The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that in 2007, around 38 percent of adults in the U.S. used a form of alternative medicine such as herbal supplements. Herbs have a long history of use, but you should always discuss alternative therapies with your doctor before starting a regimen. If you have symptoms such as pain behind your eye, your doctor can help you determine the herbs appropriate for you based on your health and medical history.
Inflammation
If you have inflammation or swelling in the tissues behind your eyes, you may experience eye pain or discomfort behind your eyeball. Such symptoms may result from conditions such as thyroid disease. In these cases, the herb may not treat or resolve the condition causing the inflammation, but the herbs could help reduce tissue inflammation, easing some of your discomfort.
Ginger root has anti-inflammatory properties that could help relieve your symptoms. Other beneficial herbs may include bilberry, goji berry and turmeric. The omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed may also offer benefits. If your doctor determines your pain results from inflammation, she will help you identify the appropriate herbal supplement that will offer the best results for your particular diagnosis.
Infections
Eye infections may also cause pain. You may have pain on the surface of your eyes, but some infections may cause a deep ache that seems to come from inside of behind your eyeball. Herbs such as licorice root and elderberry have infection-fighting properties. However, your doctor will need to determine if you have a viral, bacterial or fungal infection to recommend the herbal remedy appropriate for your condition.
Warning
Eye pain may result from serious conditions such as angle-closure glaucoma or cellulitis of the tissues around the eye. Conditions such as these will not benefit from herbal therapies and require immediate medical care. If you feel an ache or pain behind your eye, contact your doctor for an evaluation. He will examine the surface of your eyes, and he will also dilate your pupils to examine the back of your eye. Knowing the cause of your pain will not only help with treating your symptoms, but prompt treatment could prevent permanent vision changes.
Considerations
You should not use any supplement to treat eye pain or other symptoms without first consulting with your doctor. Herbs could interact with medications or a health condition, resulting in serious complications. Your doctor can evaluate your condition and the therapies you currently use to help you determine an appropriate treatment approach for your eye pain.
References
- University of Illinois at Chicago; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Thyroid Eye Disease
- All About Vision; Eye Infections, Including Bacterial, Fungal & Viral; Marilyn Haddrill and Brian Chou, OD; October 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Ginger; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; November 2008
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Licorice Root; July 2010
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; 2007 Statistics on CAM Use in the United States; April 2011
Member Comments