Symptoms and relief

Our purpose is not to hinder the physiological processes of the organism. Ours is a holistic approach. An approach that encourages the ristoring of the physical balance, by facing the causes as efficiently as possible and by ensuring a fast relief of all the symptoms.

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Eyes and ears

The eye, a complex and delicate organ designated for the mechanism of vision by means of structures that make it optically equivalent to a camera. It transforms light in information that reaches the brain in the form of electrical impulses. When we look at an object, the light coming from it enters our eyes and passes through a number of natural lenses – the cornea, the crystalline lens and the vitreous body, equivalent to the camera lens – , and is then focused on the retina (the “photographic film”).

The complexity and diversity of elements that contribute to its functionality make it particularly delicate; if one then considers that the organ interacts with the external world, it is clear how vulnerable it can be to aggressions of different kinds (bacterial, viral, atmospheric, foreign bodies, etc.). The retina relays information to the brain by sending electrical impulses through a biological cable: the optic nerve.

The protective function is taken care of by conjunctiva, eyelids and related glands. The conjunctive is a thin, transparent mucosa covering the front surface of the eye and the inner walls of the eyelids; its defensive function of the cornea is made possible not only thanks to a purely mechanical action (through a homogeneous distribution of the tear fluid), but also owing to the secretion of antibodies (IgA and IgG) and to substances with an antibacterial action (lysozyme). The eyelids, with their movements, contribute to adjust the quantity of light entering the eye, protecting it from too intensive illumination. They spread the tear film on the conjunctiva, allowing it to be constantly moistened and preventing dehydration. The gland system is mainly in charge of producing the tear film so as to obtain the right balance between the aqueous and lipidic components of tear fluid, thereby avoiding a too rapid evaporation which would expose the eye to dryness.

At times, the eye is not sufficiently equipped to protect itself from microbial, physical and chemical agents, allergens, foreign bodies, etc.; several problems can therefore arise, according to the variables and to the part of the eye involved.

The ear is the hearing organ and can be divided into 3 parts:

the outer ear, consisting in the earcup and ear canal, which collects the sound waves;
the middle ear, formed by the tympanic cavity and tympanic membrane, auditory bones (hammer, anvil and stirrup) and by the Eustachean tube, receives the vibrations produced by the sound waves and conveys them to the inner ear;
the inner ear, comprising the labyrinth, formed by the vestibular system regulating the sense of balance and by the cochlea, sensorineural hearing organ, conveys the stimuli of vibrations to the brain and it is where the sense of balance is located.

This anatomical district is also sometimes prone to problems of different types, from the build-up of earwax to painful otitis media.

It is therefore vital to have effective natural remedies available to successfully treat the different affections, each with an approach targeted to eradicate the cause of the problem, using suitable means considering the specific anatomical district involved.

Eye fatigue syndrome is an increasingly widespread and frequent phenomenon. In most cases, at the origin of the problem there is a prolonged, too intensive eyestrain, mostly linked to the use of video terminals. New work demands and free time habits are, in fact, leading to an increase in the time spent in front of the computer and playing with videogames. The resulting overburdening of the eyes can cause an eye fatigue syndrome, referred to as asthenopia (from the Greek terms “astenon” – “opsis” = eye fatigue).

Asthenopia indicates “an anomalous, week condition of the eyes, a visual discomfort often due to an excessive strain of the eyes.” Other causes can be connected to eyesight problems: a typical example is hypermetropia (commonly known as farsightedness), involving an excessive effort of eye muscles in charge of focusing (accommodation process).

These particular situations in which the eyes are unduly strained, whether due to lifestyle an/or visual impairment, cause typical symptoms such as burning, conjunctival reddening, difficulty in reading, a feeling of palpebral heaviness, the need to keep eyes closed and discomfort in the presence of light; these symptoms can further influence ensuing problems, such as an altered tear film (with a resulting dry eye syndrome), headaches, nausea, dizziness and worsened vision.

Treatment of eye fatigue with conventional medicine

In cases of eye fatigue, conventional medicine resorts to visual aids,in particular eyeglasses or rest glasses. Undoubtedly, should the problem be related to strained eyesight linked to visual impairment (such as hypermetropia), the use of adequate eyeglasses surely provides valuable help. Conversely, rest glasses used during activities at the computer or other videoterminals is of questionable efficacy.

What surely matters most is to allow the eyes to rest, associating this essential need with the possibility to rehydrate the tear film (restoring physiological conditions), decongesting and reducing inflammation of both the conjunctiva and the eyelids, thereby soothing symptoms deriving from excessive eye strain.

Nature can help you solve the problem of eye fatigue

A natural and effective approach

Eye fatigue, linked to work habits or general lifestyle (use of videoterminals), or triggered by visual impairment (for instance, hypermetropia), can generate numerous symptoms affecting the conjunctiva and the eyelids: for instance, burning, eye reddening, alteration of the tear firm (dry eye), feelings of palpebral heaviness, need to keep the eyes closed, discomfort in the presence of light, etc.

In order to provide a solution for this complex set of symptoms, nature can once again offer valuable help, associating plant active constituents having well-known anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties specifically for the eyes, with the extraordinary properties of Grapefruit Seed Extract: ensuring antimicrobial protection, it is useful to safeguard temporarily weakened eyes from the insurgence of infections.

GSE and eye fatigue

Efficacy of Grapefruit Seed Extract as a broad spectrum antimicrobial has been proven by Laboratories and Institutes worldwide.

There is ample evidence, by now, confirming the validity, efficacy and rapidity of action of GSE, making it unequalled in nature. Moreover, given its being a selective antimicrobial, it does not bear a significant impact on the physiological flora of skin and mucosae, preserving their essential, defensive functionality. GSE therefore represents an extremely valuable aid also in the handling of several symptoms resulting from eye fatigue, while ensuring broad spectrum antimicrobial protection at the same time.

Given the above considerations, GSE therefore represents the cornerstone of an approach offering undoubted efficacy also in the case of eye and visual fatigue. Its association with specific plant extracts with marked decongestant and anti-inflammatory properties, applied to solutions for ophthalmic use, essentially allows for two synergic actions:

direct action at eye level, with a solution provided in eye drops, offering anti-inflammatory, soothing and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, so as to counter the inflammatory process triggered by an excessive eye strain, while protecting the eyes from potential microbial contaminations;
direct action specifically aimed at the eyelids and eye contour, with an antimicrobial, decongestant, analgesic, anti-itching and markedly anti-inflammatory action.

This approach, combined with a healthy lifestyle (in terms of diet, but not only), includes the use of natural remedies that are well known in folk tradition and the efficacy of which in providing an opportunity to reach a solution has been confirmed by recent studies.

1 - For direct action at eye level, with a solution provided in eye drops, offering anti-inflammatory, soothing and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity so as to counter the inflammatory process triggered by an excessive eye strain, while protecting the eyes from potential microbial contaminations…
Nature can help you with…

Grapefruit Seed Extract: as already highlighted, results obtained regarding the antimicrobial efficacy of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), coupled with their harmlesseness, once again confirm GSE at the ideal remedy for eye symptoms caused by excessive eye strain. Its synergy with specific plant extracts, with decongestant and soothing properties is particularly useful and ensures the formulation’s efficacy and safety of use.

Euphrasia (distilled water): belonging to the family of Scrophulariaceae, the most significant constituents of its phytocomplex are iridoid glucosides (aucubin in particular), conferring marked properties as an ophthalmic astringent. Such action, together with the anti-inflammatory properties, make it ideal for ophthalmic affections of various kinds (eye burning, tearing, photophobia), etc.).

Chamomile (distilled water): it belongs to the family of Asteraceae. Its flowers are rich in active constituents such as chamazulene, α-bisabolol, apigenin, luteolin and have decongenstant, soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory properties (numerous studies have highlighted that such activity is linked to its ability to inhibit the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes).

Calendula (distilled water): Calendula, too, belongs to the family of Asteraceae and is rich in triterpene derivatives, mainly responsible for its marked anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties. Other constituents are carotenoids, numerous resins, flavonoids, polysaccharides and mucilages, markedly bioadhesive on the skin and mucosae and contributing for this reason to the plant’s health properties. The most significant actions carried out are: anti-inflammatory, anti-reddening, immunomodulating, antimicrobial, cicatrizing, analgesic, lenitive and decongestant.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose: this is a polymer with mucous-like characteristics, capable of stabilising tear film on the eye surface, creating a protective, transparent and viscoelastic shield, as well as limiting the loss of water from the tear film.

The ideal means for application on the eye of such constituents is a solution in eye drops.

For direct action specifically aimed at the eyelids and eye contour, with an antimicrobial, decongestant, analgesic, anti-itching and markedly anti-inflammatory action…
Nature can help you with…

Grapefruit Seed Extract: as already highlighted, results obtained regarding the antimicrobial efficacy of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), coupled with their harmlesseness, once again confirm GSE as the ideal remedy for eye symptoms caused by excessive eye strain. Its synergy with specific plant extracts, featuring decongestant and soothing properties, is particularly useful and ensures the formulations’ efficacy and safety of use.

Calendula (distilled water): Calendula belongs to the family of Asteraceae and is rich in triterpene derivatives, mainly responsible for its marked anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties. Other constituents are carotenoids, numerous resins, flavonoids, polysaccharides and mucilages, markedly bioadhesive on the skin and mucosae and contributing for this reason to the plant’s health properties. The most significant actions carried out are: anti-inflammatory, anti-reddening, immunomodulating, antimicrobial, cicatrizing, analgesic, lenitive and decongestant.

Nymphaea: parts used for officinal purposes are flowers and rhizome, both rich in alkaloids (nymphein and nymphalin), gallic acid, tannic acid and mucilages. Applied on skin and mucosae, it is very useful for the treatment of irritative and inflammatory types of dermatological affections.

Health properties of Nymphaea on the skin are attributable to high concentration levels of gallic and tannic acids, capable of considerably reducing erythema, itching, oedema, i.e. exerting a marked anti-inflammatory action in general. Nymphein and Nymphalin alkaloids, instead, convey the analgesic and sedative properties of the plant. Moreover, thanks to its mucilages, Nymphaea acts as an emollient and enables considerable increase of cutaneous hydration.

Elderberry: parts mostly employed for external use are its flowers, extremely rich in chemical constituents, among which mucilages play a key role, with their marked emollient and lenitive action, and flavonoids (kaempferol, astragalin, rutin, quercetin, isoquercetin, iperoside) due to their anti-inflammatory action. In phytotherapy, preparations are obtained using active constituents from Elderberry flower extracts, for ophthalmic applications in case of eye affections of different kinds.

All the above-mentioned ingredients, artfully blended in a specific solution for the eyelids and eye contour, can be conveyed in practical, mask-shaped eye compresses in non-woven fabric.

DIETARY ADVICE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE DIET: AT LEAST 1 MONTH

FOODS TO AVOID

Simple sugars (white sugar, glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, sorbitol, mannitol, lactose,
galactose, maple syrup, agave juice, honey, molasses)
Milk and dairy products
Packaged, preserved and refined foods and drinks

RECOMMENDED FOODS

Fruit and vegetables (preferably seasonal and if well tolerated)
Fresh fruit (preferably seasonal and organic)
Wholewheat cereals and their derivatives (kamut, spelt, rice, quinoa, millet, tapioca)
Fish, organic meat (preferably white meat)
Seed oil and olive oil from first cold pressing

WATER

Drink at least two litres of water, at ambient temperature, daily, choosing water with fixed residue levels below 50 mg/L and with pH lying between 6 and 7.

GENERAL ADVICE

Avoid use of medicines unless strictly necessary (in particular: antibiotics, cortisone-based medicines, anti-inflammatories). Pay particular attention to all potential vehicles of contagion (linen, towels, etc.). Do not rub eyes with hands. Use anallergenic cosmetic cleansing products (free from fragrances and preservatives). Protect the eyes from light using sunglasses with certified lenses and, in any case, avoid direct exposure to sunlight. In case of eye fatigue caused by long periods of permanence in front of computer screens, consider using glasses specifically devised for videoterminal use. Take physical exercise on a daily basis (at least a 20-30 minute walk); avoid anxiety and stress as much as possible.