Top Natural Remedies for Dry Eyes - Internal and External Applications

Oil Pulling

Posted by Liberty (Greeley, CO) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★

If I eat too much sugar (candy, sweets, etc) I can expect to have dry eyes when I wake up the next morning. I have been using oil pulling for around 3 years now off and on. I have been able to use the oil pulling to eliminate the dry eyes and it does so quickly. It seems that it also helps clear the sugar from my system faster. I have used olive oil and sunflower oil. Olive oil does work but sunflower does seem to be better. Oil pulling has helped with several other things also. I use 2 teaspoons (1 Tablespoon was too much for me). I follow the recommended procedure and rinse w/ peroxide/water mixed 50/50.

Flax Seed Oil

Posted by Tina (Seattle, Washington ) on 02/15/2022
★★★★★

Flaxseed oil is amazing for dry mouth & dry eyes - I noticed a difference within just a few days - I highly recommend this remedy if you are suffering from these issues like I was.

L-Carnosine

Posted by HisJewel (New York) on 11/01/2022

Regarding Salty Mouth:

One of the problems with a salty taste in the mouth, or I can even say it's a salt leak that comes down between my two front teeth, is that this overworks my tongue as I try to stop the leak.

Mama to Many, thank you for the Spry mints suggestion, they hide the salt taste that's in my mouth so that my tongue can rest. Not only are they good for the teeth, but they are also only one calorie. Love them!

One of the things I do to slow down the drain of salt is shape a covering for a tooth or two with tooth beads. I do have a missing tooth that I made a tooth for. This works great when I go out, and when I sleep at night. I don't hurt my tongue now, because I don't keep licking my teeth when the fake teeth are in. An Amazon customer said once they swallowed their fake tooth so make sure it fits right.

I just make it so it curves my gum a little in the front. Then all that delicious salty taste slides by my gums. If I need the fake teeth higher behind my teeth, I make some like that too. Each order has plenty of tooth beads. I added the Amazon bar so you can see what tooth beads are.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Temporary+Tooth+Repair+Kit-Thermal+Beads&i=hpc&crid=3BW5MA50L81FX&sprefix=temporary+tooth+repair+kit-thermal+beads+,hpc,150&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

HisJewel

Supplements

Posted by Rexreid1111 (Sarasota, Fl, Usa) on 10/17/2016
★★★★★

I work in moms nutrition store every now and then. I just heard a good testimony so I'm posting it. There is a supplement "Eye formula" that you take internally that helps relieve dry eyes rather quickly. Ingredients in the "Eye formula" are: omega 3 (70% better absorbed then regular fish oil), lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanathin, blueberry extract, grape seed extract).

Flax Seed Oil

Posted by Cindy (Northern California) on 09/20/2016
★★★★★

1 capsule a day of Flax Seed Oil keeps dry eyes away for me.

Hydrosol Silver

Posted by Hwkmn05 (Nh) on 01/04/2016 109 posts
★★★★★

Dry Eyes:

Hydrosol silver worked for me after suffering for one week.

Also, at night, I applied coconut oil on outside lids and inside eyes. This helped with the grit build up. You may have to get up a couple of times in the evening to re apply, but it does offer some relief for sleeping.

Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk

Posted by Lilypad (Australia) on 11/30/2015
★★★★★

Dry Eyes:

For those of you whose eyes are too sensitive to agree with anything (eg. castor oil), I highly recommend using coconut oil and coconut milk internally. I had very bad dry eyes for 3 nights, could not open my eyes when I woke up and stressing about the long term pain made it even worse. Also trying everything from OTC to natural remedies in my eyes all made them worse. I decided to eat coconut oil and drink coconut milk and eat a lot really healthy food, have faith in my body's natural healing and plenty of sleep for 2 days and my eyes have gone back to pretty much normal. Your body has a natural healing power with the right fuel and you need to have faith in it, too.

Good luck!

Humidifier, Change of Location

Posted by Rhonda (Lakewood, Ca) on 11/29/2015
★★★★★

The symptoms of my dry eyes are watery eyes. I live in LA, where the air has been dry, hot, and polluted. I notice that every time I leave town to go up to Northern California, my dry eyes goes away. I've made about four trips this month to visit my mother and sisters. I also notice that using my humidifier has also made it all but disappear.

Blood Serum Drops

Posted by Jt (Tucson, Az) on 07/25/2015
★★★★★

A natural treatment for dry eyes that your doctor can prescribe is blood serum drops. Your blood is drawn, sent to a compounding pharmacy and is specific to you. The recommended dose is 4 times a day, but you can use as often as you like. The prescription is a 6 month supply, which is in a individual syringes and must be kept in the freezer. A syringe can be kept for a week in the refrigerator, using 4 times a day last about 5 days.

I have been using the treatment for 6 weeks. At my check up I had moderate improvement, at only a quarter of the way through the prescription. Our blood serum carries stem cells, so effectively we are healing ourselves.

The blood draw was $40 and the prescription was $265, even though it is spendy, at $50 a month it is certainly worth a try.

Judith

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Jamie (Australia) on 10/05/2014

I have been cured of dry eyes now for several years. As a disease, it can really mess with your life. Physically, emotionally, even socially, it can be very distressing.

As others have mentioned here, natural cures for dry eyes can include fish oils, drinking more water, reducing caffeinated beverages and more.

My solution for dry eyes included some of the above plus the following which are key:

- balanced hormones. There are plenty of studies that point to imbalances between key hormones leading to meibomian and lacrimal gland dysfunctions. Menopausal women are especially susceptible to this.

- a balanced, whole foods diet. Cut the processed foods, add a detox. It works very well if you can stick to it.

- Vitamin C + magnesium. Again, studies and Opthalmology reports indicate Vitamin C is very beneficial and magnesium is not only of benefit to eye health but also a lot of Naturopaths secret weapon.

Multiple Remedies

Posted by Prioris (Fl, US) on 10/07/2014

How old are you and what kind of joint pain is it ?

Unless injured, joint pain means you have an infection.

As an aside, I have had ME/CFS since very young. I have an upregulated immune system. I rarely got colds but had many internal infections.

That vitamin C should be OK but you may have to test many things to see what works.

There are many things to try for joint pain

Look into

1200 GDU ENTERIC Bromelain capsules.

Biocell

Lactoferrin

Posted by Steven (New Jersey, Usa) on 01/13/2014
★★★★★

350mg of Lactoferrin helped my chronic dry eye from day one. For years I have been waking up with eye pain almost every day. I started taking lactoferrin for iron absorption and I noticed I didn't have dry eye pain for days. Looked it up and found a few mentions that lactoferrin helps. It has continued for weeks now, with only one or two days where I had pain. This is remarkable because I had the pain for probably two years daily.

Lactoferrin

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 01/14/2014

Greetings Steve from N.J.,

I have another help for dry eyes; at least it sure helps me. Dry eyes have been such a plague to me over the years.

The very best thing that I've found is to take a half teaspoon of baking soda in a half glass of purified water and dissolve of course. With clean finger tips or paper towel just dab onto closed eyelids. Wipe clean and re-apply. The alkaline topical soothes the burning eyes. Almost instant relief. My dry eyes come, I believe, from an acidic condition overall and I can correlate the "burning eyes" to too much coffee or other acid foods, eg hot pepper salsa.

Castor Oil

Posted by Jill (Chicago, IL) on 12/22/2014

I just started using castor oil last nite after researching and stumbling upon Earth Clinic. Did you feel immediate relief or did it take a few applications?

Castor Oil

Posted by Trudyg (USA) on 07/13/2013
★★★★★

I've been using castor oil--1 drop per eye at bedtime--for dry eyes. My contacts the next day are comfortable well into the evening, where before I was wanting them out by lunchtime. I just wash my eyelids w/ baby shampoo and blink several times to get some in my eyes and no problem w/ oil on contacts. Baby shampoo has something in it that numbs the eye so it doesn't feel the sting. Hate that for the kids (drug them) but I can do a drop or 2 per day and don't feel that's too much chemical. Had styes for years until I started washing w/ baby shampoo.

Castor Oil

Posted by Ignatz (San Francisco, Ca) on 01/13/2014

Hi Miracles - I was just curious whereabouts in Santa Monica you bought the oil with a dropper? I'm around the area a lot but have never seen castor oil sold that way and it sounds terrific. I'm longing to try this as nothing has worked for my chronically red eyes yet, but I maintain hope! Thanks so much for any info.

Castor Oil

Posted by Miracles (Santa Monica) on 05/20/2014

Hi Ignatz, you can purchase Castor Oil from Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy or Pharmaca in Brentwood/Pacific Palisades or the Santa Monica Coop. Also, I've added another protocol to the system - a humidifier at night. Good luck!

Castor Oil

Posted by Prioris (Fl, US) on 10/07/2014

The unknown is scary isn't it... lol

Your eyeball will just feel greasy otherwise you won't feel a thing. it's safe. 10 seconds after you do it, that fear will disappear. So go ahead.

Castor Oil

Posted by Om (Hope Bc Canada) on 10/07/2014

Rebecca --- yes it is perfectly fine. I use it myself mixed with VCO. It removes eye diseases. One post here recently was by a lady who was cataract free after three years using it about five days a week.

Namaste, Om

Sauerkraut

Posted by Brandon (Chicago, Illinois) on 03/21/2013
★★★★★

Sauerkraut REALLY works right away to help with dry eyes!! Make sure the kind you get is RAW, Live, Organic, Unheated, and Unpasteurized with no vinegar. Most health food stores carry this kind. It really works!

Castor Oil

Posted by Janice (Ontario, CA) on 08/15/2014
★★★★☆

I got rosewater, but not sure if my eyes would like, it is pretty strong, I've used Castor Oil a long time now, my retinas look weird, and still dry as hell, but eye doctor's just lie out of their bloody teeth, and apparently to them my eyes look fine. But after getting Mydfryin one day at a doc's office, my pupils were large for 2.5 weeks. Not one doctor at that office knew occasionally that happens, yet my doctor knew some guy tremors and heart problems from eye ointments though....(strange)! I can't even use Natural Tears, hate Refresh, gotta make my own saline solution, but using spring water, and not the Himalaysian Salt this time. I'll try the Black Cohosh. My eyes didn't take to the honey with ACV though. It's freaky how many people have eye problems from eye ointments, and toxic products like Purex and wood stain paint, yet the "doctor's" (eye doctor's) are NOT allowed to talk about that, and quite honestly they know shit according to me!

Cod Liver Oil

Posted by Suzeaa (Nashua, Nh) on 07/04/2012
★★★★★

I have both Sjogrens and lupus, and my eyes were so dry I could barely open them. They were also so sensitive to light it was dangerous to drive. I work with a computer all day, and that certainly doesn't help. My eye doctor suggested Restasis, but I wanted to try a more holistic approach. OTC eye drops only worked for a short time, and made my vision blurry for 30 minutes after.

So I came here and read about using Castor Oil on the lids at night. Well, I didn't have any Castor Oil but I did have a high quality Cod Liver oil, so I opened a gel cap and spread the oil on my eyelids (and my dry elbows) before bed time to give it a try. The very next morning my eyes felt soooo much better! WOW! And it lasts all day. I didn't even need the eye drops. What a Godsend! I skipped a night the other day and my eyes felt much drier that day, so now I don't skip a night. Been doing it for two weeks now, and feel so much better, and my eyes aren't red anymore, either. Thank you!!!

Castor Oil

Posted by Wolf (Nj, Usa) on 01/05/2017

Kelly is correct that the castor seed contains the cytotoxin ricin. She is also correct that castor OIL does NOT contain ricin. But she is mistaken as to why.

Ricin is a water soluble protein and is partitioned out during oil extraction - whether hot or cold. That said, it is possible for small amounts of ricin to be present if the processing is not pharmacy grade, or therapeutic grade (such sub grade castor oils might be sold at a grocery store). So while it may seem obvious, if someone is looking to use ANY product in their eye (or body) significant thought and care must be taken to choose a quality product.

Note: Both the medical and natural health communities agree that (quality grade) castor oil is safe for use in the eye. And it has been literally used for millennia. Any of this information can be easily verified by doing very simple searches using your favorite search service (google anyone?). For instance, "Does castor oil contain ricin"?

Castor Oil

Posted by Wolf (Nj, Usa) on 01/05/2017

I just reread my previous post. I didn't mean to discount the fact that the ricin protein can be denatured by heat - all proteins can be denatured (sorry Kelly). And that method is in fact used to destroy residual ricin in some (cost/quality trade-off) processing methods. I was too focused on addressing that therapeutic grade castor oil (cold pressed, hexane free, etc) use better processing methods for extracting the oil so that there is no need to use heat to "clean up" the oil.

Castor Oil

Posted by Atul (Maharashtra, India) on 01/27/2015
★★★★★

Put some drops of honey in your eyes. You will fill irritation for few sec. and your eyes will become red but don't fear. It will sign of increase blood circulation in your eyes.After some time you will fill cool.This remedy is very useful for eyes.It has no side effect, no harmful.I always use the remedy for eye's health.

Aloe Vera, Avoid Coffee

Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 08/19/2014

Please read up on cold pressed castor oil. Namaste, Om

Aloe Vera, Avoid Coffee

Posted by Frances (Cabarlah, AU) on 02/09/2015

Dry eyes and post-Lasix surgery, both my sister and step daughter were advised to use capsules of hyaluronic acid for approx. 6 mo. to alleviate the dryness.

Fish or Flax Seed Oil

Posted by Jc (Boston, Ma) on 09/24/2011
★★★★★

For Dry Eyes, my ND suggested flax seed oil and it worked. I also later learned that anything that has omega 3 will do it. So fish or CLO should help as well.

Fish or Flax Seed Oil

Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 09/27/2011

Hello Jc: Do you mean application topically on the eyelid with an omega oil? Or oral consumpiton of an omega capsule? Years ago I read in the book "Vita-Nutrients" that Dr Adkins suggested the omegas be taken orally for dry eyes and so I tried two capsules of high quality Omega 3, 6 and 9 daily. It did not help. So I presume, since I was talking about topical application of aloe vera liquid, that you are suggesting the same, but with the Omega. I notice in this section that many people suggest the use of castor oil dropped onto the eyeball. I tried that too, and it was also beneficial.

As for the coffee elimination (or extreme limitation since I cannot completely do without fresh ground once or twice a week), the reduced consumption of coffee goes a long way in reducing the problem of "burning eyes. " Finally, try one teaspoon of baking soda three times daily to deal with systemic (total body) acidic condition. Thus, I have actually recommended four steps to get control of "dry eyes."

1. Eye-lid application of aloe vera liquid. (Buy a really potent brand. ) By the way, sometimes you will actually feel a kind of "grime layer" on the eye lids when you apply the aloe. If so, take a tissue and wipe off and reapply a light coating of aloe vera liquid. (You could use aloe vera gel too but I use the liquid and apply topically and then also drink four or five tablespoons of aloe in addition. Aloe is wonderful for you.)

2. A drop in each eye of castor oil at bedtime.

3. Avoid the acidic drinks and foods; coffee (de-caff too is acidic), too much tomato products, hot peppers etc.

4. Make sure your are alkalized. If your body condition is acidic, you will have all kinds of problems; dry eye, "irritable leg syndrome, " various skin irritations... So use baking soda three times daily/ one teaspoon with each dose until you can "feel" the difference. (You will find more discussion on acidic/alkalizing issues under the section in Ailments (Earth Clinic of course) "Cancer" wherein "Ted from Bangcok" writes quite convincingly.

Castor Oil

Posted by Debi (Los Angeles, Ca) on 05/20/2011
★★★★★

Regarding using Castor Oil for dry eyes. Suggest The Palma Christi Castor Oil by Heritage Products. It's hexane-free, certified and Pure, Cold Pressed. Must buy at health food store like Whole Foods, not GNC or a drug store. I put a couple drops in each eye before bed, and it definitely helps with dryness. I also put it on my face and hands, as it's a wonderful emollient.

Castor Oil

Posted by Alvina (Damascus, Oregon) on 03/25/2011
★★★★★

I have put castor oil on my eye lids many times to help me sleep and it works great. Any oil that leeked to my eyes cleared up by blinking or putting eyedrops to act as an eyewash. My eyes get polluted from air pollution and eye drops helps, also Dr. Shultz' Eyebright formula.

Coconut Oil

Posted by Susan (California) on 06/04/2015

Don't use olive oil. Use castor oil.

Vitamin B12

Posted by Cat (Lax, Ca) on 10/10/2010

I want to thank everyone for their comments, I finally cured my dry eye problem. I started drinking green tea 3-4 times a day as Ted noted. I alkalized twice a day (morning and night)Since putting castor oil directly into my eyes was drying them out and making my eyes worse, I decided to start using castor oil on my eyelids while taking a warm steamy shower in the evening, which I believed help the oil penetrate into my eyes and did not cause any adverse effects. I also started taking D3 soft gel 6000 I. U. a day, high potency LIQUID magnesium soft gel 500mg , 10 mg of DHEA ( women take 10 mg and men take 25 mg ) and I started taking 1 tablespoon of black strap molasses daily for my anemia. After years of suffering with dry eyes I finally found the cure. Now the whites of my eyes are clear and bright white. I believe my eyes are still slowly healing from years of scar tissue build up due to to dry eyes. I read that castor oil dissolves scar tissue so I believe the damage is reversible. Although I once heard a doctor say it is not but, I believe I'm seeing the full healing take place right before my eyes. I sincerely hope this helps someone else to end the dry eye problem.

Also warned me of ACANTOAM went over not to put water in your eyes due to I think she said Cantoamboea 'm finally after five years of severe dry eyes. I started drinking green tea three times a day, and started taking D3 and magneusuim. And when I showered in the evening I put castor oil on my eyelids and let the steam in the shower to soak it into the eyelids.

Vitamin B12

Posted by Cat (Lax, Ca) on 10/28/2010

Zack, I still put castor oil on my lids because it makes my eyelashes longer and softens my skin, but I cannot tolerate castor oil directly in my eyes. Another thing I've noticed is that all green teas are not created equal some brands work better. I happened to stumble across the combination of the things that worked for me. I also forgot to mention that I take L-CARNOSINE and I snack on honey sesame almonds as a snack from T. Joes's and I think that has also helped. I used to buy my vitamins at the vitamin store, but I found it substantially cheaper to buy
On-line and have it shipped to me. I use the very safe website of A_ and they have Super Saver Shipping which is free shipping if you spend over $25.

Castor Oil

Posted by Ann (P.s. Ca) on 07/23/2017

John Doe, I know this is an old post however it may help someone reading more recent. First, no need to yell, second, Castor Oil, regardless where you buy or organic or not, etc., has always been used as a laxative, ask any one from days gone by, that and cod liver oil. I use Castor Oil for many things, (not as a laxative however, harsh) I have also not just taken the word of people, I do the real research. There is a lot of confusion about what it does, has in it, how its made, etc., and the way to know for sure is research (lots) yourself. I like Earth Clinic, it has lots of good remedies on the site, but always be safe and do the research first folks. yall have a good day