pink eye

[dijon]

Hi,
My 11 year old daughter seems to have pink eye. We have been following a MB diet for about 2 years, before we were vegan. Our kids aren't a strick as my husband and I, but do have mostly whole grains, lots of fresh veggies. They have more breads, fruits and snacks in their diets. Her right eye has been completely red for a little over a week following a slight cold. There is no discharge and doesn't hurt. I was wondering if you knew of any remedies for this condition.

Thanks

[Roy Collins]

There are, generally speaking, three forms of conjuntivitis (inflammation of the covering that covers the back of the eyelid):
1. irritation caused by allergic reaction or external irradiant from the environent, 2. bacterial, 3. viral.

Usually when irritated the conjuncyiva becomes bloodsot and a liquid DISCHARGE appears. If cause is bacterial, the discharge may be thick, white and creamy. If cause is viral the discharge is usually clear.

Treatment depends on the cause, and some forms are highly contagious. Your daughter's problem sounds like an allergic reaction as there is no pain, and no discharge. If there is a discharge you need to go to a doctor and he/she will test the
discharge in a lab to see what form it is. Non-viral and most bacterial forms can be simply treated by placing 20 drops of goldenseal tincture in a cup of warm green tea. Allow to
cool and then pour tea into an eye cup and place over open eye.
Bathe eye moving it back and forth and up and down for 5 minutes. Three times daily. If problem is more serious you can use an albi plaster and place over eye at night and sleep with it on. Do you know the recipe for an albi plaster? If not I will give it to you.

I hope this helps

In peace, Roy

[dijon]

Thanks for your reply. I found a recipe for black sesame seed tea from Michio Kushi's home remedy book which said can help eye problems. We tried some and it seemed clearer the next day. I also have her eating more simply and limiting the rice syrup and sweetners. I'll see how it looks today. I would like the recipe for albi plaster anyway.

Thanks again

[Roy Collins]

Good idea to limit excess yin intake when any form of inflammation occurs. I don't know about the black sesame seed tea.

A good form of natural antibiotic that can be taken in tea form is Old Man's Beard -- a species of Usnea lichen that grows locally on oak trees in most areas. You can simply infuse this in a pot of kukicha tea and let sit for 5 mins. Will not interfere with intestinal flora. Use about 1 tablespoon Usnea per cup of tea. Your daughter can drink this tea three times daily, along with use of eye wash and external plaster.

The albi plaster is made by peeling the hairy skin off of the albi or taro (or yucca potato -- sometimes called poi in Hawaii or Sato Imo in Japan). You then grate the taro potato and add @ 45% white flour (best if organic) and only 5% grated ginger.

You blend together by hand and shape it into a golf ball, then flatten it. It should not be too dry. Place the flattened mixture on a cotton cloth, like a dish towel and then place a folded sheet of cheesecloth or gauze on top of the mixture. Place the gauze side next to the (closed) eye and use a bandana or ace bandage to hold the abi mix on. It should be changed every four hours.

I hope this helps,

In peace, Roy