracts in rats

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Eye Trauma, Bruising

1. Wash the eyes with distilled water of Fenugreek. 2. Make an infusion of powdered Frankincense in warm water, strain and mix with Fennel Water and drop into the eyes. The same may be done with Myrrh, Aloes or Saffron. 3. Saffron                                         ½ dram     Oil of Roses                                1 oz.     Egg Yolk                                      1 Powfder the Saffron, mix wit the oil and yolk, and apply to the Eye. 4. Tutty (Zinc oxide)     Saffron     Myrrh                                           1 dram     Rue juice     Marjoram juice                           sufficient Mix and make a Collyrium to appl to the eyes. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) 5. Tutty (Zinc oxide)                        ½ oz.     Mastic     Frankincense     Aloe                                              1 dram     Camphor                                      1 scruple     Juice of Sour Grapes                 1 pound Powder all that can be powdered, infuse in the Juice and apply to the eyes. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) 6.  Red Earth                                    ½ dram     Dragon’s Blood     Tragacanth     Gum Arabic                                 2 drams     Rose Water                                 ½ pound Powder the herbs, put in a glass with the Rose water and boil in Balneo Marie (water bath) for 1 hour. Let it stand to settle and pour of the clear liquor. Use as an eye wash. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615) 7. The warm blood of a Cock, Dove or Partridge can be dropped into the eye. 8. Sponges dipped in warm wine and applied to the eyes. Confection for all Diseases of the Eyes

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Other

Fistula in the Corner of the Eye
    Mumiya (Shilajit)
    Red Earth
    Juice of Sloes
    Frankincense
    Mastic                                           1 part each
    Cypress nuts
    Galls
    Tragacanth                                  2 parts each
Make a plaster with a little vinegar and Rose water and apply.

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Special Formula

A WATER FOR ALL DISEASES OF THE EYES
Greek Wine 2 bottles
White Rose water haif a Pint
Celendine
Fennel
Rue
Eyebright 2 oz.
Tutty (Zinc oxide) prepared * ½ oz.
Cloves ½ oz.
Sugar Candy of Roles 1 dram
Camphor ½ dram
Aloes ½ dram
* Tutty is prepared by quenching 6 times in rose water.
Powder the all, mix with the wine and water, and put in a large bottle which seal with wax. Leave for 40 days in the sun, shaking several times daily.
For Inflammation, sore or red eyes, blindness and fistulas: drop the water into the eyes 2-3 times daily. (Porta, 1669)

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See also

Topical Preparations for the Eye