Dr. Manisha Kshirsagar, BAMS (Ayu. India) www.AyurvedicHealing.net 831-462-3776 _____________________________________________________________________ Netra Yoga (Outer and Inner vision) Ayurvedic Physiology of Eye: • Main dosha: Pitta • Subtype of Pitta: Alochaka Pitta Functions of Alochaka pitta: • Visual perception • Luster, color, Light, Image Absorption • Focus • Eye emotional response Causes for Eye Disorders: A. Physical Causes: • Ushnabhi taptasya: After coming from hot weather immediately take cold water shower • Constant staring at some object (Computers, screen) www.AyurvedicHealing.Net • Working at night shifts • Abhighat (due to traumatic injury) • Asatmya Indriyartha Samyoga (overuse, underuse and abuse your eyes) • Excessive sex, Salt, Sour increases Pitta and Rakta leading to eye disorders • Vega Avarodha : By suppressing natural urges B. Mental Causes: Prasakta (attachment), Samrodan (crying), Kopa (anger), Shoka (grief), Klesha (suffering) Ayurvedic Types of Eye Disorders: 1. Vata Eye Disorders: • Dry, tired and scratchy eyes • Problems with tear production • Disruption of blinking mechanism • Difficulty on concentrate/driving or reading 2. Pitta Eye Disorders: • Redness/blood shot • Burning sensation • Headaches • Inflammation, Irritability • Sensitive to light 3. Kapha Eye Disorders: • Discomfort, Itching • Heaviness, puffiness • Blurry vision • Eye discharge, mucous deposits/slimy discharge • Pain, Headaches, nausea • Drooping Eyelids Diet: Nourish your eyes with Sattvic, freshly prepared foods. Pitta pacifying: Cooling foods, leafy greens and juicy fruits Vitamin A: Carrots, potatoes, Sweet potatoes, Squash, Pumpkin, Papaya Vitamin C: Chili pepper, Broccoli, Berries, Guava, Grape fruit, Brussels sprouts Lutein and Xeazanthin : Spinach, Kale, Tomatoes, Artichoke, Avocado and Eggs www.AyurvedicHealing.Net Omega 3: Salmon, eggs, Turkey, Walnuts, Flax, Chia seeds Zinc: Eggs, peanuts, whole grains, pumpkin seeds Ayurvedic Herbs: • Amalaki, Lotus, Rose, Jasmine, Shatavari, Bramhi, Turmeric, Sarsparilla, Punarnava, Rasanjan (balberica), Shobhanjan (Drum sticks) Triphala, Saffron, Garlic, Cayenne, Ginkgo biloba, Licorice, Green tea, Amalaki, Punarnava • Netra rasayana: Triphala (with ghee and honey) • Saptamrit loha, Praval pishti Ayurvedic Treatments: • Aschotana- Herbal decoction drip • Tarpana—Netra Basti/ Aksi Tarpana • Anjana—collyrium/Salve • Putapaka—Application of fresh Herbal Juice • Pindi/Bidalaka—Herbal paste around the eyes • Tratak---Yogic Shat karma Tips for your Eyes: • Gaze at sunrise, sunset and full moons • Eye Exercises: Palming, Blinking, Eye rinsing • Yoga asanas, Pranayama • Meditation • Treatments like Pad dhara, Shiro basti, Shiro lepam, Nasya • Foot massage with Marma points with kanse metal bowl • Walk barefoot on green grass and sand • Himalayan salt baths • Apply Henna on your feet • Use a hat and sunglasses in hot weather • Use herbal eye drops • Herbal ghee: Triphala ghee, Licorice ghee, Dadimadi Ghee Inner Vision: • Symbolizes spiritual wisdom, power beyond ordinary eyesight • Connection with Sthapani marma/Ajna chakra • Higher Consciousness/State of enlightenment • Mental clarity/Focus/ Concentration • Awareness • Visualization Document provided to and used by NAMA with permission from Dr. Manisha Kshirsagar www.AyurvedicHealing.Net The Renaissance of Spiritualized Ayurvedic Health Care in America Today Reframing Ayurveda as a whole-person compassionate health system By Acharya Shunya Pratichi Mathur ______________________________________________________________________________ There is a direct relationship between physical, mental, and spiritual health, as per Ayurveda. Spirituality is paramount to understand the basic building blocks of human individuality, and to support the deepest healing and total transformation, which is possible when existential suffering (that every human being experiences at some time or other in life), is directly addressed with spiritual knowledge of the invincible Self.1 Spirituality speaks to ultimate concerns, coping with the stress of life, personal strivings, and issues of adaptive functioning. Physical medicine has limitations in this capacity, and this is where the need to blend the hard science of disease management with pragmatic spirituality becomes apparent. The Rishis, who were the original authors of Ayurveda, were thinking ahead, and they gifted humanity a unique medicine that is simultaneously a way of life or an art of living, to protect and optimize health. Ayurveda is a science-based system of medicine to overcome chronic and acute physical disease, and finally, a spiritual path or a lofty philosophy to approach the transcendent or ultimate reality via a purified mind. This purified mind reveals the truth of a subtle, spiritual core of the true Self (Atman), which is beyond the suffering of body and mind, always whole, healthy, incorporeal, ethereal, eternal, and which survives death. 2 In this last capacity, Ayurveda seems to be able to satisfy the individual need for a sense of meaning in life (Trivarga)3 and the search for larger purpose in life (Moksha)4. “Meaning” may also include moral or ethical values (Dharma and Sadvirtta)5 that are universal, and emerge from Ayurveda’s view of the ultimate sacred reality (Brahman), which surpasses 1 Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthanam, I, Shloka, 55-56 2 Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthanam, I, Shloka 59 3 Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutra Sthanam, I, Shloka 2 4 Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthanam, V, Shloka 16-19 5 Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthanam, II, 46-47 All Rights Reserved. © Acharya Shunya Pratichi Mathur, 2015 1 religion. What is remarkable is that Ayurveda is perhaps humanities’ one and only system of health and recovery that corroborates the state of ideal or perfect health with a state of “transcendence,” or meta-experience of a transpersonal, unity consciousness.6 This outlook reflects Ayurveda’s spiritual Vedic roots and alignment with Vedic cultural ideals. The concept of “love” in Ayurveda goes beyond the felt transitory “emotion,” into an abiding belief system, comprising of compassion, altruism, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, support, empowerment, respect, responsibility, etc., which shape intent, and guide our actions, both towards our self, and all other beings (Sarva Bhuta Hita).7 Thus, Ayurveda is a complete spiritual tradition (Adhyatmika Darshan). Ayurveda does not incorporate consciousness as part of its therapy as an adjunct. In contrast, in Ayurvedic medicine, life itself is described as a tripod of consciousness (Atman), body (Sharira), and mind (Sattva) 8 . Ayurvedic medicine is, thus, the first medicine of mankind ever to systematically and comprehensively incorporate spirituality, or consciousness, as the most essential aspect of healing, without which life itself is not possible. This understanding is vastly different from other healing sciences, which regard the subject matter as either purely physical or purely mental. Most medical systems claim their hard- earned pragmatism by denying, or at least ignoring, the possibility of the existence of consciousness. The unique Ayurvedic approach positively empowers humans in their search for true health, by reminding us fragile humans of our inherent potential to self-heal by reclaiming connection with our spiritual Self, which is eternally whole, universally connected, and one with the ultimate reality. This spiritual Self is a source of plenary existence (Sat), plenary 6 Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthanam, V, 22-24 7 Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthanam, VIII, 29 8 Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthanam, 1, 46-47 All Rights Reserved. © Acharya Shunya Pratichi Mathur, 2015 2 intelligence (Chit), and plenary bliss (Ananda). In other words, existence is consciousness and consciousness is bliss.9 The Self is an enigmatic, mighty power to the unversed, but Ayurveda invites each one of us to recognize this susbstratum of uninterrupted, immortal consciousness, and become familiar with our true nature, our eternal Self, through spiritual understanding. Once we begin to entertain the possibility of a transcedental Self that animates and outlives our fragile phenemonal body-being, we begin to appreciate our life in all its colors, depth, and essence. We will finally become ready to receive the supreme gift of spiritual knowledge (Atma Jnanam), which the Vedic Rishis were intending for all human beings.10 Ayurveda does not neglect one dimension at the cost of another. Ayurveda emphasizes that, for a healthy and fulfilled journey through life, all dimensions of ‘life’ are corelated, equally significant, and co-operational. No other system of healing, apart from Ayurveda, delivers so comprehesively physical, mental, social, moral, ethical ecological, environmental, and above all, spiritual health for the journeying soul. Spirituality versus Religion To continue to advocate a meaningful inclusion of spirituality in medicine, it is necessary to clarify a difference between the terms “spirituality” and “religion.” Spirituality is, indeed, a multifaceted and multidimensional intellectual, experiential, and behavioral human quest for meaning, purpose, and expression of truth in life (known as the pursuit of Moksha in Ayurveda). It is also the mindful embodiment of universally applicable and entirely humane ethical values and beliefs by which an individual acts, lives, and makes decisions in life (included under the concept of Dharma in Ayurveda). The emotive aspects of spirituality involve feelings of optimism, hope, empathetic connection to all beings, compassion,