Do Herbs Really Support Healthy Eyesight & Improve Vision?

Many gardeners are interested in growing herbs to improve health. Here, we’ll take a closer look at natural remedies for eyesight and explore how easy it is to grow superpower plants at home.

History of herbal remedies

The history of herbs is inextricably bound up in human history. We’ve used herbs and spices for cooking, cleaning and improving our health for thousands of years… and these enigmatic plants still hold plenty of surprises!

Many of the active ingredients in modern pharmaceuticals have their basis in herbalism. While scientific research isn’t always clear on the benefits of herbs in their pure state, plenty of people still use herbs as alternative medicines, growing them for their remarkable properties.

Which herbs can support healthy eyesight?

Naturally full of antioxidants and vitamins, many herbs are thought to support healthy eyes and slow the effects of sight loss or macular degeneration (age-related loss of vision). The good news? Plenty of these medicinal plants are easy to grow in your garden at home.

Green tea

Green tea is famed for being rich in antioxidants. These useful compounds inhibit the production of harmful free radicals and reduce inflammation, which can be linked to eye diseases like cataracts. There’s also a helpful amino acid in green tea, called L-theanine, which improves concentration and is thought to reduce eye strain.

Made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, green tea comes from the same cultivar as black tea, however, the leaves are preserved earlier, before undergoing oxidation.

While most of the world’s tea comes from Asia and Africa, it’s easy to grow Camellia sinensis in the UK. The plant prefers lime-free compost and can cope with temperatures as low as -10C.

According to the RHS, harvesting your own green tea is easy:

1. Pick emerging leaf pairs and buds (only once in the first year, to let the plant get established).
2. Steam them for a couple of minutes. before rinsing under cold water (to prevent oxidation).
3. Roll the leaves and dry them in the oven at gas mark 1 (or 110C) for 10 minutes, until they’re crisp.
4. Once cool, store your green tea in an airtight container. Add a sprinkle to a pot of boiled water and leave to brew before drinking.

Bilberry

Also known as the European blueberry or whortleberry, bilberries grow wild in UK woods and heaths. They’ve long been foraged for their healing properties and used as an antiseptic and digestive remedy.

During the Second World War, British pilots claimed their vision was improved after eating bilberry jam (though the jury is still out on that one!). And it’s thought that active compounds in the fruits can protect against glaucoma and retina damage, however studies show no evidence for this.

One thing we do know is that bilberries are easy to grow at home. In the wild, these plants are found in nutrient-poor, acidic soils, so grow them in free-draining loam or sandy soil and mix in some ericaceous compost - like blueberries, bilberries are big fans.

Eyebright

It’s all in the name! While it’s not a well-researched plant, eyebright (also known as eyewort) has been gathered by herbalists and homeopathists for centuries to alleviate eye complaints. According to The Wildlife Trusts, a Greek myth tells how a bird used the plant to cure its babies’ poor sight and shared the secret with humans.

Eyebright’s small white flowers emerge in summer, decorated with purple stripes and delicate yellow centres. There are many different species and, while usually found on windswept clifftops and in wildflower meadows, they can be welcomed into UK gardens, too.

As a semi-parasitic species (not unlike yellow rattle), eyebright grows on the roots of other plants. It prefers full sun or part-shade and alkaline soil and can be grown as ground cover or in a rock garden.

Saffron

Made from the delicate stigmas of Crocus sativus flowers (each bloom only has three!), saffron is one of the world’s most expensive spices. It has traditionally been used in cooking and as a vivid golden dye. As a herbal medicine, it’s thought to slow down macular degeneration, thanks to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.

To lower the cost of this precious ingredient, consider introducing it to your garden. While fiddly to harvest (you might need your glasses on for this job!), it’s relatively easy to grow. Crocus sativus corms can be planted in late summer, for early autumn blooms.

Use tweezers to pick out the long stigmas and place them on kitchen towel to dry at room temperature for 24 hours before storing them in an airtight container. Add a couple of ‘threads’ to warm water and leave it to infuse before drinking as a tea.

Turmeric

Popular in cooking, as well as in smoothies and lattes, turmeric spice is used in natural remedies for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases. It’s also said to support digestion, cardiovascular health and the immune system. The active ingredient, curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Gaia Herbs shares that turmeric was used as a medicine as far back as 600 BC.

While native to tropical parts of the world, it’s possible to grow turmeric in the UK, in a sunny spot indoors or in a pot in the greenhouse. The fleshy rhizomes can be bought from plant retailers or found in Asian supermarkets.

To grow, cut the rhizomes into pieces, ensuring there are a couple of buds on each. Fill a small pot halfway with potting compost and lay the rhizomes flat on top, before covering with more compost. Water them in and put the pot in a propagator or cover with a plastic bag. Once the seedlings start to establish, pot them up and keep them warm on a windowsill.

Harvest the new turmeric rhizomes from under the soil after 7-10 months (once the stems turn brown) and savour as a tea or culinary ingredient.

Ginkgo

The ancient Maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve blood circulation. Increased blood flow is thought to benefit retinal capillaries and offer relief for glaucoma, although there’s little research on whether this improves eyesight.

Often grown as a specimen tree in the UK, ginkgo prefers well-drained soil and full sun and can be propagated from seed or semi-hardwood cuttings.

In the autumn, the distinctive, fan-shaped leaves turn a vivid yellow. While fruits are produced, they smell unpleasant, and the seeds are toxic to pets. Ginkgo leaves can be harvested and used fresh in late summer, or dried and steeped in warm water to enjoy as tea.

Can herbs improve eyesight?

While modern evidence is slim on the ground when it comes to how to improve eyesight using herbal remedies, humans have been drawing on the powers of herbs for thousands of years and natural remedies remain popular. Growing and enjoying plants thought to improve eyesight can be a joyful activity…and if you feel the benefit after using them, so much the better!