Conjunctivitis (Kapha Abhishyanda)

……………………………..स्यन्देतुकफसंभवे l
जाड्यंशोफोमहान्कण्डूर्निद्रान्नानभिनन्दनम् ll

Ayurvedic Treatment of Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) - Causes, Symptoms

Conjunctiva is a transparent membrane that covers the eyelids and white portion of the eye. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of this conjunctiva layer. When the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva get inflamed, this layer becomes reddish or pinkish and clearer. Since the color of the eye changes to pink, this condition is also called Pink Eye. Ayurveda explains this condition as Kapha Abhishyanda, a condition constituting infection and inflammation of the eye.

Dr. Gupta’s IAFA® is providing absolute Ayurvedic care and treatment for conjunctivitis (pink eye). It can be managed effectively by following the Ayurvedic treatment protocol through IAFA®.

Causes of Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is commonly caused following factors:

Viruses
Bacteria
Allergies
Chemical dropping in the eye
Foreign body in the eye
In newborns, a blocked or incompletely opened tear duct

Following are some of the risk factors for conjunctivitis:

Exposure to allergens
Exposure to others having conjunctivitis
Use of contact lenses

Ayurveda suggests reasons for conjunctivitis are improperly digested food, improper sleep, splashing hot water in the eyes, dust, smoke, etc.

Ayurvedic Reference of Conjunctivitis (Kapha Abhishyanda)

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

Important and common symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

Redness of affected eyes
Itching of affected eyes
Foreign body sensation on affected eyes

Thick discharge from eyes, making it difficult to open eyes in the morning after sleep.
Tears from eyes.

Ayurveda explains the symptoms of conjunctivitis are inflammation of eyes, itching, profuse and thick discharge from eyes, etc.

Types of Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Conjunctivitis of Newborns – Bacteria normally present in the mother’s birth canal can rarely cause infants, a serious form of conjunctivitis. It is known as the Ophthalmia neonatorum. This condition requires treatment at the earliest to preserve sight.
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis – Mostly conjunctivitis is caused by adenovirus; but it can also be caused by herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and even the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis have almost similar symptoms. Wearing unclean contact lenses or that of others can result in bacterial conjunctivitis. Both types spread through direct or indirect contact with the liquid oozing from the eyes of an infected person.

Dr. Sahil Gupta - Ayurvedic Allergy Specialist

“Dr. Gupta’s is providing absolute Ayurvedic care and treatment for conjunctivitis. It can be managed effectively by following the Ayurvedic treatment protocol through IAFA®. Let’s feel the freedom of vision that the Institute of Applied Food Allergy® provides with the guidelines of Ayurveda”.

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– Dr. Sahil Gupta (B.A.M.S., M.H.A.)

Ayurvedic Allergy Specialist
CEO & Founder of IAFA®

Diet in Conjunctivitis

Do’s (Pathya)

Practice good hygiene
Wash hands regularly
Use clean towels daily.
Change pillow covers at regular intervals
Old barley, wheat, green gram, etc.
Green leafy vegetables
Pomegranate
Rock salt
Triphala
Dried grapes

Don’ts (Apathya)

Touching eyes with unclean hands.
Sharing towels with others
Sharing personal eye care items like contact lenses, spectacles, etc.
Suppression of natural urges like tears, sneezing, cough, etc.
Heavy and hard to digest food
Day sleep
Mental stress, anxiety, anger, etc.

Yoga and Pranayama for Conjunctivitis

Yoga postures help to strengthen eye muscles and to relieve stress and strain on the eyes. Following postures may help to sharpen the eyes:

Savasana
Sarvangasana
Shirshasana
Bhujangasana
Suryanamaskar

Pranayama helps to relax the eye muscles and to release stress and strain. It helps to increase blood circulation to the eyes. Yoga and Pranayama can be practiced after relieving the contagious stage of conjunctivitis to empower eye muscles and functioning.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Conjunctivitis

Ayurveda suggests safe and effective treatment modalities for ayurvedic treatment of conjunctivitis. It includes internal medicines, external therapies, and the purification process.

Internal Medicines

Amrutha Shadangam Kashayam
Amrutottara Kashayam
Guluchyadi Kwatham
Aragwadharishtam
Punarnavasavam

Sudarshan Churna
Triphala Churna
Chandraprabha Gulika
Kaisora Guggulu Gulika

External Medicines

Triphala Kwatha
Yashti Triphala Kwatham
Manjishtadi Kwatham

Mridwikadi Kwath
Mukkadi Purampada Gulika

Treatment Procedures

Dhara (Pouring medicated liquids over eyes)
Kshalana (Washing out eyes to remove secretion)
Aschyotana (Eye drops)

Bidalaka (Application of medicinal paste over eyelids)
Gandusha (Holding medicated liquids in mouth)

Purification Therapies

Virechana (Purgation)
Raktamoksha (Blood-letting)

Nasya (Nasal instillation)

Single Herbs for Conjunctivitis

Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)
Darvi (Coscinium fenestratum)
Haridra (Curcuma longa)

Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Sigru (Moringa oleifera)
Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)

Article Written By: Dr. Sahil Gupta (B.A.M.S., M.H.A.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is Conjunctivitis?

Answer: Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of small blood vessels in the conjunctiva of the eyes.

Question: Which are the Types of Conjunctivitis?

Answer: Conjunctivitis is of different types like Bacterial conjunctivitis, Viral conjunctivitis, Allergic conjunctivitis, conjunctivitis of neonates, etc.

Question: Can Ayurveda Cure Conjunctivitis?

Answer: Yes. Ayurveda has specific treatment protocols for eye diseases like conjunctivitis. It includes internal medicines, external medicines, treatment procedures specific for eyes, and general purification therapies.