Ayurveda - Health of Eyes

As per Ayurveda Eyes are of prime importance among all senses "Sarvendriyanam Nayanam Pradhanam".Laymen may wonder what Ayurveda has to do with the health of eyes. When it comes to the health of eyes, lenses, cataract surgery, Lasik etc are buzzwords.In this vision oriented era of tablet-computers or smart phones  healthy eyes is a very important topic of discussion. Very few know about a specialty in Ayurveda named Salakya Tantra that deals with diseases of head in general. Netra Chikitsa is the branch within Salakya that deals particularly diseases and health of eyes.

NETRARAKSHA PATHYA

Ayurveda enlists a few dietary as well as other factors called NETRARAKSHA PATHYA those can be simply incorporated in your daily diet and regimen  if you are looking forward for better health of eyes. Also,there are certain things that have to be abandoned for the better health of eyes.

DO’s

Pure cold water should be drunk in plenty.

Among fruits include more grapes, gooseberries and pomegranates.

Carrot, radish and leafy are vegetables which are good for eyes.

Among rice verities Red rice is the best choice.Wheat and barley are good choice among other cereals.

Green gram should be included in daily diet.

Prefer bird meat like chicken, turkeys etc.

Use of Rock salt instead of common salt.

Among fats ghee is the best.

Use of umbrellas that protect from sunlight.

Proper care of foot by applying oil and use of footware.

DONT’s

Food that cause indigestion.

Use of sesame oil for cooking and application on head.

Food with sour taste, also hot and spicy food.

Looking at very shiny, quick moving and minute objects.

Sleeping during day time, and keeping awake at night.

There are various treatments mentioned in Ayurveda for improving the health of eyes as well as for getting cured from various ophthalmic disorders. Some of them can be practised as part of daily regimen or Dinacarya.

Application of collirium (Kajal, kanmashi) or Anjana is an example. The eye-liner we use today is actually a modified kind of collirium.

Murdha Thaila or oil application on head using suitable medicated oils is also mentioned among Dinacarya.

Use of Triphala as Netra Rasayana and Padabyangam or application of oil on foot should be carried out effectively.

There are so many other treatments including various internal medications as well as therapeutic procedures for curing Ophthalmic Diseases.

Seka - Bathing the eye using medicated water or milk.

Aschothana - Instilling medicated drops in eyes.

Bidalaka - External application of medicated paste over the lids.

Nasya - Nasal administration of medicated ghee,oil etc.

Tharpana - Retaining medicated ghee in eyes.

Shirodhara - Pouring medicated oil or decoction on forehead.

Jalaoukavacarana - Blood letting using freshwater leeches etc. to name a few.

Apart from these different surgical procedures are also practised in like that of Pterygium etc.

 Ayurveda exhorts, “All possible efforts should be made by men to protect their eyes, throughout the period of their life. For a man who is blind this world itself seems to be useless as the day and night are quite the same for him even though he is wealthy.