Conjunctivitis Ayurvedic Treatment

Conjunctivitis is commonly called the pink eye. The Ayurvedic name of conjunctivitis is Netra Abhishyanda. Conjunctivitis is characterised with water eyes with burning sensation and difficulty in opening the eye for a long time. There are several Ayurvedic remedies to cure conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis is a highly contagious condition one should wash the hands and face regularly. It is an inflammation of conjunctiva, the protecting cover of the eye. There are usually 3 kinds of conjunctivitis — viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis. Various Ayurvedic treatments for conjunctivitis are discussed in this article.

Ayurvedic View of Conjunctivitis

• This disease is caused by vitiation in the vata, pitta and kapha doshas of the body.
• Sometimes conjunctivitis may result from the vitiation in the blood or rakta dhatu when it is called rakta abhishyanda.

Ayurvedic Cure for Conjunctivitis
Following are some of the Ayurvedic home remedies for conjunctivitis:

• Myrobalans — Take 3 to 6 grams of powders of all the three myrobalans — amla, harad and baheda twice a day.
• Rose water — Use plain rose water on the eyelids or as eye drops.
• Bilva — According to Ayurvedic texts, bilva leaves are beneficial in treating conjunctivitis. The fresh, clean juice extracted from the leaves of bilva should be properly filtered through a muslin cloth. Use as eye drops, or make a paste out of pounded leaves and apply to the eyelids.
• Coriander — Boil freshly dried coriander and prepare its decoction. Filter carefully and wash the eyes with this decoction to treat redness and burning of the eyes.
• Alum — Mix powdered alum into rose water and carefully filter it through a clean muslin cloth. Pt 2 to 3 drops of this liquid into the eyes.
• Soak powder of the 3 myrobalans overnight. In the morning, strain through a clean cloth. Use this liquid both for drinking and as an eye wash. It helps most of the eye problems.

Some Ayurvedic herbs to treat conjunctivitis:

• Chandi (Ervetamia coronaria)
• Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera)
• Kikar (Acacia arabica)
• Neem (Azadirachta indica)
• Prajmoda (Petrosilenum crispum)
• Rasaut (Berberis arisatata)
• Tarwar (Cassia auriculata)
• Zergul (Calendula officinalis)

The above are some of the Ayurvedic treatments for conjunctivitis.

Characteristic Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

• Inflammation of the conjunctivae along with discomfort, grittiness and sticky eyelids.
• Purulent or watery discharge from the eyes.
• Intense itching and mucoid discharge if the problems is allergic.
• The ailment becomes chronic with regular exposure to dust, smoke and cold winds.