Spices and Herbs for Vision Health

herbs and spices for visionHerbs and spices do more than add flavor—they’re packed with nutrients that support vision, brain, and overall health. Used for centuries in traditional medicine, these powerful plants are now backed by modern research. Whether you add them to your meals or take them as supplements, the right herbs can play a key role in maintaining healthy eyes and aging well.

In this article, discover some of the most effective herbs for vision and wellness, along with general supplement dosage guidelines.

Herbs for Vision Health

Chamomile

Chamomile has calming and soothing qualities. It reduces eye irritation and inflammation and has anti-bacterial properties. People have traditionally used chamomile tea to relieve eye infections, blocked tear ducts, and conjunctivitis. You can make chamomile tea compresses to soothe sore eyes.*

*Never apply hot tea bags to your eyes.

Dandelion

500mg per day. Rich in vitamins and minerals, dandelion is high in lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin A, C, and E. This plant is also high in alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, which can be converted in the body to vitamin A.

Ashwagandha

300–500mg per day. This Ayurvedic herb reduces inflammation and oxidative stress. It is one of the top herbs for brain health. Ashwagandha reverses behavioral deficits and plaque load in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) models 1 and inhibits amyloid beta fibrillation 2. It contains anamides which reduce accumulation of beta-amyloid peptides in AD models and is neuroprotective 3 4 5 6 7.

Grapeseed Extract

150–300mg per day. Grapeseed extract is rich in antioxidants, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, helps strengthen blood vessels, and improves blood flow to the eyes. It can be taken along with resveratrol and help protect vision for those at high risk or with a history of retinal bleeding. Grapeseed extract helps protect the central nervous system from reactive oxygen species 8. Note: This is different from grapefruit seed extract.

Eyebright

400–500mg per day. Eyebright is traditionally used for various eye issues. It reduces eye inflammation and irritation, as well as oxidative stress. Eyebright has been an ingredient in traditional herbal medicine in Europe for centuries, particularly for minor eye ailments like redness and irritation 9. It contains several beneficial plant compounds, including the flavonoids luteolin and quercetin 10. These compounds have antihistamine properties related to allergies and have been traditionally used to treat seasonal allergies or hay fever.

Moringa

500–1,000mg per day. Moringa is high in antioxidants and helps protect against oxidative stress. It is rich in vitamin A, C, and E, as well as beta carotene.

Baikal Skullcap

200–400mg per day. Commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Baikal Skullcap is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps protect against oxidative stress and enhances blood circulation.

Ginkgo Biloba

120mg per day. Used extensively in Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginkgo improves visual field damage and enhances blood flow to the eyes. Ginkgo helps support healthy circulation 11 12, stabilizes capillaries, and makes the capillaries less fragile 13 14 15. Check with your doctor if you are on blood thinners before supplementing with ginkgo.

Rosemary

500mg per day. Rosemary contains powerful antioxidants.

To help reduce puffiness and boost circulation around the eyes, try a cold compress made from rosemary tea. Start by boiling a quart of water with half a cup of fresh rosemary. Let the mixture steep for 20 minutes, then strain out the herbs and allow the tea to cool completely. Once chilled, soak a clean washcloth in the tea, wring out the excess, and gently lay the washcloth over your closed eyes for 5–10 minutes. You can use this remedy once or twice daily, or whenever needed.

Daily Warm Compresses

This warm compress recipe will help soothe the eyes. Herbs can be included in the infusion, such as burdock, calendula, chamomile, chrysanthemum flower, eyebright, echinacea angustifolia, forsythia, golden seal, honeysuckle, marigold, and red raspberry leaf (see our EyeEase Formula).

Spices for Vision Health

Fennel

500mg per day. Rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, fennel supports proper functioning of the retina and helps prevent night blindness and dry eyes. It also contains vitamin C and flavonoids. Additionally, some traditional uses suggest fennel may be helpful for conditions like cataracts and glaucoma. Fennel can help manage cholesterol and blood sugar, which can mitigate the risk of developing heart disease. Research on fennel shows promise for this herb in helping with anxiety 16. Fennel’s positive effects on digestion are acknowledged in Indian cuisine, and research has shown fennel may help reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 17.

Saffron

200–300mg per day. Saffron has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and improves blood flow. It is better known as a kitchen spice that lends yellow color and a delicate flavor to many dishes. Saffron can support vision health related to eye problems.

Macular Degeneration and Saffron:Patients given saffron supplementation showed improved electroretinogram results, indicating improved flicker sensitivity in early macular degeneration. These results suggested that improvements may extend beyond the benefits of antioxidant support 18 19. Additionally, experimental studies suggest that saffron protects the photoreceptors from oxidative stress 20.

Cataracts and Saffron: A limited amount of research has reported saffron significantly helping vision in cataract patients 21 22.

Turmeric (Curcumin)

500–2,000mg per day. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, neutralizes free radicals, and reduces inflammation. Supplements with black pepper enhance the absorption of turmeric.

Foods Highest in Antioxidants

As we age, decreases in antioxidant levels in the eyes is believed to be a major factor in the decline of vision. For example, the destruction of retinal cells can occur slowly over many years, due to exposure to UV sunlight or from a gradual degradation of the antioxidant defense system.

ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, is a measurement of a food’s antioxidant power. A higher ORAC score indicates a food has a greater ability to neutralize free radicals. Foods highest in antioxidants include:

  • Artichokes (boiled): 9,416 ORAC score
  • Blackberries: 5,905 ORAC score
  • Cilantro: 5,141 ORAC score
  • Cranberries: 9,090 ORAC score
  • Dark chocolate: 20,816 ORAC score
  • Elderberry: 14,697 ORAC score
  • Goji berries: 4,310 ORAC score
  • Kidney beans: 8,606 ORAC score
  • Pecans: 17,940 ORAC score
  • Wild blueberries: 9,621 ORAC score

Fruits, vegetables, some herbs and spices, and mushrooms provide a wide range of antioxidants.

Top spices high in antioxidants include: clove, allspice, oregano, cinnamon, thyme and peppermint.

Learn more about our recommended nutrition plan for eye support. And, see our juicing recipes.

Suggested Supplements

EyeEase Formula – Helps reduce mild external eye inflammation and infection.

Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Meso Plus Retinal Support and Computer Eye Strain Formula with Astaxanthin 90 vcaps

Dr. Grossman’s Advanced Eye and Dr. G’s Whole Food Superfood Multi 120 Vcap Combo – 2 months supply

ReVision Formula (wild-crafted herbal formula) 2 oz – based on classic Chinese medicine Liver tonic formula to help support healthy circulation and blood flow throughout the eyes and body.

Mushroom Emperors 120 vegtabs (M08003)

Dr. Grossman’s Bilberry/Ginkgo Combination 2oz (60ml)

H2 Elite Molecular Hydrogen 60 tabs

NMN Wonderfeel Capsul 60 vegcaps

Recommended Books

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