Abstract

PREVENTIVE PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDA ADVANTAGEOUS FOR NETRA SWASTHYA – A REVIEW

*Panchaxarimath Archana

ABSTRACT

Eyesight is one of the most important senses. 80% of what we perceive comes through sense of sight. The eyes allow us connecting with our surroundings and help maintain the sharpness of our mind. They also keep us safe, provide awareness of the danger around us. In the present scenario due to many environmental factors, sedentary, stressful and faulty life style, eye disorders are quite common. In today’s life style, smoking, tobacco, liquor, junk foods, electronic gazettes, television, computer, mobile phones are part of population so eye sight will damage in early age. Recent studies and WHO reports indicate that refractive errors are the first cause of visual impairment and the second cause of visual loss worldwide as 43% of visual impairments are attributed to refractive errors. It is estimated that number of blind persons in India in 2020 will be about 31.6 million. As we move from a disease-specific care model toward comprehensive eye care, there is a need for a more holistic and integrated approach in the health system. It should enclose not only treatment, but also prevention, promotion, and rehabilitation of eye disorders. Our ancient seers have also given prime importance to eye by considering it as the most vital sense organ among all sense organs. Ayurveda encompasses various procedures to store proper vision for long time in the form of Kriyakalpas, Panchakarma therapy, Chakshushya Rasayana, Yoga, Ahara, Vihara, Sadvritta, Pada-Abhyanga, Shiro-Abhyanga etc. In this paper an attempt has been made to explore the preventive principles of Ayurveda for preservation of eye health and vision.

Keywords: Vision, Diet, Regimen, Life Style, Prevention.