Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment in Ayurveda | AMD Treatment

What is AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration is a common problem with your eye's retina. It happens when a part of the retina called the macula is damaged or deteriorated. With this disorder, you cannot see fine details, whether you are looking at something close or far. You also lose your central vision in the case of AMD.

Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• The major symptom includes a slow, painless loss of vision.
• Dark, blurred areas appear in the center of your vision act as one of the symptoms.
• Early age-related macular degeneration symptoms include shadowy areas in your central vision or unusually distorted spots that affect only the central portion of your field of vision.
• Words in a book or newspaper may become blurred.
• Colors appear less bright.
• Difficulty in recognizing the faces.
• Visual hallucinations are one of the common symptoms of age-related macular degeneration.

Causes of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The age-related macular degeneration causes are not much clear, but are associated with following-

• The gene deficiency of complement factor H (CFH) is associated with almost half of all cases of macular degeneration, according to the research.
• There are various cells in the retina that produce a type of protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which enhances the growth of new blood vessels in the retina, this is another cause of age related macular degeneration.

Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Treatment of AMD according to Ayurveda advocates certain therapies. These are described below:

• Virechana (Therapeutic purgation) — This therapy is one of the best therapies for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. It is done with the administration of herbal medicines after internal and external oleation.
• Nasya (Nasal medication) — It is a procedure in which medicated oil, or herbal juice, is instilled inside the nostrils after oleation and fomentation of the face and neck.
• Netra Dhara (Eyewash) –The treatment of age-related macular degeneration also includes Netra Dhara. The procedure of Netra Dhara includes pouring the thin streams of herbal medicine over the closed eye from a certain height is Netra Dhara. This procedure is carried out during the day.
• Lepa (Application of herbal paste) — The application of herbal paste on the skin surface of the eyelids, is called Lepa. It can be done with the paste of Lodhra (Symplocos Racemosa), Nimba/neem (Azadirachta indica), Shigru (Moringa Olifera), Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis), Eranda (Ricinus communis) depending upon the doshas vitiated.
• Netra Tarpana (Eye rejuvenation)– This treatment of age-related macular degeneration includes the warm medicated ghee which is then poured into the eyes and retained inside a herbal paste boundary.
• Taila Shirodhara — In this process lukewarm medicated oil (Sesame oil medicated with herbs like Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Yashtimadhu, Chandana, etc) is poured over the forehead in a rhythmic manner from a perforated pot suspended above forehead.
• Takradhara– The ayurvedic treatment of age-related macular degeneration includes Takradhara also. In this therapy, lukewarm medicated buttermilk (medicated with Amalaki and other herbs) is poured over the forehead in a rhythmic manner just like in Shirodhara.

Home Remedies for AMD

• Intake of Vitamin A should be increased in your diet.
• Include fruits of orange and yellow color such as carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apricots, peaches, cantaloupe, oranges, and mangoes.
• Include non-vegetarian foods, like eggs, liver and fish as they are good for eye health.
• Avoid sitting near the TV and computer for a longer period of time.

Conclusion

Age-related macular degeneration is a common eye condition having a problem with your eye’s retina. It usually happens when a part of the retina known as the macula is deteriorated.

The causes of age-related macular degeneration include mostly the genetic reasons such as complement factor H gene and VEGF factor. The symptoms of age-related macular degeneration include blurred vision, Colors appear less bright and also some defects in your central vision and dark, blurred areas also appears in the center of your vision. The treatment of age-related macular degeneration in Ayurveda includes Nasya, Netra Dhara, Virechana, Takradhara and Shiro lepa. These therapies are being done by the help of expert eye doctors at PRAKASH NETHRALAYA, JAIPUR.