Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) – Modern (Allopathic) Versus Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

One of the leading causes of blindness is a medical condition known as age related macular degeneration; known in short as AMD or ARMD. As the name suggests, this condition causes degeneration of the macula, the most important and functional part of the retina, usually leading to diminished central vision. There are multiple risk factors associated with this condition and include ageing, female gender, genetics, faulty diet, excessive sun exposure, smoking, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and obesity.

This disease is classified as either wet type or dry type. The dry type aka non-exudative or non-neovascular AMD, involves a gradual process of drusen (yellowish spots) deposits within the layers of the retina, causing a gradual thinning and leading to diminished central vision. Though the dry AMD affects nearly 90 % of affected individuals, this causes limited vision loss, as the process usually stabilizes after some time.

The same does not hold true for the wet type of AMD, which causes more than 80 % of the vision loss encountered in AMD patients, though it affects only about 10 % of affected individuals. Also known as exudative or neovascular AMD, it involves growth of abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina, leading to leakage of fluid and blood. Vision loss may be sudden, dramatic and progressive, often within a few days or weeks.

The symptoms of dry AMD may be prevented or slowed down with the help of food and diet supplements such as fish, dark green leafy vegetables, garlic and onion, soy, yellow fruits and vegetables, blueberries, grapes, wine, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, zinc, copper, magnesium, selenium, fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, carotinoids, vitamins A, B,  C, and D, glutathione, flavinoids, amino acids, gingko biloba, sage, bilberry and milk thistle.

Treatment for wet AMD includes injection of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti VEGF) drugs, laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, and use of low vision devices. The anti VEGF intra-ocular injections are currently believed to be the most effective treatment for wet AMD; however, this treatment may have potentially serious short and long term side effects.

Dry AMD can be treated with Ayurvedic medicines using oral Rasayan (rejuvenating) herbs along with Triphala or Mahatriphala Ghrut (clarified butter) both orally and locally, especially in the form of a Panchkarma procedure known as Netra-Tarpan (eye lubrication). After Ayurvedic treatment, most affected individuals have been known to retain a decent vision since more than three decades.

To avert sudden and drastic vision loss in the wet type of AMD, the use of leeches on the forehead area - just outward of the eye margins – is a useful and effective treatment measure. Mild and repeated purgation helps in reducing fluid build-up beneath the retina. Medicines can then be given to remove toxic collection from the eyes, as well as to help reduce the abnormal vessel growth and frequent leakages. Alternating courses of Netra-Tarpan and Netra-anjan (application of herbomineral wet powders in the eyes) are required to reverse the process of neo-vascularization. For patients who still do not respond, additional treatment is given in the form of shiro-dhara (liquid medicine drip aimed at the forehead) and courses of basti (medicated enemas). In this way, vision can be gradually restored fully or partially (depending upon the stage at which treatment has been commenced), and further loss of vision can be prevented. The standard treatment time for this is usually 4-6 months.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus be judiciously used to effectively treat both the dry and wet types of AMD, without the risk of serious long-term side effects.

The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com To start Ayurvedic herbal treatment for AMD, click here

 

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment of Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)

Age Related Macular Degeneration, also known as ARMD or AMD, is an age related eye condition which gradually results in diminished central vision. The risk factors for this condition are age over 60, female gender, a positive family history, faulty diet (reduced intake of omega fatty acids and dark green vegetables) , excessive exposure to the sun, smoking, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity.

AMD is of two types, wet and dry. Dry AMD is more common, and nearly 80-85% patients have this type of AMD.  In this type, the macula gradually gets thinner, and toxic deposits cause tiny clumps of protein known as drusen. There is a gradual and slow loss of central vision, which usually occurs in both eyes. Dietary supplements may help reduce or stabilize this condition.

The wet type of AMD is present in only about 15 % of affected individuals; however, this type is more serious and is responsible for nearly 80% of vision loss occurring from this condition. New, abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina; these cause leakage of blood and fluid, eventually leading to scarring of the macula. This type of vision loss may be faster- often occurring in a few days to a few weeks- and more extensive. Vision loss typically affects one eye. Treatment includes dietary supplementation, injection of antivascular endothelial growth factor drugs, laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, and use of low vision devices.

Dry AMD can be treated with Ayurvedic medicines using the Rasayan (rejuvenating) herbs. Use of Triphala and Mahatriphala Ghrut is beneficial, as well as the prolonged use of Netra Tarpan procedure. Medicines which help remove toxic deposits and strengthen the retina are very useful, but need to be given for prolonged periods in order to get good benefit. Associated risk factors and concurrent medical conditions need to be treated in order to give the patient the full benefit of Ayurvedic treatment.  Treated in this way, most affected individuals can retain a decent vision for more than three decades.

For patients with the wet type of AMD, the use of leeches can avert sudden and drastic vision loss. Mild and repeated purgation helps in reducing fluid build up beneath the retina. Medicines can then be given to remove toxic collection from the eyes, as well as to help reduce the abnormal vessel growth and frequent leakages. Vision can be gradually restored fully or partially (depending upon the stage at which treatment has been commenced), and further loss of vision can be prevented.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment can thus be judiciously used to effectively treat both the dry and wet types of AMD.

The writer, Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at https://www.mundewadiayurvedicclinic.com and  www.ayurvedaphysician.com For Ayurvedic herbal treatment of ARMD, kindly click here

Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment for Age Related Macular Degeneration

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