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1000+ verified doctorswhy water comes from eyes during cold - #39186
I am really curious and kind of worried about this whole thing with my eyes watering when I have a cold. Last month, I came down with this awful cold—sneezing, runny nose, the whole nine yards. But what really bothered me was, like, my eyes started watering like crazy! I mean, I thought I was going to drown in my own tears haha. It felt weird because I never had this before. Every time I would blow my nose, my eyes would just start running too. I thought maybe it was just like an annoying side effect or something, but then I read somewhere that there's a reason, or some science behind it. Like, why water comes from eyes during cold? Is it just my body reacting to the cold? or is my immune system going all out of whack? Sometimes I feel like my eyes just can't keep up with the rest of me. I’ve tried different things, like hot tea and those warm compresses, you know? It helps a bit, but I wanna get to the root of it. Is there any Ayurvedic remedy or treatment that could help with this? Or should I just accept this watery eye thing as part of having a cold? It's kinda annoying to be honest. Someone please help me understand!
Doctors' responses
When you have a cold, your body reacts in various ways, including causing your eyes to water. In Ayurveda, the root cause of this can often be associated with the imbalance of kapha and vata doshas. During a cold, excess mucus is produced, leading to a runny nose. The nasal passages and the lacrimal (tear) ducts are connected, so when you blow your nose or when these passages are blocked, the tear ducts can also be stimulated, causing your eyes to water. The immune system is indeed working hard, but the watery eyes are not an indication of distress – rather, it’s your body’s way of dealing with the irritation in nose and throat.
To manage this condition through Ayurveda, there are several remedies you might consider. First, focusing on diet and lifestyle to balance the doshas is essential. Avoid cold, heavy and oily foods that can aggravate kapha, and instead, opt for warm, light meals, including spices like ginger, turmeric, and black pepper, which can be added to your food to support your agni (digestive fire) and help clear mucus. Teas made with these spices can provide relief too.
Incorporating nasya, the nasal oil therapy, using an oil like Anu taila, can help lubricate and clear the nasal passages, reducing blockages that might be causing watering of the eyes. Usually, two to three drops in each nostril, done in morning, can be beneficial, but caution is required if you have particular nasal or ear conditions to avoid complications.
Practicing steam inhalation with eucalyptus or peppermint oil can open up nasal passages and reduce eye-watering. Simply add few drops of oil into a bowl of hot water, cover your head with towel, and breathe deeply.
Hydration is also crucial, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of warm water throughout day, which aids elimination of toxins and supports body’s natural processes. Rest is essential for recovering from a cold; hence, ensure you’re getting adequate sleep to allow your body to heal naturally.
If symptoms persist or worsen, it might be prudent to consult with a healthcare professional to exclude other underlying conditions. Ayurvedic solutions work best when tailored to individual imbalances, so full consultation with a practitioner may provide more personalized strategy.
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