Weekly Message Weekly Gems from Ronda Gates.

Perhaps the news of last week's tragedy in Colorado or the ongoing plight of refugees in Kosovo brought tears to your eyes. Maybe you just saw a sad movie or had a fight with a relative or lost an important relationship. Whatever the reason, yesterday's tears can be the cause of today's puffy eyes. Aside from crying, fatigue, allergies, eating salty foods and, for women, menstruation, can prompt your body to collect and temporarily retain fluid under your eyes.

Next time eyes swollen as a prizefighter's leave you contemplating a retreat from an important outing, try applying wet, chilled chamomile tea bags under your eyes for 10 to 20 minutes. (Squeeze out the excess water first!) Chamomile has a constricting effect on the blood vessels which can help minimize puffiness. If you are allergic to pollen, experiment with the remedy before you use it prior to an important outing. Some teas have been made from the pollen-rich flower heads that may make your eyes worse instead of better.

Other helpful hints for puffy eyes include blessed sleep--especially with your head slightly elevated and lying on your back, applying anything cold underneath your eyes (small bags of frozen peas or an ice cube in a damp cloth or spoons chilled in the refrigerator) or some of the eye gels made from cucumber extracts available at cosmetic counters.

And, for last course results, nothing beats a pair of wraparound sunglasses to prevent a further straining assault from the sun on already tender eyes!!

Yes, there's more important things in life than swollen eyes but, male or female, when life throws you a curve, the little steps of self care that support returning to the world with a positive attitude is the best way I know to say, "Watch out world, I may have been down, but I'm not out!!"

Weekly Messages

Lifestyles

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