Ayurvedic Remedy for Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of conjunctiva causing redness of the eye is conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can be treated with Ayurvedic medicine very effectively. There are many Ayurvedic Herbal drugs to treat this. Daruharidra(Darulhaldi) or Indian barberry is one of the herbal drug mention in Ayurvedic texts and used to treat Conjunctivitis since hundreds of years. Decoction of Indian barberry is used to treat Conjunctivitis.

Common causes of Conjunctivitis

1. Main and most common causes of conjunctivitis is viral infections and bacterial infections.
2. Some time it may be caused by allergic reaction from air, dust, chemicals and others.
3. The infectious form of conjunctivitis is very common in children and is highly contagious.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

1. Here are most common symptoms
2. Redness and itching in eye
3. Stickiness, Foreign body sensation, Irritation
4. Watering from the eyes
5. Sometimes intolerance to light

Daruharidra (Indian barberry) is a shrub or small tree, distributed in the temperate and subtropical parts of Asia, Europe and America.

English name: Indian berberry
Latin name: Berberis aristata D.C.
Family: Berberidaceae
Part used: Stem and root.

Process for making Darulhaldi Decoction

• Soak overnight 5 grams of coarse powder of Daruharidra in 100 ml of water.
• Boil the mixture till half of the water remains and filter it.
• Use the filtrate at room temperature to irrigate the inflamed eye(s).

Indications and uses

Conjunctivitis, trachoma and eye infection resulting from Chlamydia trachomatis, and chronic ophthalmic inflammation.

Dosage and uses method

• Daruharidra decoction can be applied in the form of eye drops in conjunctivitis. For this purpose keep 2 ml of the filtered decoction mixed with equal quantity of pure honey in an eye dropper vial. Use this mixture within 12 hours by instilling 1 to 2 drops in each affected eye 4 to 6 times a day at regular intervals.
• Lie down on the back with the neck slightly extended. Decoction is poured on the eye as thin stream with undine or with syringe without injection needle or canula. This procedure can be repeated twice or thrice in a day depending upon the severity of the symptoms.

Precautions to be taken

• Strictly avoid sharing clothes, handkerchiefs and towels and wash such items separately.
• On coming in contact with a person suffering from conjunctivitis, wash your hands with soap and water properly.
• Avoid prolonged work under artificial light and excessive use of the eyes.
• Decoction and eye drops solution must be prepared fresh daily and kept in a sterile vessel.
• Infection can be easily transmitted by touching or rubbing your eyes, make an effort to avoid it.
• Protect the eyes from dirt, sunlight, other irritating substances and from repeated rubbing.
• Do no use cosmetics while suffering from conjunctivitis.
• For cleansing and soothing the eyes dip a clean cloth in warm water, wring it out and place it on the eye till it becomes cool. Then apply another cloth in the same way.

Important: If eye symptoms aggravate or are not relieved within two-three days, seek doctor’s advice for necessary treatment.