Effects of Jaloukavacharana in Inflammatory Eye Disorders

Abstract

The frequently encountered inflammatory conditions of eye are conjunctivitis, stye and blepharitis which causes discomfort, foreign body sensation, discharge, photophobia, pain, blurred vision and loss of vision in severe cases. On simulating these conditions to the diseases explained in Ayurveda Conjunctivitis is correlated with abhishyanda, stye with anjananamika and blepharitis with krimigranthi. According to Acharya Sushruta, abhishyanda is prime cause for sarvanetrarogas.

In modern science antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory and steroids are line of treatment in all the inflammatory eye diseases, where long term administration is needed. Apart from these drugs having adverse effects, they are expensive and  as soon as the influence of these drugs are withdrawn, the  infective organisms resume their growth and multiply with the recurrence of signs and symptoms, thus forcing the rationale of treatment to keep the drugs continuously in contact with the infected tissue.

Netra, being Pittta & Raktapradhanaindriya and inflammation processes manifesting in these tissues can be mainly attributed to vitiation Pitta and Rakta. Jalaukavacharana has been explained in our science under Raktamokshana, where it has a vivid importance in treating netraroga by combating both Pitta and Rakta. This paper attempts to explain the importance of jaloukavacharana in treating inflammatory eye diseases.