Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog – information on herbal medicine

For a number of reasons the eyelids are of particular importance. We have noted how

over-alertness is one of the main signs of anxiety. A feature of being over-alert is keeping one’s eyes open, so as to be on guard for any possible source of danger. The anxious patient

characteristically has his eyes widely open, so that the edge of the upper lid does not cover the top of the coloured part of the eye as it normally does. I have seen some patients with severe anxiety who have been so over-alert that they have virtually found it impossible to allow their eyes to close even for a moment.

It would seem that there is some such sequence of events as this. The brain is disturbed by receiving more nervous impulses than it can properly handle. As a result of this, a state of anxiety develops. The brain signals the eyes, “Keep on the lookout. Keep wide open.” From time to time the nerves of the eyes report back, “Eyelids wide open.” It would seem then that the ideas of anxiety and wide open eyelids become associated together in the brain. Now, if we learn to allow our eyelids to remain comfortably in a less fully open position, this will be reported to the brain, and this state of affairs is associated with an absence of anxiety. So instead of being

over-alert, the mind becomes calmer. This calmness of mind allows the better integration of the nervous impulses, and anxiety is reduced. This, of course, is only a more specialized example of the general principle that relaxation of the body brings with it the sensation of relaxation of the mind.

While investigating these matters in the East a few years ago I observed a number of very serene yogis whose eyelids remained in a nearly half-closed position, and whose eyelids moved quite slowly, so that when they blinked their eyelids moved slowly and leisurely. This extreme degree of relaxation is, of course, dangerous in itself, as the protective value of the blink reflex is lost. Nevertheless, without much effort we can encourage our eyelids to take up a more relaxed position. If we practise this a little, we find that the eyelids respond by developing this relaxed state quite naturally and easily much sooner than we might expect.

When about to commence practising our exercises we allow our eyelids to close. This is a natural, easy closure. There is nothing forced about it. The edges of the lids are just lightly touching each other. As we relax more completely, we notice that the eyelids part just a little so that they are no longer touching each other, and we become aware of a chink of light. This is the fully relaxed position of the eyelids, and we should aim for this as we become more expert in our exercises.

Some people do not close their eyes before they commence to relax. They are just left open. As relaxation becomes more complete the lids close very slowly over a period of a few minutes. With this method, relaxation of the mind and a good degree of regression is obtained before the lids actually close.

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And lastly, not only what you eat, but how you eat is extremely important. After all, we are not what we eat, but what we assimilate. And assimilation of nutrients from the foods you eat is to a large degree dependent on proper eating habits.

Many of us eat too fast, gulp our food down without chewing it properly-not to mention the fact that we often eat when we are not really hungry, merely because it is dinner time. Also, we eat when we are tense and irritated or when our thoughts are far away from food. Or, we eat certain foods because we think they are good for us, without really enjoying them.

No, all foods should be eaten slowly and chewed very thoroughly. Never eat in a hurry. It is far better to skip a meal than to eat it in a hurry. Slow eating and good mastication will increase the assimilation of nutrients in the intestinal tract and make you feel satisfied with a smaller quantity of food. Well-chewed and generously salivated food is practically half-digested in the mouth. Saliva contains enzymes and other digestive agents.

And, finally, food should be eaten in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoyed. My old friend and teacher, Dr. Ragnar Berg, one of the world’s most renowned nutritionists, used to say, “Eating should be a pleasure.” Please, don’t misconstrue his statement to mean that you should eat for pleasure! Eat to live—don’t live to eat! The biological fact is that only foods eaten with a genuine pleasure will do you any good. A peaceful, unhurried, pleasurable, and happy atmosphere around the table will pay good dividends in improved digestion and assimilation of food and in better health.

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