The retina is an extremely thin tissue that lines the extreme
back of the eye and is basically responsible for the assimilation of
visual data, which is then transmitted to the brain by the optic nerve
for interpretation. A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina
from its attachments to the underlying tissue, usually due to trauma,
bleeding, extreme near-sightedness, medications or surgery. This
condition invariably leads to complete loss of vision, and needs to be
treated urgently. Currently, surgery is the only viable medical option
in the management of retinal detachment.
The limitations of
surgery are that eyesight may not be regained for several months, and
recovery may be only partial. In addition, complications like infection
and recurrence of retinal detachment are also possible. Ayurvedic herbal
treatment can be quite useful in these situations as supportive
therapy, to prevent bleeding, reduce the severity of damage to the
retina, induce faster healing, salvage the maximum possible vision in
the affected eye, and prevent a recurrence of the condition.
Ayurvedic
medicines like Tapyadi -Loh, Laxadi-Guggulu, Usheerasav, Saarivasav,
Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Triphala-Ghrut, Punarnavadi-Mandur,
Punarnavadi-Guggulu, and Gokshuradi-Guggulu can be used to reduce or
prevent swelling and bleeding in the interior of the eyes. Herbal
medicines like Laxa (Purified wax), Naagkeshar (Messua ferrea), Sphatik
Bhasma (Purified alum), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Amalaki (Emblica
officinalis), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), and Manjishtha (Rubia
cordifolia) can also be used for this purpose.
Medicines like
Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha, Punarnavadi-Qadha, Tapyadi-Loh, Ekangveer-Ras,
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Punarnava
(Boerhaavia diffusa), Yashtimadhuk (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Guduchi
(Tinospora cordifolia) are used to minimize eye damage and induce faster
healing.
Further damage can be prevented by treating known risk
factors like diabetes and hypertension, and by boosting the immune
status of the body by using medicines like Abhrak-Bhasma,
Trivang-Bhasma, Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Suvarna-Parpati,
Panchamrut-Parpati , Panch-Tikta-Ghrut and Maha-Triphala-Ghrut.
Retinal
detachment is currently a medical condition which is difficult to treat
and therefore, the potential contribution of Ayurvedic herbal treatment
assumes special significance. It is important that all such patients
should be under the regular care and supervision of a team of
Ophthalmologists.By
Abdulmubeen Mundewadi
