Triphala
decoction
for eye
discharge
Liquid discharge from the eye other than tears,
with or without burning and itching, is found in many eye conditions
and can also be due to environmental pollutants. Mostly,
eye discharge is a common symptom in the
inflammatory and allergic conditions of the eye. In viral
conjunctivitis, the eye becomes red or bloodshot and irritation
causes discharge but this condition does not last more than 10 days
or so, if uncomplicated and proper hygienic care is taken. Bacterial
conjunctivitis is not common, but when it develops as thick eye
discharge of white, yellow or greenish colour; it is advisable to
seek medical advice.
Cigarette
smoke,
chlorine in
swimming
pool water
and
chemicals
in make-up
materials
are some
of the
uncommon
causes of
eye
discharge. In
such cases, eye discharge and other associated symptoms appear on
contact with the irritant and do not last long. Specific medication
is not required but the cause of eye irritation should be
avoided.
Thin watery discharge coupled with itching and
burning in the eyes is due to allergy and it is sometimes very
uncomfortable. This condition necessitates determination of the cause
of allergy.
For eye
discharge,
the simple
principle
of
treatment
recommended in Ayurvedic literature is
to avoid the causative factor and palliate the symptom with medicines
having antagonistic properties. Triphala
decoction
is one
such
medicine
which is
widely
popular and
considered to be quite effective in
alleviating various eye symptoms including discharge, inflammation
and irritation.
Traditional
Herbal Remedies for Primary Health
Care
Triphala
decoction
Fruits of three myrobalans are collectively
designated as Triphala in
Ayurveda, meaning the three specific fruits put together.
This formulation is included in the
Ayurvedic Formulary of India1
and the ingredients are
described in Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia2.
It finds vivid description in Ayurveda literature and is frequently
used by practitioners inter alia in
the treatment of eye diseases, particularly conjunctivitis and vision
disorders. Both Kvatha (decoction)
and Churna (powder)
of Triphala are
indicated respectively for external and internal use in eye
disorders.
Triphala
decoction
is mainly
used for
washing
inflamed
eyes with
purulent discharge
or as
eye drops
in
controlling
conjunctivitis.
Apart from providing relief in
inflammation-induced eye symptoms with
its decongestant, anti-inflammatory and
soothing effects, instillation of Triphala
decoction in eyes is proven to have
prophylactic value for preventing viral conjunctivitis during
epidemics.
Composition
Decoction
of Triphala
is prepared
by boiling
together in water
the coarse powder of dried fruits of the
following three medicinal plants.
Local
Name
|
Latin
Name
|
English
Name
|
Family
|
Parts
Used
|
Haritaki
|
Terminalia
chebula
Retz.
|
Chebulic
myrobalan
|
Combretaceae
|
Fruit
|
Bibhitaki
|
Terminalia
belerica Roxb.
|
Belliric
myrobalan
|
Combretaceae
|
Fruit
|
Amalaki
|
Phyllanthus
emblica
Linn.
|
Emblic
myrobalan
|
Euphorbiaceae
|
Fruit
|
Main chemical constituents
Triphala
as a whole is rich in vitamin C,
gallic acid and tannins. Ingredient-wise the main chemical
constituents are:
Haritaki3: Tannins,
anthraquinones
and polyphenolic
compounds.
Bibhitaki4: Gallic
acid, tannic acid and
glycosides.
Amalaki5: Vitamin
C, carotene, nicotinic acid, riboflavin and
tannins.
Haritaki
fruits
and
leaves. Dried
fruits of
Haritaki.
Bibhitaki
fruits
and
leaves. Dried
fruits of
Bibhitaki.
Amalaki
fruits
and
leaves. Dried
fruits of
Amalaki.
Traditional
Herbal Remedies for Primary Health
Care
Quality standards
Simple quality
parameters for selection of raw materials could be followed for
having desired efficacy from Triphala
decoction.
Ingredient
|
Foreign
Matter
|
Total
Ash
|
Acid
Soluble
Ash
|
Alcohol
Soluble
Ash
|
Water
Soluble Extractives
|
Haritaki6
|
Not
more than
1%
|
Not
more than
5%
|
Not
more than
5%
|
Not
less than
40%
|
Not
less than 60%
|
Bibhitaki7
|
Not
more than
2%
|
Not
more than
7%
|
Not
more than
1%
|
Not
less than
8%
|
Not
less than 35%
|
Amalaki8
|
Not
more than
3%
|
Not
more than
7%
|
Not
more than
2%
|
Not
less than
40%
|
Not
less than 50%
|
Method of preparation
Triphala
decoction for
cleansing eyes
is prepared
the following
way:
- Clean the dried fruits and remove the seeds.
- Take the required amount of each ingredient that is sufficient for the course of treatment. For 15 days’ treatment, 500 grams of each ingredient is needed.
- Make coarse powder separately of the three dried fruits.
- Mix together the three powders in equal amounts to form a uniform mixture.
- Take 10 to 50 grams of the mixture for one application and soak it for about an hour in 16 times water. Then boil till half of the water remains. Filter the decoction through fine cotton cloth and keep in a clean bowl or jug. Slightly warm decoction should be used for washing eyes at the earliest after its preparation.
- For use in children and sensitive individuals, soak 50 grams of powdered Triphala in 200 milliliters of hot water for half an hour, filter and use it lukewarm.
Dosage form
Therapeutic properties1
Anti-inflammatory,
decongestant, soothing and
wound healing
properties.
Dose and mode of administration
Sufficient quantity of
Triphala decoction,
say about
100 to 200 milliliters, is required to
wash eyes in one of the following ways:
- Dip a small piece of sterilized cotton in slightly warm Triphala decoction and clean with it each eye 3-5 times from nasal side outwards; each time with separate cotton. Wipe the eyes with clean and sterilized cotton or soft cloth. Do this procedure two to three times a day.
- Ask the patient to lie down on the back. Irrigate the open eyes, one by one, with Triphala decoction poured through a clean and sterilized dropper. The procedure may be done twice or thrice a day.
- Akshi Tarpana: With patient lying down on back, first clean the eyes with cotton or soft cloth soaked in clean water and then make rings of wheat-flour dough around both eyes. Put Triphala decoction in the rings in such a way as it may not spill out. Keep this position for 5 to 10 minutes and ask the patient to blink eyes and move eye balls in between. This procedure should be done at least twice a day.
Indications and uses
Triphala decoction
is used for washing eyes in acute and chronic infections and
inflammatory diseases of eye including trachoma, where watery or
purulent discharge is the main symptom. It is also recommended for
oral use in various eye diseases.
Precautions and safety aspects
- Due care must be taken to make and keep the decoction in a clean utensil. Do not keep the decoction uncovered and in an unhygienic place. Dipping fingers in the decoction to judge its temperature should be strictly avoided.
- Too hot and too cold decoctions should not be used as they may not yield the desired results.
- Frequency of eye wash should be determined on the basis of the severity of symptoms. It is advisable to wash the affected eye at least twice a day and for each application fresh decoction should be prepared.
- Warm compresses should be applied to soften and remove crusts in the eyelids, before washing the eyes. Softened crusts can be removed with cotton.
- Medical advice must be sought, if vision is decreased, the eye pain gets severe, the discharge is thick and frankly purulent or greenish or bloody and light sensitivity is intense.
Traditional
Herbal Remedies for Primary Health
Care
- Do not continue using Triphala decoction in case eye symptoms
of
itching, discharge, redness etc. worsen or do not improve in one to
two
weeks.
- Haritaki, Bibhitaki and Amalaki fruits are traditionally considered safe in the prescribed doses and no adverse effects are reported in the literature.
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