AYURVEDA IN PRESENT SCENARIO.

AYURVEDA IN PRESENT SCENARIO.

                                      Ayurveda, the greatest medical science on the earth, owing to its deep routes in the society and its proximity to the nature, is witnessing the greatest turmoil in the centuries. the great science is being explored world wide for the possibilities of turning improbable into probables. The rise of many newer varieties of microorganisms, the radical changes taking place in nature, the urbaisaton leading to the diminishing contact with nature and overall insurgence of newer chronic and degenerative varieties of diseases due to increased life span prompt scientists to re-evaluate their medical knowledge. The shortcoming of the present contemporary medical science, the ineffective antibiotics and the debilitating side effects alongwith the rising cost of the health care is forcing the scientists and wise men around the world to look for possible other options which are lesser known just because they are not originated form western world. 

                               

                   In spite of phenomenal progress in modern medical science and other life sciences in the fields of investigations such as biochemistry, radiology; in the fields of therapeutics such as antibiotics, chemotherapies; techniques such as endoscopies; there is a growing demand for the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the services of ayurvedic doctors all over the world. The reason lies in the unique features of Ayurveda.

Treatment of the patient and not of the disease alone

In addition to the clinical features of disease, there are a lot more to be seen by an Ayurveda physician. It starts with the constitution of the patient (prakruti). It is nothing but the tendency of the physical and mental reactions by the person to external stimulus. It changes from person to person. For example, in the October heart only few and not all of us are prone to mouth ulcers. In the rainy season not everybody complains of body ache. This body ache is without any major illness and just presents in a milder but perceivable form. . Next comes the mental attitude. The severity of the symptoms as described by the patient are often the result of his perception about self and the disease. Similarly to choose the treatment modality we need to assess the satwa of patient. For example, in some cases of skin diseases, the patient has to take medicines for quite a long time and a heena satwa person (weak mental attitude) will need a lot of encouragement by doctor to keep him on track. Otherwise, in despair, he may divert from his course.

Next comes inline the patient’s habits. Whether these habits are wholesome and according to the place where the patient stays or the season or the age of the patient. For example the curds may be wholesome to one where as the other might suffer from its ingestion. Sleeping in afternoon may be without any problem for one and may cause sinusitis in other.

We also need to examine the quality of tissues in the body. It is called as saara pariksha. The medicine for a person of weak muscle tissues as evident by less bulk of mass will differ from the person with bulky muscles, even if he is suffering from some digestive problem.

Along with these are the measurements of the body and tissue elements (pramaana pariksha), age (vayas), and diet of the patient (aahaara), the digestive capacity (anala). All these examinations are required for the correct diagnosis of the patient and the disease. So the examination consists of two phases. Examination of disease and diseased. Thus, two patients having same disease may receive two different treatments. The treatment is individualized and that’s why many a times very difficult to standardize.

Field is more important than the seed.

Ayurveda considers micro-organisms as one of the causes of the disease. Ayurveda describes them as krimi. They are classified into 20 types. Some of them are invisible. Some of them are beneficial to body. Ayurveda also describes some of them as rakshasa.and massive eradication of these rakshasas is recommended. Fumigation of operation theatre by burning some herbs is one of the examples of these eradicative procedures.

But Ayurveda doesn’t give them prime importance. The importance is to the underlying environment beneficial for microbes to grow. Our oral cavity (mouth) contains millions of bacteria. We ingest a lot of bacteria). They come in contact with our body every second via skin, via air, food drink etc. but still we are not always ill. Nor every one of us falls ill even in epidemics. So there is something beyond bacteria. And this is body’s resistance. Our body is made up of three main factors called as Dosha, dhatus and mala. Now out of this Dosha are the basic vitiating factors and if they are stable the person is healthy. When these doshas which are 3 in number (vaata, pitta, kapha) get disturbed they vitiate other two factors. Whenever these vitiated factors are formed in the body them the micro-organism can invade the body and produce disease. Ayurveda considers deha or body as the fields and the bacteria as the seeds and gives importance to field then the seeds. If the field is fertile for the seeds then only the seeds can grow. Similarly if the body is weak then the diseases ca crop up. Same is with the mind. Ayurveda, therefore while treating a disease, the importance is given to the promotion of health of doshas and dhatus, and not upon destroying the microbes.

Promotion of immunity.

When microbes are more powerful than the body cells, they attack and cause disease. Antibiotics are powerful than the microbes and can cause death of the microbes. But unfortunately, they destroy body cells also. They cause further disharmony in the cells of the body and some other disease comes up.ayurveda believes in strengthening of the immunity. This immunity is described of two types. First one is the strength to fight against the disease. (Vyadhi-bala-virodhitwa) And the other one is the strength to prevent the starting or fabrication of the disease. (Vyadhi-utpada-pratibandhatwa). Both of these are called as vyadhi kshamatwa. When this immunity is built not only the present disease is eradicated, but recurrence also is prevented. Thus ayurvedic medicine s do have certain side benefits and not the toxic side effects.

Golden moment in my life. Receiving health care excellence award at the hands of world chess champion. grandmaster mr. Vishwanathan Anand.

इ न टी एंड आयुर्वेद

Oto-rhino-laryngo-oro-ophthlmology and Ayurveda.
-Dr. Pranav Bhagwat.MD.

The following articles contains following paragraphs-
- What is Ayurveda?
- What is necessity of exploring Ayurveda for E N T diseases?
- Some basic concepts of E N T in Ayurveda-
- Fields of application-
- Future –

What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an ancient but not old medical science. This is the first ever medical science existed in the world, according to historians. The history dates back to pre-Vedic periods. The flow of constant up gradation of knowledge through series of experiments and observations continues till date. That’s how it is not an old science. The roots and basic principles of Ayurveda are so much embedded in nature that it is aptly called the science in tune with nature. The physio-pathology of Ayurveda revolves around 5 basic elements of nature:- prithvi , aapa, tejas, vayu, aakasha. Through the centuries, though opposed and oppressed by constant invasions on India by Arabs, Greeks, Muslims and Europeans, this science not only existed, it flourished by adding analogous facts from other medical sciences of the world. Ayurveda has eight specialities. Shalakya-tantra or oto-laryngo-rhino-oro-ophthalmology is one of the branches. It deals with diseases of ENT, Eye, Oral cavity, head and neck region.

What is necessity of exploring Ayurveda for ENT,eye or oral diseases?
ENT dept in allopathic system of medicine is expanding in leaps and bounds. With millions of dynamic, research oriented, genius minds including scientists from physics, chemistry and other life sciences working to resolve the mysteries of upper respiratory tract, the advent of this science is astonishing. But still something is missing. Even after the operation is successful, the patient is not happy.
There are a large varieties of patients who are on constant anti – allergic medicines , including steroids and that’s not the “treatment” because they are not being treated but they are suppressed. There are large number of patients who, even after getting the best antibiotics, fail to get rid of running ear. There are a large number of patients who feel the lump in the throat and without finding out the reason properly we are naming them as globus hystericus. There are a large number of patients who deal with difficulties even walking around due to their blindness due to degenerated macula.
Not to mention bothering nasal obstructions, chronic tonsillitis, trigeminal neuralgia, migraine, sinusitis, aphthous ulcers, chronic rhinitis, Menier’s and a number of degenerative conditions, they all need something special, something different form the conventional system of medicine and surgery.
These large number of unsolved queries need to be addressed from different viewpoint and Ayurveda provides that angle.

Some basic concepts of ENT and Eye in Ayurveda-
Ayurveda describes 96 eye conditions, 28 ear conditions, 31 nose conditions, 11 types of headache, 67 oral conditions. Eye is the place of agni or fire and ear of vaayu (air), oral cavity as jala(water) and prithvi (earth), and nose as akasha(space) and jala. The derangement of these basic elements cause the diseases. And restoration of the balance is the treatment.
Ayurveda is a holistic science. Thus while diagnosing a disease it gives paramount importance to the status of digestion, elimination, diet, surroundings, , pt’s age, strength, the time of increase or decrease of symptoms, along with examination of the part concerned. For example, in case of recurrent sinusitis, excessive drinking water can be a cause and when water is digested properly by medications, the sinusitis goes away.
So instead of directly intervening with sinuses, in this case we dealt with whole of the internal milieu and thus the patient is treated and not suppressed.
Ayurveda believes in increasing the resistance power of the part and the patient, rather than killing the micro-organisms. So ayurvedic treatments provide very efficient measures as far as immunomodulation is concerned.
Ayurveda describes various de-toxification procedures called as panchakarmas. The essence of these procedures lies in the fact that many of the modern day diseases occur due to excessive accumulation of unwanted material, can be called as free radicals or pathologies responsible for chronic, degenerative or allergic diseases. And these materials, called as mala are removed by those procedures. And panchakarmas can be employed for prevention as well as treatment of diseases.
The medicines used are purely herbomineral and hence are known for very few side effects. In addition when these are chosen, the constitution of patient is taken into consideration minimizing possibility of allergic reactions from patients’ tissues.

Fields of application-
Basically any chronic, degenerative, allergic or auto immune disorder or disorder of unknown etiology.


Future-
The immense potential of Ayurveda unfortunately is remaining limited to certain parts of the world and certain sections of society. To make it more popular ,so that many and many sections of society wil benefit from it, Ayurveda needs to be researched further. Though , the verses written in ayurvedic treatises are conclusions of years of experiments by the scientists of yore called as rishis and munis, somehow, they need to re-presented to modern society in modern language. And it asks for the collaboration between western and Indian scientist from both the fields.
- Dr. Pranav Bhagwat,
MD
Reader and HOD OF Shalakya,
Ayurveda College, Goa.
www.ayurgoa.com

M C Q s in Shalakya.

Types of oshtha rogas acc. to vagbhat are
8 b)3 c)9 d) 11
Ghrita-mandabha utseda is seen in which oshtha roga
a)Raktaj b)medoj c)mansaj d)sannipataj
3) which part of the teeth is considered as hardest substance in the body
a)crown b)enamel c)dentine d)pulp cavity
4) Dantapak due to pitta is seen in this disease
a)shitadb)dantapupputakc)soushird)mahasoushir
5) which disease is asadhya amongst following
a)dantavaidarbha b)dantapupputak c)soushir d)karal
6) Scaling is done in this disease of teeth
dantasharkara b)krumidanta c)dantakapalika d)shitada
7) ushnasahatva is seen in which disease of teeth
dantavidradhi b) krumidanta c)bhanjanak d)dantaharsha
8)Danttotpatti types are
a)15 b)08 c)06 d)4
9) which dosha dushti is seen in dantaveshtak
vata b)pitta c)kapha d)rakta
10) Complete dantaveshta daran is seen in this disease
a) upkusha b)dantavaidarbha c)soushir d)paridar
11) According to vagbhat which disease is shitadanta
a) dantaharsha b)shyavadanta c)bhanjanak d)dalan
12) adhishtan of krumidanta is
a)dantavalkal b)danta c)dantamajja d)all of the above
13) Iridectomy is done in which disease
a) adhimantha b) akshipakatyay c) ajakajat d) abhishyanda
14) treatment of shuktika according to modern science
inj.vit. B b)inj vit C c)inj vit A d) all of the above
15) The nodule like an insect Indragpa is seen in this disease
a) arjun b)shuktika c)pishtak d)sirajpidaka
16) Dah prapakou shishirabhinanda dhumayan bashpasamucha yasyam as a symptom is seen in this netrabhishyanda
a) pittaj b)vataj c)kaphaj d)raktaj
17) Rice flour like dot on shukla part of eye due to kaphadushti is known as
a) balasgrathit b)pishtak c)arjun d)sirajal
18) Ajakajat can be co-related with
iris atrophy b)iris detachment c)iris prolapse d)iritis
19) Shankha – kamal like white spots on krushnamandal is seen in
a)avrana-shukla b)savranashukla c)ajakajat d)none of the above
20) normal intra occular pressure
a)10-15mm of hg b)15-22m of hg c)22-26mm of hg d)30-40mm of hg
21) Layers of cornea
a)1 b)2 c)4 d)5
22) Adhik dantotpatti due to vata prakopa is seen in
a) karal b)dantavaidarbha c)paridar d)dantakapalika
23) amongst following which is due to deficiency of vit. D and calcium
a) dalan b)krumidanta c)dantasharkara d)dantakapalika
24)rise in intra-occular pressure is a main symptom of
a)abhishyanda b)adhimantha c)sashophapaka d)siraharsha
25) Eye lids become kathin and ruksha in
a) shushkakshi paka b)siraharsha c)sirotpat d)hatadhimantha
26) According to Madhav nidan pishtak is _______vyadhi.
a) vataj b)kaphaj c)vatakaphaj d)sannipataj
27) Foul smelling, blood stained discharge, unilateral nasal discharge is suggestive of_______
a)DNS b)nasal polyp c)old foreign body d)atrophic rhinitis
28) number of siras present in karna
a) 4 b)8 c)6 d)10
29)_____dosha prakopa is seen in nimesha.
a) vata b)pitta c)kapha d)tridosha
30)Shonitarsha is having _______sparsha.
a) mrudu b)kathin c)shita d)ushna
31) Anjannamika can be co-related with
a)Hordeolum internum b)Hordeolum externum c)trichiasis d)follicular conjunctivitis
32) Colour of nodule in kumbhika
a) rakta b)shveta c)krushna d)pitabha
33) Site of utsangini is
a) adho vartm abhyantartah b)urdhva vartm abhyantartah
c)adho vartm bahyatah d) urdhva vartm bahyatah
34)_______sebaceous glands are present in lids.
a)lacrimal b)Zeis c)Moll’s d)krause’s
35) ______dosha pradhanya is seen in puyalas.
a)kapha b)pitta c)vata d)sannipata
36)number of bhedya vyadhi is
a)10 b)5 c)9 d)11
37)Anguli praman of netra according to Sushruta
a)01 b)1 ½ c)2 d)2 ½
38)_______pitta adhishthan is seen in drushti.
a)bhrajak b)aalochak c)sadhak d)ranjak
39) site of agnikarma in netra is
a) kaninika b)apang c)karnika d)drushti
40)how many patalas are present in netra
a)4 b)5 c)6 d)2
41) According to Charak number of shiro-rogas
a)4 b)5 c)6 d)3
42) Headache starts at sunrise, reaches peak during afternoon and than regresses slowly, this symptom is seen in
a)anantvata b)suryavarta c)shirahshoola d)ardhavbhedak
43) Karna rogas according to sushruta
a)25 b)28 c)32 d)31
44) Myringotomy is done in
a)karnashoola b)karnabadhirya c)tivra madhya karnashoola d)karna pratinaha
45) ____dosha prakopa is seen in Dipta.
a)vata b)pitta c)kapha d)tridosha
46)death within three days is seen in this shiro-roga
a)shankhak b)ardhavbhedak c)anantvata d)krumija-shiroroga
47) types of nasarbuda
a)7 b)3 c)5 d)8
48) Trans illumination test is used for diagnosis of
a)
49)Kshavathu vyadhi takes place due to _______marma kshobha.
a)phana b)shrungatak c)adhipati d)sthapani
50) Samanyam karnarogeshu _______ rasayanam
a)puranam b)ghritapanam c)dugdhapanam d)tailapanam
51) Navam pratishyamapasya sarva upcharet ______eva pane|
a)dugdham b)niram c)mishra d)sarpish
52)_____nasya is done in dosharahit stage.
a)avapidan b)pratimarsha c)marsha d)dhuma
53)_____nasya is advised in shankhak.
a)dugdha b)madhu c)dhuma d)takra
54)Vagbhat has included _____kapalgat rogas under shiroroga.
a)7 b)9 c)8 d)11
55) Length of external auditory meatus is________cm.
a)1.5 b)2 c)1.8 d)2.5
56) Proptosis is _____
a)backward displacement of eyeball b)forward displacement of eye ball
c)drooping of the eye lid d)congenital ptosis
57) Quinsy is ________
a)hypertrophied nasopharyngeal tonsil b)peritonsillar abcess
c)tonsillar abcess d)acute ulcerative uvulitis
58)Number of sphenoidal sinus
a)3 b)2 c)4 d)1
59)number of unpaired cartilages of Larynx
a)4 b)3 c)2 d)1
60) Uveal tract contains iris +ciliary body +_________
a)sclera b)cornea c)choroid d)retina
61)Normal size of pupil is ______
a)<2mm b)3mm c)5mm d)75mm
62) Most common cause of blindness in India
a)giaucoma b)cataract c)nutritional causes d)audidental
63) _____is the first layer of cornea
a)Bowman’s b)Descement’s c)substantia propria d)epithelium
64) which of the following is not an error of refraction
a) astigmation b)myopia c)hypermatropia d)presbiopia
65)Ptosis is ____
a)forward displacement of the eye ball b)backward displacement
c)drooping of the eye lid d)double vision
66) Kanthashaluka is
a)Quinsy b)adenoid c)ramula d)carcinoma of oesophagus
67) amongst following ______is dantamulagata roga.
a)dantaveshtak b)dalan c)dantaharsha d)dantakapalika
68) Number of mukharogas acording to Charak
a)64 b)60 c)62 d)67
69) Types of oshtha rogas according to Sushruta
a)9 b)8 c)6 d)7
70) Canines appears at
a)7-9yrs b)10-12yrs c)11-14yrs d)16-21yrs
71)Following is not dantamulagata disease
a)soushir b)dantavaidarbha c)adhimamsa d)dantachal
72) Number of dantarogas
a)8 b)10 c)11 d)12
73) Number of talu rogas
a)8 b)9 c)10 d)11
74) number of galarogas
a)15 b)17 c)18 d)20
75) ____dosha prakopa takes place in balasa.
a)vata,rakta b)vata,kapha c)pitta,kapha d)kapha
76)Sarvasara roga types according to Sushrut
a)4 b)6 c)5 d)3
77)Mahabhuta adhishthan of karna
a)pruthvi b)aap c)tej d)aakash
78)Number of netra mandalas
a)5 b)4 c)3 d)6
79) Avrana shukla is ______
a)corneal ulcer b)corneal opacity c)pseudo-opthalmitis d)iritis
80) Length of netra golak is ______angula.
a) 2 b)1 c)2 ½ d)3 ½
81)Netra roga according to Sushruta
a)76 b)78 c)90 d)92
82) Following is not netra roga hetu
a)kulattha b)masha c)aarnal d)saindhav
83) Shape of netra drushti is like_______
a)masha b)sarshap c)rajika d)masur-dal
84) 4th patal of netra is related to_______
a)rasa-rakta b)mansa c)meda d)asthi
85) netra sandhigata roga sankhya
a)3 b)6 c)9 d)12
86) Puyalas roga affects _______part of netra.
a)sandhi b)vartm c)shukla d)krushna
87) Shiroroga types according to Sushruta
a)7 b)9 c)11 d)13
88) ______taila is used in badhirya
a)apamarga kshar b)bilva c)kushtha d)dhatri
89) Doshaj shirorogas are ______in number.
a)3 b)5 c)7 d)9
90) loss of smell is seen in _______
a)pinas b)vataj pratishyay c)nasapak d)none of the above
91) Types of nasya according to Sushruta
a)1 b)2 c)3 d)4
92) Nasa shushkata and ardrata is seen in ________nasaroga.
a)pinas b)nasashosha c)dushta pratishyay d)nasa srava.
93) Drudh shlakshna yukta shveta part of eyes is known as ______
a)shukla b)karnika c)kalak d)taraka
94) Transparent part infront of shukla mandal is known as______
a)kalak b)taraka c)drushti nadi d)karnika
95) Thickness of shveta patal is _____.
a)1cm b)0.5cm c)1mm d)0.75mm
96)Tenson’s capsule is seen on _____
a)krushna mandal b)shukla mandal
c)drushti mandal d)sarva netra.
97) Length of jivha is ________anguli.
a)2 b)3 c)4 d)5
98) How many dhmanis in jivha are responcible for the function of rasa bodhan
a)1 b)2 c)3 d)4
99) _____vayu carries rasadnyan towards mana.
a)prana b)vyana c)apan d)saman
100)_____types of taste buds are present on tongue.
a)2 b)3 c)4 d)5
102) ____ dosha is main hetu of mukha rogas.
a)vata b)pitta c)kapha d)rakta
103) Adhishthan of gandalaji is ______
a)kapola b)gala c)oshtha d)jivha
104) Shakachadan prakasha is seen in ______ jivha gat roga.
a)kaphaj jivha kantak b)vataj jivha kantak
c)pittaj jivha kantak d)alasa.
105) Number of sakrunjata is ______
a)8 b)5 c)24 d)20
106) ______dosha prakopa is seen in dantavardhan.
a)vata b)pitta c)kapha d)vata,rakta
107) According to modern science krumidanta occurs due to deficiency of_____vitamin.
a) A b) B c) C d) D
108) In 24hrs salivary gland secrete ______cc saliva.
a)1500 b)1000 c)2000 d)500
109) vartm is supplied by ______dhamanis.
a)1 b)2 c)4 d)6
110) Muscles of eye lids are supplied by ______cranial nerves.
a) 5,3 b)3, 6 c)5, 4 d)3,4
111) ____dushti is present in samanya samprapti of vartm rogas.
a) rasa-mansa-rakta b)mansa-sira-rakta
c)meda-rakta-mansa d)rasa-rakta-meda
112) Site of utsangini is ____
a)adho vartm abhyantartah b)urdhva vartm abhyantartah
c)adho vartm bahyatah d)urdhva vartm bahyatah
113) In utsangini ______is done as a primary treatment.
a)lekhan b)chedan c)bhedan d)visravan
114)Number of lekhya vyadhis
a)8 b)9 c)10 d)11
115) Character of pidaka in shushkakshi paka
a) sthira-shushka b)mrudu-chala c)mrudu-shita d)sthira-mrudu
116) Third stage of pothaki is
a)aamavastha b)pakvavastha c)ropanavastha d)pachyamanavastha
117)_______dosha dushti is seen in kukunak.
a)vata b)pitta c)kapha d)tridosha
118) ______dushti takes place in vatahata-vartm
a)mansa b)sira c)dhamani d)snayu.

free eye camp

hello friends,
we all love to celebrate festivals. especially here in India, everybody waits for the festive season to come. its nothing wrong in that. the people are rejoicing. its kind of stress reliever. in the same tradition,i decided to celebrate independence day of india. 15th august . i did it by organising free eye camp. i checked a patients suffering from chronic eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic eye disease, iritis etc. this was the third consecutive year of such a camp. 40 needy patients came to attend and got benefitted. a small gesture of giving back to society.

diabetic eye disorder and ayurveda

DIABETIC EYE DISORDER AND AYURVEDA
-Dr. Pranav Bhagwat,
H.O.D. Of Eye, ENT,
Gomantak ayurveda college, shiroda, goa.

Introduction :-DIABETES MELLITUS or type 2 diabetes is a dreaded disease. Its nick name is “ SILENT KILER” and is enough to describe its exact pathogenesis in the body and all its activities therein and thereafter. There is increasing incidence of the cases with diabetes in India. So much so that India is the world capital of diabetics.

Diabetes mellitus is a clinical syndrome characterized by high blood glucose level due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. This can arise in many different ways. For example the type 1 diabetes may be due to immune mediated pathology, where as other types may be due to genetic defects, pancreatic disease, drug induced, etc.But the most common is the adult –onset type 2 diabetes. In this type there is resistance to actions of insulin which leads to increase in insulin secretion in order to maintain normal blood glucose level. The insulin is secreted by beta cells of pancrease.However in susceptible individuals the pancreatic beta cells are unable to sustain the increased demand for insulin.eventually,than the blood glucose rises which needs the treatment either in the form of control diet or along with oral anti diabetic drug or insulin.

Though genetic factor are important in the etiology of type 2 diabetes, epidemiological studies provide evidence that this is associated with over eating, especially when combined with obesity and under activity.

Pathology The diabetic pathology affects the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat and protein, and can cause a significant disturbance of water and electrolyte homeostasis. These long standing metabolic derangements are frequently associated with functional and structural changes in the cells of the body, with those of the vascular system being particularly susceptible. These changes lead to the development of clinical complications of diabetes which charactesticaly affect the eye, kidney and the nervous system.
Diabetic eye disease- It mainly affects two parts in the eye viz. –the lens and the fundus.The lens become opaque early to the age and thus gives rise to cataract. The changes in fundus are called as diabetic retinopathy and are the most common cause of blindness in the age group of 20-65yrs. The present description is limited to the scope of diabetic retinopathy and its ayurvedic treatment.

Risk factors - The risk factor for this condition are as follows –the duration of diabetes is most important as the chances of getting DR is 50% in first 10 yrs and increases to 90% after 30yrs.Neverthless poor control of blood sugar level poor control of blood pressure, Smoking, obesity and high lipid levels are also contributing to increased risk.

Changes in eye - The major changes responsible for DR are called as Micro angiopathy.The small blood vessels in retina called as retinal capillaries undergo changes that cause decreased oxygen transport and retinal ischemia (loss of blood supply to retina) .The two main consequences of these changes are (1) formation or opening of pre existing bypasses called as shunts,(2) formation of new blood vessels called as neo vascularisation.

Along with these changes there is physical weakening of the capillary wall and break down of inner blood retinal barrier( which separates blood contents from retinal cells) resulting into development of intra retinal hemorrhages and retinal oedema.In the more severe types the new blood vessels are formed on the iris giving rise to increased pressure in the eyeball (glaucoma).

Types - There are 4 types of retinopathies (1)background (2)maculopathy (3) pre proliferative retinopathy (4)proliferative retinopathy. Out of these the last 3 are sight threatening and need immediate attention.

Management - It is advised that each and every diabetic irrespective of, his age or sugar level or absence of symptoms must undergo examination of eyes every 6-12 months. The present management method includes use of photo coagulation and vitrectomy. Though these are effective they do not alter the pathogenesis of the disease. The ayurvedic principles of management play a very crucial role in this context.Ayurvedic medicines act on micro angiopathies and correct the health of capillaries. They also help in establishing blood retinal barrier reducing the oedema.The judicious use of detoxification procedure in ayurveda such as virechana, nasya; along with special eye ‘kriya kalpas’ stops the bleeding from retina and revitalizes the retina reducing the chances of recurrence. The therapeutic measures also include gradual and greater lowering of blood sugar levels as it helps in the increased insulin sensitivity.Neverthless the gradual control reduces the chances of production of hemorrhages which is associated with the rapid lowering of blood glucose.

Contact –www.ayurgoa.com
DR.PRANAV BHAGWAT
HEAD OF EYE -ENT DEPARTMENT
Gomantak Ayurveda College and research center, shiroda, goa.