Conjunctivitis from the point of view of Ayurveda
Conjunctivitis or pinkeye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid.
Causes of conjunctivitis are:
- Viruses, including the kind that causes the common cold
- Bacteria
- Irritants such as shampoos, dirt, smoke, and pool chlorine
- Contact lenses
- Fungi, amoebas, and parasites
- Sexually transmitted diseases
Conjunctivitis symptoms include redness, tearing, burning, itching, and sensitivity to light, difficulty keeping eyes open for long periods of time.
Types of conjunctivitis:
- Viral strains. It starts in one eye, causing excessive tears and a watery discharge. Within a few days, the other eye gets involved. You may feel swollen lymph nodes in front of your ear or under your jawbone.
- Bacterial strains. It usually affects one eye, but can show up in both, resulting in a lot of pus and mucus.
- Allergic type. It causes tearing, itching, and redness in both eyes, and an itchy, runny nose. Long-term use of contacts or an ocular prosthesis has been linked to giant papillary conjunctivitis. It’s an allergic reaction to a chronic foreign body in your eye.
According to Ayurveda, the condition is known as Netrabhishyandam and is caused by the vitiation of the Pitta and Kapha doshas. When Kapha dosha (water) gets aggravated in the eye, it vitiates the Pitta dosha (fire) and causes redness, watery secretions, discharge and swelling which leads to conjunctivitis.
How Ayurvedic doctors treat conjunctivitis
The Ayurvedic treatment of conjunctivitis can cure it permanently by identifying the root cause of the disease and eliminating it.
Ayurveda uses a variety of herbal medicines and Panchakarma therapies to treat conjunctivitis. Tarpana, Putapaka, Seka, Aschyotana, and Anjana are Kriya-kafpa procedures that help balance the doshas and eliminate the symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Before these procedures, if necessary, the preparatory procedures such as purification, are performed depending on the Ayurvedic doctor and the presence of toxins in the body.
The following formulations may act as antibacterial, antihyperemic, anti-pruiritic, analgesic, anti-allergic, and anti-inflammatory treatments:
- Sphatika
- Shobhanjana
- Bhringaraja
- Haritaki
- Amaiki
- Vibhitaka
- Tulasi
- Haridra
- Yastimadhu
Tips for effective Ayurvedic treatment of conjunctivitis
- Change your pillowcase every day until the infection goes away
- Don’t touch or rub your infected eye with your fingers
- Don’t wear, and never share eye makeup, eye drops, or contact lenses
- Protect your eyes from dirt and dust
- Wash your eyes with coriander extract and water
Check the Ayurvedic treatment for other ophthalmology diseases:
Cataract, Stye, Glaucoma, Myopia, Ophthalmology, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular degeneration, Astigmatism, Hyperopia, Dry eye, Keratoconus, Squint (Strabismus), Pinguecula, Presbyopia, Eye allergies, Eye infections, Eye twitching, Eye floaters, Night blindness, Pterygium, Optic neuropathy.
