TARPANA-EVIDENCE BASED AYURVEDIC APPROACH FOR EYE MALADIES
N. Srikanth and A. Singh*
ABSTRACT
Ayurveda advocates topical ophthalmic procedures called Kriya
Kalpas as major therapeutic procedures for the management of eye
diseases. Tarpana one among these
ocular procedures wherein the topical application of clarified
butter(ghrita) and other dosage forms of clarified butter processed
with medicinal plants(ghritakalpas) are employed which are lipid
soluble. Lipid soluble substances possess better permeability and cross
ocular tissues irrespective of their molecular size, hence therapeutic
concentrations could be achieved. Ghritakalpas(dosage forms with
clarified butter as base), the drug is present as small particles kept
suspended in an lipid medium by a dispersing agent, particles do not
leave the eye as quick as solutions that increase the tissue contact time Tarpana is indicated in
diverse ophthalmic conditions such as surface lesions, diseases of adnexa, intraocular and
neuro-ophthalmic diseases. Owing to these merits, prime importance stands attributed to
tarpana over the other topical ocular therapies.
Keywords: Tarpana, Kriyakalpas, Ayurveda, Ocular therapeutics.
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