Cure for dark circles?

[Morn]

Just wondering if anyone has a cure for dark circles under the eyes. I wonder if it is some kind of deficiency in my diet or something. Someone at work just told me the other day that it seems like I have aged a lot in the last year. Not something you want to hear and He wondered if it had something to do with a deficiency in my raw diet. He asked if I have had medical testing done to see if I was healthy.

Than I started thinking that maybe I am missing something and maybe there is something that can help with these dark circles. I do look tired a lot of the time because of them and it bums me out. I am open to all advice.

[dani_b]

Sometimes dark circles under the eyes are caused by a deficiency in sodium. Celery juice or raw Himalayan Crystal Salt are good sources of sodium.

[SuBu]

I've always heard it was a sign of dehydration, but I'm doubting that's your problem. I hope you find the answer--might have something to do with stress or the fact that you are so fair skinned. You have come so incredibly far--I'm sure the comment was made out of absolute concern, but thoughtless just the same. Yeah, fat tends to hide (inflate) all those wrinkles! You are beautiful, fit, sleek, awesome!!

[greenday]

Are you getting enough good quality sleep? It could be this coupled with the fact that it's winter and many of us (who don't live in the tropics) can get a little pale around the edges with the lack of sunshine and daylight hours. It could be just making something subtle more visible. If that's not it, maybe getting a check-up wouldn't be a bad idea.

[soulshine78]

I remember learning something according to chinese medicine that dark circles under the eyes represents kidney qi deficiency. To focus on drinking more water, salty foods such as miso, tamari, sea salt; black beans, kidney beans, blue and black foods because those 2 colors correspond to the kidney element so things like blueberries, blackberries, also flax, pumpkin, sunflower and black sesame seeds, and walnuts too. Hope this helps! :)

[Morn]

Thanks guys - I will purpose to try to increase my salt intake and water. I have been pretty lax with the water thing lately also I do eat very little salt (unless it calls for it in a raw recipe). But as a general rule I do use very little of it.

[StarFire]

I've heard kidney and liver Morn.... that puffiness and dark circles under the eyes are a symptom that the liver is under stress

But when I read your post I googled it and this is what I found:

These conditions are occasionally symptomatic of other illnesses, the usual cause is allergies. The most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker.

Other causes -- tiredness, or, unfortunately, heredity. No matter what the cause, you can still reduce the appearance of puffiness or dark circles, and in some cases, you may be able to get rid of them altogether

Other causes were - dust mites allergies, Mold allergies, DEHYDRATION.

No where did I see dark circles related to liver or kidney issues - but then again I just did a quick search --

I don't have dark circles - but I do have puffiness under my eyes and it makes me CRAZY!!

The following was suggested...
1. Establish whether or not this condition runs in the family
2. Identify allergens
3. Get plenty of sleep nightly
4. Apply an eye cream containing vitamin K and retinol. Dark circles may be caused by a deficiency of vitamin K
5. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/28_1_19.gif .... my current cure for my baggy eyes!!

[Stina]

Mine personally diminish after acupuncture or fasting.

[Petunia]

I have the same problem, due to heredity. Several years ago, I made the mistake of going to work w/o cover-up under the eyes, and my co-worker exclaimed, "What happened to you?" She thought someone gave me two black eyes! Sexy, ain't it? I just laughed. Anyway, mine have drastically been reduced by abstaining from caffeine, and lots of fruits and veggies, which tightens up the skin. BTW, you're doing awesome and you look beautiful!

[Eva]

I've always had purple circles... and I've never weighed more than 135# or so. I think part of it could be just that as you've lost weight your skin is tighter and the blood/veins underneath are now more visible yet your health has not changed in a negative way to actually make you tired or deficient...

Doesn't solve the problem, though, eh? I'll be curious how adding more salt helps to alleviate the appearance of some sort of deficiency.

I think I also read somewhere that it could be related to potassium.

[Morn]

Starfire - I love your solution - good sunglasses! I would probably look a little funny running around in Michigan with them right now.

Petunia - thanks for the compliment.

I know it is a normal part of life to get older - it just sucks!
But really I think if I do have some sort of deficiency - I would like to find an answer. I have committed long-term to this lifestyle and I don't think going back to eating meat is the answer (which I think my co-worker thinks). In a way I am kind of glad something was said (if I find a solution) but in a way now I am freaking out over it.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hey Morn!

Only you can really know for sure if it's deficiency or not based upon your current diet. I just read that a lack of Vitamin K can cause dark circles; that dark circles under the eye may also be light carbon deposits that result from incomplete protein digestion. Incomplete protein digestion may result from insufficient hydrochloric acid in your stomach that may be caused from a lack of primarily B6 and Folic Acid. About 30% of the population does not absorb regular B6 (pydroxine) or folic acid but also a host of other (NON-diet related) things as well! But you could always start taking a multi-vitamin if you're truly convinced it's something lacking in your diet that you may not be getting enough of OR if lack of absorption, check into doing some light bowel cleansing/healing.

Continue eating raw, though, 'cause I've seen quite a few stories on this very site where people had dark circles before raw and eating raw diminished them...so it can't be your diet unless your raw diet is somehow imbalanced. Also, don't CLAIM anything...do your research yeah, but don't start saying, "I think I have ________" or "Maybe I have ____________"...know what I mean? Also...start looking for remedies for dark circles under the eyes such as those cucumber slices on the eyes, rinsing your face first thing in the morning with cool-to-cold water...facial skin exercises to tone the skin as well as bring more circulation of blood to the face, etc. And consider foods that are high in silica such as (and focusing on the skin of) cukes and red/orange bell peppers. Bean sprouts are also high in silica; also vitamin E and of course that's your nuts, seeds, natural oils such as olive and coconut, etc. And make sure you're getting enough REST! ARE you getting enough rest? Is there anything going on in your life that is causing undo stress...maybe even something on a subconscious level?

Don't worry, you'll get this thing beat! Remember...even folks who EAT MEAT and other stuff that raw foodists don't eat get puffiness and dark circles under their eyes!!

One other thing...I also noticed in your photos (LOVELY by the way!) that you wear like an eyeliner (?) What brand are you using? Think that could be a contributing factor at all...something in that makeup? Just a thought!

[GypsiAnsara]

Have you ever had dark circles before? I've been wearing concealer since I was about 12 - dark circles due to pale, thin skin under my eyes. If I don't wear the makeup, people do think that I've been punched in the eyes or am really tired. I can also see my blue veins very clearly in my arms and hands and feet... it's not just under my eyes - but where the skin in thin. Also, like Eva, I've never been too much overweight, so I don't know if they would go away with an extra layer on me :)

I would LOVE for the dark circles to just go away. I don't know if that is possible - just might be part of me. But after my daughter was born, I was really lax about the makeup until my elderly neighbor pulled me aside because she was convinced I was being beaten by my husband. I was like, okay, 30 seconds to put on some concealer and protect his honor? I can do that.

I was also thinking, you've had a pretty radical transformation with this diet, right? I bet your body is still processing stuff out. If your friend thinks you are deficient in something that is in meat, research what he/she is suggesting, and you will more than likely find a raw vegan addition to your diet that will be even better than the meat. That's what I've found!

Do you get enought EFA oil? I've noticed a big difference taking Udo's Oil on a daily basis instead of just when I remembered to. And that came off a recommendation that I NEEDED to take fish oil to ummmm, "live" I believe is how they put it!

Good luck - and welcome to the club if it turns out to be hereditary!

[Cinnamon]

I've sure got the dark circles under my eyes and always have. It seems to run in my family as do allergies (hay fever type) and I've had many people (including those in natural medicine) claim that they are largely caused by allergies.

I find if I drink more water and get more sleep, along with a really clean raw diet (versus SAD) they lighten up and the skin even gets tighter which helps a lot.

I noticed that my little Grandson has developed the dark circles under his eyes the past few months (he is 15 months old) and I suspect heredity also but will make sure to keep his water intake up.

If anyone sees me without under eye makeup I always get the "what in the world happened to you!" statement, like I've been hit in the face!

[Morn]

Thanks Rawkinlocs for the info. I think I am going to start taking a b vitaman as well as multivitamin for awhile and up my water intake to see if this helps. I am not a big salt person either but I will try to add it to more things. I have a ton of Shaklee vitamins at home that I don't ever take. I am not a big taking pill person so it will take an extra effort for me to remember to do this but I would like to see if it helps.

[samariah]

i have always had dark circles but i think they got worse over the past couple of years. i notice that when i eat too much potassium and not enough sodium that they look the worst. for instance, i went through a stage where i was eating crap loadsof bananas everyday and i was wondering why my under eye area was looking progressively darker. i apply a zinc lotion that helps a little bit. now i try to get more sodium through sea salt, greens, sea veggies, etc. salt isn't as evil as some make it out to be. i feel my dark circles can make me look haggard and worn and i dont like looking like that at only 19 years so i also wear a mineral concealer when i go out.

[Tguch]

Morn, your blog is amazing! Congratulations on your tremendous transformation! You look awesome!

I too have dark circles on the sides of my nose and inside my eyes (not underneath). I am hopping they will go away with raw so I can stop wearing makeup all together, but maybe not hm? Lets see!

[DopeRawAbundance]

I'm sure theres a variety of suggestions in this thread, theres 2 things I've heard about dark circles:

1. It could be from excess sugar (which wears out your adrenals or some'n)

2. Wheatgrass juice can cure it.

Blessings to you and your pretty eyes!

[Tk2dsky]

I have always heard dark circles are due to allergies. When you rub your eyes it creates bruising and that translates to the darkness. I also have dark circles and allergies, so for me personally that makes sense.

[Care4raw]

Here's the real scoop-What causes dark under-eye circles;
( this is from www.darkcircles.net..but there's alot written about this from non commercial sites too)

"Your shiners, your raccoon eyes, your blue luggage... whatever you call your dark under-eye circles, here's what they really are: oxidizing hemoglobin.

Dark under-eye circles begin in the capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that web the delicate skin around the eyes. Now, your capillaries are so small that red blood cells sometimes have to line up, single file, to get through. Frequently, red blood cells get lost and wander into the surrounding skin. This isn't a problem - it happens all the time - and your body has a mechanism to mop up these escapees. Enzymes in your body break down the red blood cells, including their hemoglobin (the molecule that gives them their distinctive red color).

No problem, right? Except for one thing: when hemoglobin is broken down, its remaining components have a dark blue-black color. Just like a bruise. So your dark under-eye circles are actually caused by leaky capillaries.



How dark under-eye circles are like bruises

When something hits you, blood vessels are traumatized and sometimes broken. Blood leaks out into the surrounding skin. Your body begins the mopping-up process, and you see a dark, purplish or blue-black discoloration.

So, as you can see, dark under-eye circles are very similar to bruises. The same mechanisms produce them."



I have not researched products too much but i know there's now quite a few over the counter products out there now, that are an effective remedy . Its been quite a big discovery in the last few years.(my conservative non- touting anything Dr, even mentioned this, he's very cool)

I am not sure of a wholistic remedy that works.But i am sure a search will turn up more good info!

Good luck Morn!

[bing]

So how is it going? Have you figured out the cause of the dark circles?

I usually have them when I get stressed. But I doubt stress is the culprit of your dark circles.

I would also like to thank contributors on this thread. I don't normally take in salt or add it on my menu when I'm on raw diet. Now I'm enlightened.

[felin]

Dark circles can often times be a sign of adrenal issues.

[Stina]

Dairy used to aggravate it on me really bad. A day of water fasting makes a big difference for me, I need to get back into the habit of that weekly.

[JonnyBoy]

I had dark circles pretty much my whole life, they were dark purple underneath.. add the fact that I was pale and it was very noticeable.. my mom also has them

Its a matter of stress and hydration usually... stay away from too much salt and keep the stress levels low.. I have found that if I am hydrated and feeling good then they are almost completely gone.