Dry Eye, Holistic Therapies to Prevent and Treat It

Dry Eye Is Painful and Can Lead to Blindness
Because dry eye is a painful disease that can lead to blindness, all dogs and cats with a genetic tendency to develop this disease should begin holistic therapies that maintain eye health when the pets are young. Often, the onset of actual disease can be delayed or prevented altogether, but if clinical dry eye develops, conventional therapies can be used along with the holistic therapies.

Holistic therapies for dry eye
1. Supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids from fish or ground flax seeds that help the immune system react in a healthy manner rather than over react and attack the body’s own tear glands.
2. Supplement with herbs and foods that nourish the liver, such as milk thistle, artichoke, chicken liver, and beef liver. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, strengthening the liver benefits the eye.
3. Avoid toxins and chemicals that overwork the liver, such as preservatives BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin. Avoid dyes and coloring and artificial ingredients in pet foods.
4. Feed fresh, deeply colored fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants and phytonutrients, such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, blueberries, and bell peppers. Go carefully when adding these foods for the first time to ensure your pet does well with them
5. Please don’t supplement with vitamin pills. Human research shows those taking antioxidant pills, including Vitamins A, E, and beta carotene, die at a younger age than those not taking antioxidant vitamins. Instead, use fresh foods and oils to provide antioxidant vitamins.
6. Use the herbal medication Si Wu Xiao Fang Yin twice a day. It can be given with food.