Siddha Medicine and Treatment for Eye Diseases.
In Siddha Medical system, causes, treatments and medicines for Eye diseases have been well researched and effective medicines have been prescribed. It is understood that eye surgeries were carried out in ancient days. In the name of sage Agasthiyar there is a document named “AGATHIYAR NAYANA VITHI” which describes about causes, symptoms and treatments of eye diseases. This book speaks about numerous surgical instruments used in carrying out eye surgeries. Siddhars have also put forth various simple and natural remedies for eye diseases.
In Siddha medicine, eye disease is called as
“நயன ரோகம்” “Nayana Rogam” , “கண் நோய்” “Kan Noi”, “நேத்திர பிணி” “Nethira Pini”.
Causes of Eye Diseases and Disorders:
According to prominent Siddhar Yugi muni, who is considered to be father of pathology of Siddha medical system. In one of his works named “YUGIMUNI VAITIYA KAAVIYAM” the Siddhar has elaborately spoke about 96 types of eye diseases. Below is his few of his sentences on eye diseases in vernacular Tamil.
We have tried to provide the essence of the Siddhars poem by interpreting the meaning of the text in English through research & investigation. We have used the modern terminologies & technical words of the latest science to give the readers a better understanding and assimilation. If found any errors, kindly bear with us & help us rectify.
கடுகியேவெய்யிலாலும் கனபொடிசுடுகையாலும்
முடுகியமங்கையோடே முனிந்திடுமோகத்தாலும்
வடிவுறுபாசாணத்தை வருந்தியேயருந்தலாலும்
படியெழுங்கூர்மையாலும் பாய்ந்திடுங்கண்ணில்நோயே
–யூகிமுனி வைத்தியகாவியம்
Essential meaning & explanation:
- Working under heavy sun, walking on hot soil without proper foot protection .i.e. over exposure to UV and other sun’s radiations.
- Walking on hot surfaces, which results in humoral derangement.
- Excessive indulgence in sex.
- Consumption and exposure to “pashana” like mercurial and arsenic compounds damages the eyes. Chemical burns from splashes of industrial chemicals or cleaning products, which includes dust, small metal particles, concrete, wood chips, chemical fumes will also injure eye sight or parts of eye.
- Working in dull light, reading and copying of docs under insufficient light.
Siddhar Thirumoolar on Eye Diseases:
According to Siddhar Thirumoolar from his medical work of “THIRUMOOLAR KARUKIDAI VAITHIYAM”, he propounds the factors that causes the diseases in eyes as follows,
பாரே பொடிக்சுடல் பருவெயில் மேற்படல்
வாரேறு கொங்கையாள் மாயை மிகச்செய்யல்
சாரே முழுக்கறல் கண்ணால் அனல் பார்த்தல்
சீரேறு பாசாணம் தின்றதால் கண் நோயே
Essential meaning & explanation:
- Working in heavy sun, walking on hot soil, beach sands and other surfaces without proper foot protection.
- Excessive indulgence in sex.
- Not taking oil bath weekly or fortnightly, which aggravates derangement’s of tri-dosha namely Vata-Pitha-Kabam which gives rise to eye diseases
- Viewing sunlight, bright objects like flames, welding flash, lightning, and computer monitor, TV in close proximity.
- Consumption or exposure to raw drugs which were not subjected to “SUDDHI” (purification process).
கண்நோய் வருகின்ற காரணம் இன்னுங்கேள்
பண்ணான மேகத்தால் பருவெட்டை வாயுவால்
தண்ணாம் மலக்கட்டால் தன் சலக் கட்டினால்
புண்ணாம் இரணத்தில் போடும் காரத்தாலே
Essential meaning & explanation:
- Due to diabetes as a secondary disease.
- Due to infections of viral, fungal and bacterial origins.
- Due to constipation and obstruction in urination.
- In Siddhar system borax is known as Venkaram which is used to assist melting of metals was used borax to heal wounds. Siddhars have discouraged the use of borax as medicine in the ancient days which prevailed in usage.
காரச் சுருக்கால் கடுமிரசத் தூமத்தால்
நேரொத்த சாரம் நிறை மூக்கின் வாசத்தால்
பாரொத்த பேதியால் பலப்பல தண்ணீரால்
சீரொத்த கண்ணில் சிறக்கும் வியாதியே.
–திருமூலர் கருக்கிடை வைத்தியம் 600
Essential meaning and explanation
- Due to inhaling of chemical fumes, acidic gases especially Borax, Mercury and Ammonium etc.
- Due to lose of minerals and bodily fluids by severe dysentery or diarrhea.
- Due to infection through the medium of water.
Remedies or healing techniques
- Understand the above mentioned causes and evade it always, this helps in prevention rather than cure.
- Increase in stress and pressure influences the eye problems; stabilize yourself by following meditation and yoga. This can greatly influence your stress level.
- Plan a balanced diet which can avoid you from eye diseases for e.g. herbal supplements like amla juice or raw amla with honey and carrot both are rich in Vitamin A.
- Cleanse your eyes with natural cleansing agents like water + rose water combination.
- And eye diseases are believed to be related with liver disorders in traditional medicines, take supplements that enhance liver health such as Phyllanthus niruri or Niruri or Keezhanelli in Tamil.
Siddha Treatment for Eye Diseases.
According to siddha medicine, there are 96 types of eye disorders. The causes are classified based on the vatham pitham and kabam imbalance ratios.
Siddha medicine offers various medicines and treatments for all kinds of eye diseases. The siddha treatments approach can be subdivided into three types as follows,
- Deva Maruthuvam.
In this method high potency siddha medicines like kattu kalangu parpam etc of herbo mineral origin are used in curing the disease.
Eye diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy etc is dealt in this approach.
- Maanida Maruthuvam.
In these method pure herbal decoctions, essential oils and mixture of herbals are used in resolving the eye diseases. Both the internal and external therapies are followed.
Problems like eye infections, dry eyes, madras eye, conjunctivitis, pink eyes, fungal infections, etc are handled in this approach.
- Asuraa Maruthuvam.
In this method surgical methods are followed for resolving eye disorders like cataract. In fact siddha system had separate department of surgery for ophthalmology which has defined surgical tools as shown in the picture.
In all the above types both internal (32 types) and external siddha medicines (32 types) are followed in the healing procedure.
Siddha herbs used in Siddha Medicines for eyes:
- Terminalia chebula
- Terminalia bellerica
- Phyllanthus emblica
- Sparagus racemosus
- Berberis aristata
- Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Cinnamomum camphora
- Gmelina arborea
- Coconut water
Few Home remedies for Eye problems.
Crow’s feet, dry eyes and eyestrain.
Causes: these problems are caused by pitta imbalance. Other factors include worry, lack of sleep, excessive intake of alcohol, or not drinking enough water i.e dehydration.
Cures: stop using chemical and preservative laden makeup. Rest your eyes as often as you can. Take regular breaks between computer jobs. Protect your eyes against direct sunlight. Apply a paste of lotus flowers on eyes as it acts as a cooling herb. This is quite effective in pacifying pitta related problems besides cooling and relaxing the eye area.
Dark circles under the eyes:
Causes: this could be either a vata or pitta imbalance. Look for these factors: have you been unwell lately? Not eating fresh food? Suffering menstrual problems? Are you anemic? Have you been suffering from anxiety or poor circulation? All these cause dark under-eye circles.
Cures: soothe your eyes with pure cotton wool dabbed in pure rose water. Place the cotton pads on eyes for ten minutes, and lie still to ease away tension. Avoid fried, greasy foods and leftovers and eat only freshly cooked meals. Close your eyes as often as you can, outing your palm against them to rest them further.
Puffy eyes:
Causes: An aggravated kapha dosha causes puffy eyes. When prolonged, this condition can indicate that you might have a kidney or liver disorder, therefore seeing a physician is advised. Other causes include slow digestion, poor appetite, water retention and hormonal imbalances.
Cures: Drink lots of water, which will de-clog your body’s channels. Eat lots of fresh fruit, and avoid using any cosmetics in the eye until the problem is solved. Do not sleep during the day time.
Tips for a fresh pair of healthy eyes:
- It is best to avoid poor light when reading or using computers or watching television for long hours.
- Very intense light or using very cold or hot water on the face and head is not healthy for the eyes.
- Applying few drops of almond, coconut or sesame oil around the eyes prevents dark circles.
- Proper intake of a number of leafy vegetables, carrot, milk, ghee in the diet helps in maintaining good ocular health.
- Regular eye exercise maintains perfect eyesight. One simple method of exercise is moving the eyeball- right and left, upwards and downwards and rotating it in the clockwise and anti-clockwise directions.
- Some yoga asanas, like shirshasana (if one doesn’t have any blood pressure issues) and surya namaskara asana are very beneficial for eyes- as they boost blood circulation.
Sources:
- திருமூலர் கருக்கிடை வைத்தியம் 600 (Thirumoolar karukkidai vaithiyam 600).
- யூகிமுனி வைத்தியகாவியம் (Yugimuni Vaithya Kaaviyam)
- FRLHT’S Amruth vol 8 issue4 july-august 2004
Disclaimer
All the Tamil explanations and definitions made are based on the Siddha literature. We have used terminologies and definitions from modern medicine in order to help the readers absorb the right essence. Siddha literatures are thousands of years old that were postulated, based on then existed scenarios. The postulates framed then, may or may not be in coherence to today’s world, because as humans have traveled a long path of evolution. Such evaluations have rendered immense changes to humans mentally and physically. So we kindly request readers not to be in the prejudicial mindset while reading the postulates.
