Age related macular degeneration is also known as ARMD or AMD and is a medical condition which causes a gradual deterioration in the central vision of the eye. ARMD can be either wet or dry; the wet type involves growth of abnormal blood vessels behind the retina which bleed and cause rapid loss of vision. In the dry type of ARMD, there is a gradual break down of the light sensitive cells in the macula which causes a gradual loss of vision. A family history, female gender, age over 60, obesity, and a history of smoking are risk factors for ARMD. The modern management of this condition includes the use of oral medication, injections, laser surgery, and photodynamic therapy.
The overall results of modern treatment in both types of ARMD are not very encouraging. Ayurvedic herbal treatment has a significant role to play in the treatment of this medical condition, both for the dry and wet types. Ayurvedic herbal medicines prevent a deterioration of the retina as well as the optic nerve, and provide micronutrients to the macula which transmits the sensation of vision to the brain. Ayurvedic herbal medicines also display an anti-inflammatory as well as soothing action on the micro capillaries within the retina as well as the optic nerve. The combined action of these medicines is to reverse the pathology in both the dry and wet types of ARMD, prevent further loss of vision,
stabilize vision, and increase visual acuity in the affected individuals.
Ayurvedic herbal medicines are also utilised to increase the general immune status of the individual affected with ARMD, so as to slow down the degeneration process both in the eye as well as in the whole body, and provide health, vigor and vitality. Immunomodulatory treatment with the help of herbal medicines not only speeds the healing and recovery process in ARMD, but it also ensures that there is no further deterioration or relapse after discontinuation of treatment. Most individuals affected by ARMD need treatment for about nine months to one year in order to get significant improvement in all the symptoms as well as vision.
Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus be judiciously utilised in the management and treatment of ARMD.
The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
