Ayurveda quite effective in treatment of eye disorders

The world's first ayurvedic ophthalmic hospital said that more people are getting inclines towards ayurvedic treatment for eye problems. Ayurveda is the ancient medicinal of India originated thousands of year away.

Doctors at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre near Kochi claim that ayurveda has the potential to cure many eye diseases without surgery with ease.

"Before we came in, there was no ayurvedic medicine in this field," says N.P.P. Namboothiri, the hospital's managing director and chief physician. "We have become the pioneers."

Every year over ten thousands Indians and foreigners visit Kerela every year in serch of ayurvedic treatment for various diseases but few beyond Kerala seems to know what ayurveda can do in the field of ophthalmology.

Eye diseases are very common today due to long hours of work on computers, poor eating habits, long and frequent journeys, insufficient sleep and other reasons.

The most common reasons for Eye disorders includes watching TV for long hours, reading small print continuously, inappropriate head position while lying on the bed, heavy sneezing and even having more sex.

Television is the major reason for most myopic disorders in children.

"Many of these diseases can be completely cured through simple treatments we offer," Namboothiri told IANS at his office, which is part of the family's ancestral home.

Hailing from a family of ayurvedic practitioners, Namboothiri established Sreedhareeyam with only five beds in 1999, which has now grown to 350 beds and around 200 patients visit daily.

Sreedhareeyam has 16 centres in Kerala and other parts of the country including Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Chennai.

In Kerala, the hospital has its branches at Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Thodupuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.
Now ayurveda is not the last option for the patients but today many prefer ayurvedic ophthalmic treatment right away, doctors with Sreedhareeyam say.

"Early detection of eye ailments helps in faster and better recovery," Namboothiri said.

"If treated early, ayurveda strengthens the nervous system and prevents degeneration of the optic nerves."

According to him, even complicated and rare diseases that affect the optic nerve and retina that lead to blindness can be treated with great success with ayurveda.

"Thousands of people are today resorting to ayurveda for effective cure," he said.

Some of the major eye disease that can be treated with ayurveda are diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and detachment of retina.

Shalakya Tantra is the ayurvedic branch that discusses the ailments above the neck.

The ancient Ayurvedic texts deal with 76 eye, 28 ear and 31 nose diseases.

"We even treat and cure eye problems not normally curable by other medical sciences," Namboothiri says.

"Today, our hospital has brought new respect to the science of ayurvedic ophthalmology."

-With inputs from IANS

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