Macular Degeneration

All treatments in Ayurveda are prescribed only after a careful diagnosis of the patient’s body constitution, family history, sex, age, stage of the disease etc. This will enable the patient to receive treatments that are specifically suited to his very needs. Ayurveda treatments will therefore vary from patient to patient 

The first consultation with an Ayurveda doctor, including the diagnosis will last for more than an hour. The basic step in the diagnosis will be to find the person’s body humor (Dosha) – Vata, Pita or Kapha, because it is the imbalance of these body humors that creates this macular degeneration.   

The dominance of dosha in a person is found by asking several questions on his behavior, food habits, sleeping patterns, age, height & weight, place of life, profession, health problems and medical reports etc. Ayurveda diagnosis comprises of clinical and laboratory tests also.

Pulse, tongue, nail, and eye examinations are important diagnosis methods used to reveal a person’s body humor and its imbalance. This will help the doctor in treating the disease 

Pulse diagnosis in Ayurveda is not just counting the beats. It also reveals the health status of the entire body constitution, including the dosha imbalance and the health of the various body organs.   

Intongue diagnosis, the doctor checks the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue. In Ayurveda, as different areas of the tongue correspond to different organs of the body, the Ayurvedic practitioner can determine which organs of the body are out of balance by having a detailed tongue examination.

Nail examination is done to check the type, colour and shape of the person’s nail. Imbalances of doshas are easily detected on close examination. 

After the diagnosis, the doctor sets out to treat the patient in a very systematic manner. This would include a set of appropriate Panchakarma treatments and Rasayana therapies .

The Panchakarma Treatments are meant to flush out the toxins, They are classified as pre-purification, main purification and post purification phases and include various types of therapies like oil massages, fermented liquid massages, medicinal enemas, herbal purification methods.

The Rasayana Therapies are meant to nourish the body, to bring the doshas back to balance and to regenerate the body.These comprise diet regulations, daily regimens, intake of oral medicines and ayurveda tonics, yoga and a stress free life. After the treatment the ayurveda doctors will advise you how to lead a healthy life. The beneifts and results of the treatment are shown only after the Rasyana Treatment is over and docotrs advise is strictly followed. The results will manifest itself normally after 3 to 4 weeks as the body takes time to regenerate itself.

Pre-purification therapies are the first ones applied to loosen the toxins, open up the circulation channels and get the body ready for discarding these wastes.  These methods are highly relaxing for the body and mind.  

The following pre-purification methods are usually adopted in curing macular degeneration  

Tharpanam is an ayurvedic therapy especially suitable for the eyes. In Ayurveda tharpanam or tharpan means retention of medicines over the eyes for up to 30 minutes or more a day. Tharpanam is effective in treating every type of eye disorder. It basically is an eye cleansing process and gives a cooling effect to the eyes. In tharpanam therapy, the eyes are bordered with a thick medical combination and the medicated oil is then retained over the eye. It is useful in the treatment of macular degeneration.

Sirodhara In this process herbal oil, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc, are poured on the forehead in a specified manner for about 45-50 minutes.  Sirodhara therapy is resorted to for treating various eye disorders including macular degeneration. Ingredients used in Sirodhara include gooseberry, nut grass tuber and sandalwood etc. 

Snehapanam is an important pre purification therapy which consists of oral intake of medicated ghee and sesame oil for a specified number of days. This unique treatment helps flush out the toxins from the body. Amaltas, guggul, ginger, neem, onion, chopchini, tribhala etc. are some of the ingredients used for its preparation. Apart from being a purva karma treatment, snehapanam also improves the delicacy of the skin, enhances memory and the grasping power of an individual 

This is the phase of elimination of toxins that were loosened at the pre purification treatment sta

ge. These therapies are highly potential methods and are usually overseen by doctors.  The two commonly adopted Panchakarma treatments for macular degeneration are Nasyam and Virechanam  

Nasyam is the pouring of herbal oil in drops in to the nostrils and inhaling the contents. This opens up the head channels and enables the herb extracts to act directly on the central nervous system. Nasyam treatment lasts for twenty to thirty minutes. The herbal oil is a blend of sesame oil mixed with herbs such as sida plant, bel, vitex etc. Nasyam is highly effective in treating macular degeneration. 

Virechanam consists of oral intake of safe herbal medicines leading to the elimination of the poisonous wastes through the anal route. This cleansing of the mid zone benefits the entire body system. The appetite and body strength increases making you a more active and energetic person.

These are body nourishing therapies to rejuvenate the body and mind after the Panchakarma treatments. They keep the enzymes in the tissue cells in their normal functioning condition, restore and balance the body functions and maintain the overall health and well being of an individual for much longer periods after the Panchakarma course.  Rasayana includes oral medicines and diet regulation.

used for treating macular degeneration will be extracts of pure medicinal herbs, leaves, spices etc. These are prepared specifically to restore the lost balance and to provide the needed inputs to cure macular degeneration.Kashayam and Arishtam - herbal decoctions and fermentations Lehyams – semi solid formulation are commonly prescribed. Some of the herbs and spices used in the preparation of kashayams and lehyams for treating macular degeneration patients include fenugreek, cinnamon, ginseng, turmeric, stevia etc.

Diet regulation will be suggested for patients suffering from macular degeneration during and after the treatment. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided. They should consume fruits and green leafy vegetables in large quantities. Cereals like wheat and rice can be consumed. Vegetable juices including juices of carrot, beetroot and cucumber mixed together are also beneficial. They should also drink sufficient quantity of milk.

You can find out your type of prakruthi and decide a diet for yourself 

Yoga and meditation are always beneficial and have always played a vital part in curing every type of disease.  Yoga exercises done every day replenish and rebalance the physical and emotional systems that are depleted by the everyday stresses that lie so heavy on our lives. Yoga makes it possible to rest on a strong base of confidence and strength within oneself. Light yoga postures, meditations and breathing exercises are advised. 
 
Life Style for Macular Degeneration 

Patients suffering from macular degeneration are advised to take at least one or two weeks of rest after the Panchakarma experience. At this time the body is weak after the purification process and needs time to get back to normalcy.. They should quit smoking altogether. It is also advised that they avoid direct exposure to the sun apart from giving any form of strain to the eyes including watching television for long periods, reading too much etc.