The Liver - Vision Connection to Spring

In East Asian Medicine, it is said that the liver opens up into the eyes. Our livers store and manage the movement of blood throughout our bodies. Liver blood is what nourishes our eyes and supports our ability to clearly see our plans and visions. When we have challenges with our eyes, we can usually trace them back to the health of our livers. Springtime is connected to the Wood Element and the Liver and Gallbladder organs. During this season, it’s a great time to pay closer attention to the health of our eyes and our livers.

Spring is a time of new beginnings, rebirth, and the growth of yang energy. This makes it the perfect time to shed off the heaviness of Winter. In Western physiology, the Liver is responsible for filtering and protecting our body from toxins. So the Spring season is a wonderful time to tend to our liver’s health. In order to keep our eyes healthy, we must take care of our livers and support their optimal function and flow.

In our modern age, we are spending more and more time in front of screens because of our work, schooling, and social lives. Many of us expose our eyes to various devices from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. Due to these lifestyle patterns, I’m seeing more clients with vision concerns. Even more so with the pandemic, the development of new technologies, and so many interesting things to learn online, being in front of a screen is the new normal. This emphasizes the need to care for our eyes not only during the Spring season but all year round.

A person’s Shen (spirit) can be observed through their eyes, which is a mirror into their soul.

How to protect and care for your eyes 

Blue Light Filter

One really great thing we can do for our eyes is to use blue light filter glasses. On most devices, you can install a blue light filter as well. This will protect your eyes when you use devices, especially at night. Blue light filter glasses might also help you sleep better. You can also try to rest your eyes in between work hours. Rest your eyes at regular intervals by taking your eyes off of the screen and looking across the room, taking in all the colors of spring, refreshing your eyes, and giving them some movement. 

Foods & Herbs

Our eyes need nurturing too. Foods that nourish liver blood and our eyes are leafy greens like spinach, kale, and arugula because they’re full of lutein and antioxidants that have been shown to lower the risk of eye degeneration and cataracts. Other recommended foods are seaweeds, spirulina, artichokes, beets, carrots, avocados, dried mulberries, Chinese red dates, and black sesame seeds. Nutrients like vitamin C have been proved to protect the eyes against blue light.

Here are some herbs that are great for eye health: 

Goji Berries: These tasty little red berries that are known as a “superfood” here in the West are actually used in everyday cooking in East Asian cultures. Goji berries strongly nourish liver blood and kidney yin. They also benefit Jing and benefit our eyes. 

Chrysanthemum Flowers: These sweet and slightly bitter flowers help to clear heat in the liver which can result in red, itchy, gritty, swollen, and painful eyes. If you make a tea of the flowers, you can use the tea bag as a soothing compress for the eyes. Avoid using this herb if you have a known allergy to ragweed, dandelion, goldenrod, sunflower, or daisies.

Cassia Seeds: Made as a tea, cassia seeds are well known to improve vision and benefit eye conditions such as glaucoma, eye dryness, redness, and pain. It also helps with high blood pressure which can lead to eye challenges.

Lifestyle

Take a break from screens

Challenge: Try not to look at your phone first thing in the morning for a day. See if you can first check in with yourself, enjoy a slow breakfast and then engage with your device. When you’re getting ready for bed, you can set your phone to airplane mode and instead of scrolling endlessly on social media, you can start reflecting on your day, dimming the lights,  or reading a book. This will give your eyes much-needed rest and also help to reset your circadian rhythms and give you a much better night of sleep.

Sleep well

Our bodies, brains, and eyes need a good night of sleep to rest and restore. Your needs for sleep change with the seasons. In the springtime, it is okay to stay up a little later and fall asleep around 10-11 pm and wake up early with the sun. Sleep is essential for blood sugar regulation, mood, and hormonal health. Screen time before bed significantly challenges our ability to naturally fall asleep so try to limit your screen time as you near bedtime.

Wear sunglasses

Sunlight is very important for our body’s vitality, however certain light rays can have a damaging effect on the eyes. Exposure to solar rays can lead to a risk of cataracts or eye degeneration. The best color for sunglasses is amber, because it neutralizes blue light. 

Manage your stress

Stress has an effect on how our energy flows through our bodies. There’s a particular pattern in East Asian Medicine called Liver Qi Stagnation and this is due to tension built up from either internal or external stressors. Stress can cause eye muscle tightening and eventual light sensitivity. 

It’s not possible to avoid all stress, but we can help our bodies adapt to stress. Moving my body, walking on grass with my bare feet, working in my garden, and cooking are ways I love to channel and manage my stress. Do you have a favorite way to manage your stress?

Spring Liver Herbal Blend 

• Dandelion Root: Herbalists love dandelion root because it promotes healthy liver function and benefits overall digestion. 

• Chicory Root: This herb is slightly bitter and can help promote healthy digestion as well as bile creation and release.

• Cacao Nibs: Cacao is a natural vasodilator so it can help to reduce hypertension and reduce cholesterol.

• Orange peels (never throw away your orange peels!): Improves slow, stagnant, and damp digestion.

• Turmeric: Promotes bile secretion from the gallbladder and liver and is a great anti-inflammatory spice.

Combine equal parts of each herb. Infuse a teaspoon or two with boiled water and cover. Leave for 15 to 20 minutes and strain and enjoy!

~ Written by The Way of Yin Team