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NATURAL HEAT THERAPY
Heat enlarges your blood vessels, increases blood flow and therefore maximises
your own body's ability to heal and improve in its own natural way. It can also stimulate
glands and unclog blocked tear ducts. The increased blood flow supplies oxygen and nutrients
essential for healing, reduces pain in joints and relax sore muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
The warmth also decreases muscle spasms and can increase range of motion. Applying superficial
heat to your body can improve the flexibility of tendons and ligaments, reduce muscle spasms,
and alleviate pain.
Heat is used for: blepharitis, chronic dry eye disease, keratisis, episcleritis, stye, corneal ulcer,
acute dacryocystitis, acute glaucoma, iridocylitis, scleritis, episcleritis and other inflammations.
NATURAL COLD THERAPY
Cold slows down blood flow. The blood vessels constrict, thereby reducing pain and swelling.
Cold therapy slows circulation, reduces inflammation, muscle spasm, and pain. It should be used
if the area is swollen or bruised. Cold therapy is good for sprains, strains, bumps, bruises and
swelling. If the symptoms are reduced the patient recovers more speedily.
Cold is used for: irritated and over used eyes, hayfever and general allergies, swollen eyes
due to crying and general unwellness like colds and flus.
Eye Conditions:
BLEPHARITIS
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids. It occurs in two forms, anterior and posterior. Anterior blepharitis affects the outside front of the eyelid, where the eyelashes are attached. The two most common causes of anterior blepharitis are bacteria (Staphylococcus) and scalp dandruff. Posterior blepharitis affects the inner eyelid (the moist part that makes contact with the eye) and is caused by problems with the oil (meibomian) glands in this part of the eyelid.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye)
Inflammation of the membrane covering the surface of the eyeball. It can be a result of
infection or irritation of the eye, or it can be related to systemic diseases, such as Reiter
syndrome. Also known as pinkeye. The infectious forms of conjunctivits are highly contagious
and are spread by direct contact with infected people. Avoid touching the eye area and wash your
hands frequently, particularly after applying a hot/cold product to the eye area. Wrap the product
in a small towel or tissue. Microwave your product prior to using it on anybody else. The microwave
radiation kills germs, bacteria, spores and fungus.
CHRONIC DRY EYE DISEASE
The glands that make tears can become inflamed. This inflammation affects the nerves in your eyes,
leading to decreased tear production. Without enough tears, the film protecting the eye can break down,
creating dry spots on the surface of the eye. Chronic Dry Eye is a disease that can be caused by advanced
age, contact lens wear, certain medications, other eye diseases, other medical conditions, or environmental
factors. Chronic Dry Eye Disease is quite common, particularly amongst women post menopause.
KERATITIS
Keratisis is the medical term for inflammation of the cornea. It has many causes, including
infection, dry eyes, physical and chemical injury and underlying medical diseases. If keratitis
only involves the surface (epithelial) layer of the cornea, it is called superficial keratitis.
If it affects the deeper layers of the cornea (the corneal stroma) it is called stromal keratitis
or interstitial keratitis. It may involve the center of the cornea or the peripheral part of the cornea
(that portion closest to the sclera) or both. Infection is the most frequent cause of keratitis. Bacteria,
viruses, fungi, and parasitic organisms may all infect the cornea, causing infectious or microbial keratitis.
EPISCLERITIS
Inflammation of the episclera, a thin membrane that covers the white of the eye (sclera). Episcleritis
is typically benign, easily treated and usually quickly resolved. Episcleritis can sometimes accompany other
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
STYE (Hordeolum)
A stye is a tender, painful red bump located at the base of an eyelash, under or inside the eyelid.
A stye results from an infection of the oil glands of the eyelid (meibomian glands) that help to lubricate
the eyeball. The infection occurs after these glands have become clogged. A stye also may arise from an infected
hair follicle at the base of an eyelash.
While a stye may look nasty, it's usually harmless and goes away within a week. Heating will help unblock
the pores in your eyelash area. Don't wear eye makeup or your contact lenses while you have a stye. And don't
pop or squeeze the stye. Doing so can spread infection to surrounding areas of your eye.
The term external hordeolum refers to a sty that develops at the base of an eyelash (the hair follicle),
whereas the term internal hordeolum refers to a sty that develops in a meibomian gland, a gland located on the
underside of the eyelid that secretes an oily substance onto the eyeball.
GENERAL UNWELLNESS
The common colds, flus and a generally worn down immune system can make your eyes tired and weary. Try
applying a cold product to re-fresh your eyes.
EYE ALLERGIES (Asthma, Hayfever, Pollen Allergies etc)
Eye allergies are usually associated with other allergic conditions, particularly hay fever (allergic rhinitis,
an allergic reaction to outdoor pollens and moulds) and atopic eczema (dermatitis). The causes of eye allergies are
similar to those of allergic asthma and hay fever. Medications and cosmetics can play a significant role in causing
eye allergies. Reactions to eye irritants and other eye conditions (for example, infections such as pinkeye) are often
confused with eye allergy. Any kind of irritant, whether environmental, infectious, or manmade, can cause symptoms
consistent with eye allergies. Many people complaining of eye irritation are diagnosed with seasonal eye allergies.
Eye allergies sometimes cause significant discomfort, often interrupting daily activities with annoying symptoms.
The swelling around the eye due to an allergic reaction can be alleviated by cold.
IRRITATED, ITCHY, SWOLLEN OR OVERUSED EYES
Staring at a computer screen for hours on end can make your eyes feel strained, irritated or itchy. Excessive
crying puts strain on the eye as the tear gland causes the eyes to swell. Also the salty nature of tears dehydrates
the area surrounding the eyes, causing them to swell. Any symptoms of swelling are well addressed with a cold product.
Please consult your health care professional to achieve the best, tailored advice suitable to you prior to commencement of any treatments.
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR RANGE OF EASY TO USE NATURAL HEAT AND COLD PRODUCTS
CLICK HERE FOR TIPS AND GENERAL EYE HEALTH INFORMATION (pdf)
Reference: F. H Rodin, M.D., medicinenet.com, geteyesmart.org
