Glaucoma

Increasing intraocular pressure, due to accumulation of kapha dosha in the vitreous humor (the viscous fluid inside the eyeball), is called glaucoma. When glaucoma is occurring in an eye, palpation will show a tenseness in that eye. If pressure in the eye becomes high, headaches may occur. Glaucoma may become a serious condition and can cause blindness, so one has to be very watchful.

In persons who lift heavy weights (either at work or for exercise), who strain in exercise, who have high cholesterol or high triglycerides, or who have diabetes or nicotine toxicity due to smoking, intraocular pressure has a tendency to increase and may lead to glaucoma.

If upon examination by an eye doctor it is determined that you have higher than normal intraocular pressure, these remedies may be helpful.

AN HERBAL REMEDY. In earlier stages of glaucoma, Ayurveda treats this problem with the following formula, which will help to relieve the tension in the eye:

punarnava 5 parts
jatamamsi 3 parts
shanka pushpi 3 parts

Boil 1 teaspoon of this mixture in a cup of water for a few minutes to make a tea. Drink twice a day.

TRIPHALA TEA EYEWASH. To relieve the tension in the eye, wash the eyeball with triphala tea, which helps to regulate pressure in the eye. Boil ½ teaspoon triphala in 1 cup water for 2 minutes, strain it thoroughly (through cheesecloth double-folded, or through a coffee filter) so that no particles of triphala remain in the tea, cool it down, and wash the eye. (For more on triphala, see appendix 2.)

TREAT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. In addition, one has to determine and then treat the root cause of the glaucoma. If the problem is diabetes, follow the instructions in the section “Diabetes.” If high blood pressure is the problem, then try to regulate the blood pressure (see “Hypertension”). If you have high triglycerides and high cholesterol, then you have to control that (see “Cholesterol”).

REDUCE KAPHA. Follow a kapha-pacifying diet. Especially avoid coffee, white sugar, and dairy products.

BE CAREFUL OF EXERCISE. Strictly avoid heavy weightlifting and similar straining. When you do yoga postures, avoid inverted poses such as Headstand and Shoulder Stand.