Our five senses serve our perception and help us to capture stimuli and information. For this reason, you should take good care of the health of your sense organs. We will show you how diseases of the eyes, ears, nose and skin can be treated and which home remedies will help your sensory organs to be fully functional again quickly.
Table of Contents
How can I effectively treat eye diseases?
Our eyes are pretty much the most important sensory organ, after all, up to 95 percent of all sensory perceptions are visual. Thanks to the sensory impressions of our eyes, we can orientate ourselves. The human eye has a very complex structure , with the individual components each taking on specific functions so that a light stimulus turns into a sharp image – similar to a camera.
Seeing takes place in several steps: light from the outside hits the cornea and the pupil, which regulates the incidence of light. The lens focuses the rays of light so that a sharp image appears on the retina, with the image being upside down. The sensory cells convert the optical light stimuli into electrical impulses, from which the brain creates the image that we see. Various diseases result in a temporary or permanent impairment of vision.
conjunctivitis
One of the most common eye diseases is conjunctivitis . Typical signs of conjunctivitis are red, itchy and burning eyes, which can also be swollen. In addition, the eyes often water or are stuck together with secretion. Either one eye or both eyes can be affected.
The causes of conjunctivitis are varied. It is usually an infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. In these cases there is a risk of infection through smear infection. However, allergies, external stimuli (contact lenses, grains of sand, cigarette smoke) and UV rays can also trigger conjunctivitis. However, these forms of conjunctivitis are not contagious.
As soon as you notice the typical symptoms, you should see a doctor. He decides whether and how the conjunctivitis must be treated, because medication is not always necessary. In the event of allergies or other external stimuli, avoid the triggers. In addition, cold compresses or artificial tears relieve the symptoms. Regular hand washing reduces the risk of smear infection.
What helps against the often light-sensitive eyes is wearing sunglasses. In order to effectively protect the eyes from UV rays , the sunglasses should have the right degree of tinting. This reduces the degree of solar radiation. If you have poor eyesight, you can have the glasses adjusted to the appropriate eyesight.
Sicca Syndrome
The medical term sicca syndrome describes what we popularly know as dry eyes. Normally, the tear film ensures that we can see clearly and that the surface of the eyeball remains smooth and supple. The tear film also protects against infections thanks to its antibacterial effect. If the surface of the eye is no longer adequately moistened with tear fluid, the eyes feel dry (sandy feeling), burn, itch, become red and tire quickly.
The wetting disorder is caused either by reduced tear production or by increased evaporation of the tear film, for example due to a changed composition. External influences can also cause dry eyes: If you spend a lot of time in front of the television or on the computer, you blink less and your eyes are not supplied with tear fluid as well.
Other causes of dry eyes :
- Tobacco smoke, car exhaust and ozone in the atmosphere
- dry heating air, air conditioning systems, car fans and drafts
- Contact lenses with low oxygen permeability
- Injuries to the eyelids and eye surgeries
- reduced tear production with age
- as a result of other illnesses or medication
- Mangel an Vitamin A
There are various remedies that help against dry eyes. Artificial tears (tear substitutes) replace the missing liquid in the eye and improve the wetting of the surface of the eye. In extreme cases, the doctor must prescribe special eye drops. What is also good is fresh air and humid room air.
Makuladegeneration
The light stimuli are displayed as a sharp image in a specific area on the retina. This area is called the point of sharpest vision, yellow spot or macula (medical: makula lutea). Changes can lead to degeneration. In this case, this means the loss of sharp vision: the sensory cells on the retina in the area of sharpest vision die off in the course of macular degeneration because they are no longer adequately supplied.
As a result, those affected only perceive the area that they want to see sharply as blurry or distorted. In addition, the ability to read and see far and wide decreases more and more, as well as contrast vision and the ability to distinguish colors. In the worst case, macular degeneration can lead to blindness.
Macular degeneration can be hereditary and can therefore appear at a young age. But that is very rare. Much more common is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which only begins in old age. The reasons for this have not yet been fully clarified. Different things happen in the eye depending on the form of AMD.
So far there is no effective therapy against dry macular degeneration. Magnifying glasses, special glasses and screen readers are possible visual aids. The main aim here is to prevent and avoid the risk factors (smoking and high blood pressure). Therefore, a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise is recommended. The wet form of AMD cannot be cured either, but it can be slowed down with the help of therapy. One possibility is an injection with certain messenger substances that inhibit vascular growth (anti-VEGF therapy) and in some cases improve vision again. There is also a combination preparation that slows down the course. However, this therapy has so far only been effective in a few patients.
What remedies help with ear diseases?
Our ears provide us with uninterrupted acoustic information about our environment. Due to their lateral position on the head, they are able to capture as much ambient noise as possible. The outer ear (auricle) picks up the sound waves of the noises and transmits them to the middle ear. From there, the sound waves cause the fluid and sensory hairs in the inner ear to vibrate. These movements are sent to the brain as electrical stimuli and processed there. If one of the three parts of the ear is inflamed, hearing can be impaired.
Ear canal inflammation
In the case of ear canal inflammation (otitis externa), the skin in the outer area of the ear canal, i.e. between the pinna and the eardrum, is inflamed. This can affect either both ears or just one ear and is noticeable with the following symptoms:
- itching
- (severe) earache
- purulent or bloody discharge from the ear
- the skin of the ear canal is red, swollen, dry and scaly or moist
- Sensation of pain when pressure is applied to the cartilage at the entrance to the ear canal
- possibly impaired hearing due to the swelling in the ear canal
Inflammation of the auditory canal is usually triggered by an infection with viruses, bacteria or fungi. Anyone who swims or dives frequently or has injuries in the ear canal increases the risk of contracting the disease. The same applies to allergies, certain diseases such as diabetes mellitus and neurodermatitis as well as washing too often with soap or shampoo and a narrowed auditory canal. Painkillers and ear drops are usually used to treat an ear infection.
otitis media
The second part of the ear, the middle ear, can also be affected by inflammation . More specifically, it is the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity, a cavity in the middle ear, that becomes inflamed in a middle ear infection (otitis media). The cause is often a cold in the nasopharynx. That is why middle ear infections most frequently occur in the winter months (December to March). The pathogens get into the tympanic cavity via the connection between the pharynx and the middle ear (Eustachian tube) and cause the inflammation there.
Middle ear infection symptomsare very different and range from earache to dizziness and hearing disorders to vomiting. The pain typically comes on suddenly and severely and may be accompanied by a throbbing or pounding in the ear.
Pain relievers and, depending on the cause, antibiotics are usually used for treatment. You can also treat a middle ear infection with simple home remedies. Various medicinal plants help against this, the most well-known being chamomile and onion. Both have an anti-inflammatory effect, the onion also promotes blood circulation and relieves pain. For an onion pouch, simply blanch a chopped onion and wrap in a dry linen towel. Then place the cooled sheet on the inflamed ear for half an hour to an hour. Alternatively, you can make chamomile tea and place the tea bag on your ear.
inner ear infection
The inner ear is relatively rarely affected by inflammation. In an inner ear infection (otitis interna or labyrinthitis), the labyrinthine part of the inner ear is inflamed. This is a small, bony canal in the skull that also houses the balance organ. Because of this, an inner ear infection can affect both hearing and balance.
The symptoms of an inner ear infection vary depending on the cause. A feeling of dizziness is possible , which can sometimes lead to nausea and vomiting. Ringing in the ears can accompany dizziness.
These symptoms are also possible with an inner ear infection:
- earache
- Neck pain and stiffness
- visual disturbances
- feeling of fullness in the ear
- loss of balance
- headache
- fatigue
- facial weakness
- ear discharge
Inflammation of the inner ear occurs as a result of an infection. In principle, any pathogen that reaches the inner ear can cause a viral or bacterial infection, although bacterial infections are rather rare. Other causes are autoimmune diseases such as allergies. In addition, medication, alcohol, drugs, and other toxins can enter the inner ear through the bloodstream and contribute to an inner ear infection. Depending on the pathogen, permanent hearing loss can occur. Especially if the treatment is not carried out immediately.
The treatment to be used depends on the cause. Antibiotics are prescribed for a bacterial infection. Depending on the severity, surgery may be required. Viral infections are fought with antivirals such as anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.
What to do if you have problems with your nose?
The nose fulfills several functions: On the one hand, the nose is our olfactory organ, which perceives smells in the air and thus provides the full taste experience when eating. On the other hand, it serves as a respiratory organ through which we inhale and exhale air. On the way from the nose to the lungs, the ambient air is cleaned, warmed and moistened by the nasal hairs and the nasal mucosa. In diseases of the nose, these functions are noticeably impaired.
sniffles
A cold is what the vernacular understands as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis). A cold usually occurs with a cold (acute rhinitis), but can also have other causes, such as an allergy (hay fever) or the use of certain medications. In these cases one speaks of chronic rhinitis.
A runny nose that produces a secretion is typical of a cold. Depending on the cause, this secretion has a different color (transparent to yellow-green) and consistency (watery to slimy). The course of the disease can be divided into different phases and lasts a total of about a week. In principle, no treatment is required for a simple cold. Proven home remedies such as medicinal plant teas or inhalations alleviate the symptoms. Rest, essential oils and fresh air also help.
sinus infection
The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities in the bones of the skull, which, like the nose, are lined with mucous membrane. If this mucous membrane becomes inflamed, more secretion is produced than usual and the paranasal sinuses swell or become blocked. As a result, not enough air gets into the sinuses and the secretion becomes a breeding ground for pathogens – this can lead to acute inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis).
The most common trigger for a sinus infection is a cold, more specifically an infection of the nasal mucosa caused by an infection with viruses and bacteria. Fungi are less often the cause. A cold caused by an allergy (hay fever) can also trigger or promote acute sinusitis.
Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- headache and facial pain
- Feeling of pressure over forehead and cheekbones
- sometimes a strong feeling of illness and signs of a flu-like infection
- Drainage of secretions into the throat
- stuffy nose
- disturbed sense of smell
- Toothache in the upper jaw
- purulent secretion
Nasal sprays with a decongestant effect help against acute sinusitis. Painkillers relieve pain in the head and face area. There are also some home remedies for the symptoms, such as inhaling warm to hot steam. Rinsing the nose with physiological salt solutions reduces the swelling of the mucous membrane and promotes the drainage of the secretion. What also helps are high-dose extracts from various medicinal plants such as eucalyptus and gentian.
nosebleeds
Nosebleeds (epistaxis) , i.e. the spontaneous escape of blood from one or both nostrils, can vary in severity depending on whether smaller or larger blood vessels are affected. There are two possible causes of nosebleeds: One speaks of a local cause when the bleeding is due to injuries or changes in the nose. The fine veins can burst when you sneeze or blow your nose vigorously, or when the nasal mucosa is irritated. A blow to the nose or a hole in the nasal septum are also responsible for nosebleeds.
If systemic causes are behind it, nosebleeds can be a sign of a serious illness. The following diseases can trigger nosebleeds: feverish diseases, colds, vascular and circulatory diseases, kidney diseases, leukemia and various autoimmune and hereditary diseases.
Usually, nosebleeds are harmless and do not require medical treatment. What to do if you have a nosebleed:
- Sit up straight and bend your head forward, never lie down or tilt your head back
- pinch nose firmly with thumb and forefinger for a few minutes, then gently release and check if bleeding has stopped, otherwise repeat
- cool the neck with a cool, damp cloth or wrapped ice cubes
What to do with skin diseases?
The skin is the largest sensory organ in humans. It consists of the outer skin, which in turn is divided into three layers (upper skin, dermis, subcutaneous tissue), and the inner skin, on which mucous membranes are located. The skin protects the body as a boundary to the environment, but at the same time creates a connection between the body and the environment. This happens because the skin protects us from too much sun exposure and regulates the body temperature. In addition, the skin perceives stimuli from the environment (draught, cold, heat, etc.) and touch.
Acne
The most common skin disease is acne (acne vulgaris). It occurs due to the hormonal changes during puberty, especially in young people from the age of 11. But there are also other forms of acne that occur even in adulthood. Typical signs are oily skin, pimples, blackheads, pustules and papules, which usually appear on the face, neck and décolleté.
The cause of acne is inflammation of the sebaceous glands. This causes the skin to produce excess sebum, which in turn allows bacteria to enter the clogged glands. It is mostly the harmless form of common acne. It is often sufficient to prevent pimples with appropriate skin care. In the case of pronounced forms, you should definitely consult a doctor who will prescribe suitable preparations and ointments for you.
Basically, you should not squeeze out pimples and blackheads yourself, but rather have the affected area cleaned regularly by a beautician. When it comes to skin care, make sure you use pH-neutral and fragrance-free products to avoid further irritating the skin. Only use water-based moisturizers after washing. Makeup and sunscreen should be oil-free.
Herpes
Herpes ( herpes simplex virus) is a DNA virus that stays in the body once it breaks out. Anyone who is infected with the virus repeatedly suffers from painful blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. Herpes occurs mainly on the mouth and lips, but can also affect the genital area.
Before the typical blisters (cold sores) form, herpes announces itself with itching, tension and tingling. The vesicles are filled with liquid, but after a few days they dry up and a crust forms, which eventually falls off. The herpes virus is transmitted through direct contact with mouth secretions (cold sores) or sexually (genital herpes), but only breaks out when the body is weakened by an infection or stress or is exposed to too much sun or a hormonal change. Even at the first sign, you can treat the affected area with viral agents, so that the blisters do not form in the first place. Drying and disinfecting ointments also help.
eczema
Eczema is an inflammatory, non-contagious change in the top layer of skin that causes severe itching, such as neurodermatitis . In the acute phase, the skin is red and may have scaling, crusting, vesicles, or papules. The affected area is swollen, often weeping at first and later becoming crusted.
Eczema can be caused by a contact allergy or a substance that irritates the skin. Both causes can be aggravated by sun exposure. Allergic reactions may only occur after years of contact with the substance. Once the allergy has set in, it flares up again with each subsequent contact. Non-allergic eczema is only triggered after prolonged contact with weakly irritating substances and immediately with strongly irritating substances.
Common triggers of eczema:
- Cosmetics
- Chemicals (e.g. cleaning agents)
- textiles
- medication
- Metals in costume jewelry and belt buckles (e.g. nickel)
- plant
- animal hair
- House dust
- food
If severe or persistent symptoms occur, the eczema should definitely be examined by a doctor. Otherwise, it is important to avoid the triggers and treat the skin gently. The best products are those that moisturize and are suitable for dry, sensitive skin.
