Overworked, stressed, and under-rested? Or haven’t been hydrating enough? Your puffy eyes and dark circles sort of giving it away. The puffy eyes can also be a result of really unfavorable eating practices like having too much sugar, caffeine, fast food, or skipping meals altogether. In this article, we decode what these eyebags are trying to signal about your body, that you need to listen to right now. Bonus: find some very helpful Ayurvedic remedies and tips to get rid of the eyebags for good!

Premature aging

Aging is a natural process, right? It is often the skin under the eyes that begin to reflect aging first. But very often, these eyebags, wrinkles and dark circles are merely a result of lack of self-care, exposure to pollutants and toxins including toxic lead and other chemicals build up, lack of proper sleep or an overstressed lifestyle.

A brand that comes highly recommended for its line of natural products that combine the best of oriental and occidental systems of healing and wellness is Shankara. Shankara’s Anti-age Eye Cream, helps you reclaim your original glow that has been hidden behind the layers of exhaustion and stress. Find a significant reduction in the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. The cream gently nourishes the delicate skin around the eyes. Rich with the goodness of antioxidants and ingredients like Rose distillate, raw shea butter, grapeseed oil, andiroba oil, rosehip seed oil, hazelnut oil, Jojoba oil, microalgae extract, castor oil, aspen bark extract, cucumber extract, squalane (Olive-derived), foraha oil, Carrot seed extract oil, pomegranate seed oil; borage oil, Kukui nut oil and raspberry seed oil, protein and soy extract among others; nutrients and antioxidants, the cream has been found to be deeply hydrating and moisturizing.

Improper eating

Overconsumption of foods that are not favorable to your dosha constitution or body type for a very long time, eating on the go without awareness, eating cold, frozen, stale foods lacking in nutrition, or skipping meals, can all find a way to reflect in the form of dark circles. All these foods lack prana or life force that brings down the Ojas or vitality in you. According to Ayurveda, you are essentially what you consume. So if you want your face to have a natural glow and liveliness, then your food needs to be fresh, warm, and full of prana too, except in case of fresh fruits or fruit juices.

Often skin under the eyes looks haggard and prematurely aged because of the oxidizing action of rogue free radicals. The only way to fight these free radicals is to increase the intake of antioxidants in the body. These compounds replenish the presence of antioxidants in the body to reduce oxidative stress.

Cucumber

Not just for slicing it out and placing it on your eyes, but also when consumed, cucumber offers plenty of benefits for the eyes. It is rich in vitamins A,C,E and K. It also has compounds that boost collagen production in the skin. It has high water content that helps you stay hydrated.

Watermelon

This fruit is all water, which is good for your skin’s hydration. But it is also rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, Vitamin B compounds, potassium and magnesium.

Blueberries

Berries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants. Blueberries particularly have plenty of antioxidants like lutein, anthocyanin and omega-3.

You can also include spirulina, beetroot, celery, parsley and mulberries in your diet rich in necessary nutrients for good eye health and to get rid of the eyebags.

Indigestion

Puffy eyes signal weak digestion, fluid retention, and accumulation of toxins, according to Ayurveda.

You will need to go easy on salt intake, to reduce fluid retention in the body. Regularize your meal timings and avoid eating raw foods or foods that are difficult to digest. You can go for Panchakarma therapy to remove toxins build-up in your body. The buildup of toxins is not only unwelcome for your eye health, but it may also further weaken metabolism and lead to the onset of lifestyle diseases in the future.

You can also practice self-massage in the area around your eyes.

Stress

Eyebags are the first indicators of the toll stress is taking on your body. Since the skin under the eyes is most delicate and thin, lack of rest and mental stress first starts showing in this area.

The rejuvenating Ayurvedic therapy called Netra Tarpana offered at very few Panchakarma centers, relieves tired, achy, sore eyes, and improves vision. Here, warm clarified butter is gently poured on the eyes while being led through relaxing, simple eye exercises. You feel your eyes relaxing, and the mind stilling at the end of the treatment.

If you want to mark your calendar for a top of the class Netra Tarpana treatment next year, head over to The Art of Living International Retreat Center, state-of-the-art wellness center nestled on the lap of Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone, North Carolina that promises an immersive experience in Ayurveda therapy and healing.