Abstract

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.