Most people today cannot live without electronic products; they cannot work without computers or live without smartphones and tablets. This has led many to worry about their eye health. The “Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine” states that “the essence of the five zang and six fu organs all converge in the eyes.” Our ability to see depends on the nourishment provided by the essence of these organs. The liver is associated with the eyes, and the function of the eyes requires the nourishment of liver blood. Insufficient liver blood can cause dryness, irritation, fatigue, and a dull appearance in the eyes. Similarly, excessive use of the eyes will inevitably deplete liver blood, exacerbate eye discomfort, and cause premature aging of the eyes. Remember the following one soup, one tea, and one acupoint, which can help restore the health and brightness of your eyes.
Pork Liver and枸杞 Soup
Ingredients: 100g of fresh pork liver, 15g of枸杞 berries, 5g of Rehmannia root (prepared), an appropriate amount of ginger threads, salt, oil, starch, etc.
Preparation: Rinse the pork liver thoroughly under running tap water, then soak it in a basin for one hour to remove residual blood. Blanch the pork liver in boiling water, slice it, and mix it with ginger threads, salt, and starch in a bowl. Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, add the Rehmannia root,枸杞 berries, and pork liver, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until cooked. Season before serving, and eat the pork liver while drinking the broth.
Effects: Nourishes blood and yin, supplements the liver, and improves vision. Pork liver targets the liver meridian and has effects of tonifying the liver, improving vision, and nourishing blood. It is suitable for conditions such as blurred vision, night blindness, and dry eyes caused by insufficient liver blood. Prepared Rehmannia root can nourish blood and yin, supplement essence and marrow, generate essence and blood, and replenish the five zang organs. By nourishing the kidney water and enriching the blood vessels, it can achieve the effects of enhancing hearing, brightening the eyes, and blackening the hair.枸杞 berries can tonify the liver and kidneys, benefit essence and improve vision, and are commonly used to treat blood deficiency, jaundice, and blurred vision.
Note: Pork liver contains a relatively high level of cholesterol and should not be consumed by individuals with hypertension, coronary heart disease, or hyperlipidemia.
Chrysanthemum and枸杞 Tea
Ingredients: A few dried chrysanthemum flowers, a small handful of枸杞 berries, an appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Preparation: Wash the chrysanthemum flowers and枸杞 berries. Place 5 bowls of water in a pot, add the washed chrysanthemum flowers,枸杞 berries, and rock sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes, then turn off the heat. Strain out the chrysanthemum flowers and枸杞 berries for better taste when drinking.
Effects: Calms the liver and improves vision, and tonifies the liver and kidneys. Chrysanthemum is a common ingredient that can be used both medicinally and as food. It has a pleasant aroma and a sweet and slightly bitter taste, with a slightly cold nature. It can disperse wind-heat, calm liver yang, and clear heat and toxins. Combined with枸杞 berries, it can tonify the liver and kidneys and improve vision.
Jingming Acupoint
Location: The Jingming acupoint is located on the face, above the inner corner of the eye, in the depression of the inner side wall of the orbit.
Method: After pressing and rubbing the Jingming acupoint for 3 minutes, rotate the eyeball in a single direction, performing four rotations in each of the four directions (up, down, left, right) for four eight-counts. Then close your eyes and slowly rotate the eyeballs to help distribute tears evenly across the surface of the eye. After rotating, you can also perform the eye-warming method, where you rub your hands together to warm them up, then press them against your eyes. Repeat this five times, then gently press around the eye socket with your index, middle, and ring fingers to promote smooth circulation of blood and qi in the eye area, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment.