Integrating ayurvedic eye care into primary health practice: an exploratory study on the combined effect of pratimarsha nasya, avagundana, and aschyotana in meibomian gland dysfunction

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Source: Frontiers Medicine

Original: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1732091...

Published: 2026-01-21T00:00:00Z

The study examined the effectiveness of Ayurvedic eye therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction, which manifests as dry, irritated, and tired eyes. A 30-day treatment protocol consisting of nasal oil (pratimarsha nasya), medicated Moringa oleifera leaf eye drops (aschyotana), and warm herbal bolus eye stimulation (avagundana) was applied to a sample of 30 patients for the first 15 days. Patients showed significant improvement in all clinical parameters, including ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film breakup time (TBUT), and Schirmer test (p < 0.001). Fluorescein staining decreased to zero after treatment and remained stable during follow-up, while meibomian gland expression consistently improved. No side effects or adverse reactions were reported during the study. The authors state that these preliminary findings suggest the potential of Ayurvedic methods as a supportive strategy in primary eye care, but emphasize the need for further controlled studies to confirm efficacy, as this is a single-arm study with a small sample size and limited follow-up.