Netra Tarpana: Ancient Ayurvedic Eye Rejuvenation therapy for the Digital age

What is Netra Tarpana?

Netra means ‘Eyes’ and Tarpana refers to ‘Nourishment’. This procedure nourishes the eyes using Sneha (medicated ghee).  It provides strength to the eyes; the medicated ghee is poured in the wheat / black gram flour prepared ring- like boundary around the eyes.

What is the season for Netra Tarpana treatment?

This treatment should be performed during Sadharana Kala i.e., a season which is neither very hot nor very cold and without clouds or rain. This could be done during morning or evening hours according to the condition of the patient.

What is the indication of Netra Tarpana?

• Nayane Tamyati – Temporary vision loss which could be seen in many eye diseases.

• Netra Stabdhta – Stiffness or tightness in eye muscles which occurs due to ocular muscle fatigue. This is common in person who are either working in software, IT industries (near vision) or are driving for long hours or need to look for distant objects for longer durations.

• Akshi Shuskta – Dryness of eyes which could be due to less lacrimal gland secretion of tears i.e., decrease in natural lubrication

• Akshi Rukshta – Roughness of eyes; this also could be due to decrease in eye lubrication.

• Netra Abhighata – Injury to the eye Vata Pitta disorders of eyes

• Netra jimhata – in this deviation of eye ball occurs abnormally; eyes start to point in different directions. This condition is called as Strabismus (crossed or wall eyes).

• Shirna Paksham – excessive loss of eye lashes.

• Avila aksham – the accumulation of mucus, oil or eye discharge occurs which causes dirtiness of eyes

• Kricchrounmilana – difficulty in eye opening or closing could be due to dry eyes, blepharitis (inflammation of eyelids), fatigue, apraxia of eyelid opening which causes difficulty in opening the eyes after a long time.

• Arjuna – eye disorder of sclera

• Abhishyanda – Conjunctivits (inflammation of Conjunctiva)

• Adhimantha -   Glaucoma (group of eye disorder which can damage the optic nerve)

• Sirotpata , Anyatovata – conjunctival hyperemia (it is associated with allergic conjunctivitis)

• Vata Paryaya – cranial nerves atrophy which causes drooping of eyes, causes difficulty in opening of eyes, vision loss, difficulty in eye movement.

• Shukra – Keratitis (inflammation of cornea); this causes pain in eyes, grittiness, blurred vision, redness and swelling of eyes, photophobia, etc. This procedure can be done after reduction of eye irritation, redness, over tearing, etc.

What is the contraindication of Netra Tarpana?

Netra Tarpana should be avoided on the cloudy days, very hot or very cold days, anxious person, giddiness, complication after any eye diseases.

Research articles related to Netra Tarpana

according to one research article, Akshi Tarpana done with Jeevantyadi Ghrita was found to be effective in the Myopia conditions in comparison to Go Ghrita.

References:

Ashtang Hridaya sutra sthana chapter 24

Sushruta uttar tantra chapter 18

Poonam, Manjusha R, Vaghela DB, Shukla VJ. A clinical study on the role of Akshi Tarpana with Jeevantyadi Ghrita in Timira (Myopia). Ayu. 2011 Oct;32(4):540-5. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.96130. PMID: 22661851; PMCID: PMC3361932.