Ah, cataracts, they can be a real bugger! I totally get your concerns about surgery, especially after seeing your grandma go through it. Now, in Ayurveda, we always try to treat the root cause of a problem, and there’s definitely some interesting stuff we could do with herbal treatments and lifestyle tweaks. While Ayurveda can’t fully reverse cataracts, especially in more advanced stages, there are ways to manage progression and give your eyes some good luvin’.
First off, some dietary tips! Eating foods rich in antioxidants can be really beneficial. Think leafy greens, like spinach and kale, and colorful fruits like blueberries and oranges. Omega-3 fatty acids are great too, so nuts, seeds and fish could be your new besties. But, avoid foods that increase Pitta dosha, like spicy and very salty stuff, as they can throw things off balance for ya.
For herbs, Triphala Churna is a classic in Ayurveda. You can take it internally or even use as an eye wash. It’s usually taken at bedtime mixed in warm water. And then there’s eye drops made from herbs like Triphala, often called Triphala Ghrita which you put directly in the eye—just a drop or two daily. Always useful to start small and see how your eyes react before diving in deep.
Netra Tarpana, which you’ve mentioned, it’s kind of a rejuvenating eye therapy involving the application of medicated ghee to the eyes. It’s wonderful but should be done by a trained practitioner. And yes, super gentle eye exercises that involve eye rolling and blinking can help too. But don’t overdo it—eyes are delicate little creatures!
Warm oil massages, especially with sesame oil, can benefit your overall relaxation and reduce stress around the eye area, but be cautious about not getting any oil actually in your eyes!
Keep in mind, results ain’t instant. It could take several weeks to see changes, depending on your individual constitution and consistency with treatment. And most importantly, stay in touch with both your Ayurvedic practitioner and regular eye doctor to monitor the cataract progression. Balance is everything here, cause while Ayurveda can offer supportive care, there are some situations where surgery becomes necessary to preserve eye health.
See, each person’s unique, so tailoring treatments to your prakriti (constitution) and ensuring you’re not skimping on the essentials is key. Always got to keep that open dialogue with health care providers!, ya know?



