Ayurvedic Management Of Myopia
‘Shalakya’ among the eight specialties of Ayurveda, is devoted to diseases of eye, ear, nose and throat and organs situated above the clavicle. There is a detailed description of different types of diseases of eyes including errors of refraction. Myopia being the most common error of refraction of young children has been taken up for investigation. Based on the principles of treatment of errors of refraction discussed in “Sushruta Samhita” a line of management with two Ayurvedic formulations Mahatriphala Ghrita and Saptamrit Lauha has been selected.
Clinical studies
i) A comparative evaluations of the Mahatriphla Ghrita and Saptamrit Lahua has been conducted on patientsof Myopia. The effect of treatment was assessed on the basis of changes in the vision observed through Snellen’s chart. It was observed that both the treatments have been reasonably well effective in the improvement of vision. However, the effect of Mahatriphala Ghrita was more pronounced.
ii) Another clinical study was conducted on 264 patients of Myopia preferably children and young adults without suffering from any other eye diseases. The patients usually presented with difficulty in vision, headache, burning sensation in eyes, lacrymation. An Ayurvedic regimen consisting of internal and local treatment was given for 2 to 6 months to the patients. Saptamrita lauha 500 mg. thrice a day with milk was given orally. Regular eyewash once a day with Triphala jala was presceibed to the patients. The patients were also subjected to instillation of Netra bindu application twice a day.
It was observed that female patients were affected more. Maximum number of patients belonged to age group 11-20 years. Symptoms of difficult vision, burning sensation in eyes and headache was found in maximum number of patients. The patients with slight vision defects showed better responseto treatment. Best results were obtained in the patients with 1.00 diapters deficiency of vision. A long-term two months or 6 months duration of treatment showed better result. Out of 264 patients, 41 patients showed three line improvement, 50 patients showed two line improvement and 80 patients showed one line improvement. No response was observed in 93 patients.
Conclusion
The response obtained may be explained with pharmacological actions ascribed to individual ingredients of formulations employed in the study viz. Caksusya (improves visual acuity) Netrya/ Netrahita(Conducive to visual system) Timira hara (Effective in managing disorders affecting vision ) , Netramayaghni, Asesaksi Rogahara (Effective in managing various disorders of Eye,),Caksusya (Improves vision) etc. The study reveled that the scheduled regimen is helpful in improving visual acuity besides achieving symptomatic relief in myopia cases .
source http://ccras.nic.in/Research_Actvities/20081015_myopia.htm
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