Melatonin may help treat age-related macular degeneration, according to a recent report. A leading cause of blindness in the United States, age-related macular degeneration develops when certain cells in the retina deteriorate and gradually destroy your central vision.
A hormone with antioxidant effects, melatonin may help stop shortening of telomeres (chromosomal structures that become shorter over time due to factors like aging, inflammation, and damage caused by free radicals). By preventing telomere-shortening in the cells of the retina, the report suggests, melatonin may help preserve eyesight and slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration.
While melatonin shows promise as a natural remedy for age-related macular degeneration, it's too soon to recommend melatonin supplements for this condition. For help in protecting your eyesight as you age, wear UV-protective lenses when outdoors in the daylight and consider upping your intake of foods rich in lutein (such as leafy green vegetables, green beans, and mango).
I was diagnosis with Malacular Degeneration in 2003. I have it in both eyes and it is the dry form. When I learned that there is “no cure” for this I decided that this opinion was limited to western medicine. I practice and teach Ayurveda and have come to know over the years that sometimes western concepts and technology is limited.
I have a student who is an ophthalmologist and with her help have carefully tracked the progress of this condition in my eyes. I also have older family members who have this condition to some degree or the other. I personally never needed glasses until this condition appeared. I was 56 years old when diagnosed.
I decided to treat myself with a combination of Ayurvedic methods and vitamin supplementation. I deduced that the Drusen in my retina was an accumulation of “Kapha” in the nerve tissue of the eyes. Kapha in this location is considered a toxin according to Ayurveda. The body uses Kapha to encapsulate other toxins to protect it self. This is how cysts and tumors are created. As I have blue eyes and Norwegian ancestry I am supposedly genetically more susceptible to this condition. Functionally this is because I have les melanin in my body… blue eyes etc. So I decided to use a vitamin supplement that contained luten which increases the production of melanin. At first I used a product that was recommended by western doctors who work with ARED (Age Related Eye Disease). Later I used my own herbal formula that was vitamin rich and included luten.
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Ayurveda considers Eye disease as a combination of imbalance of Alachaka Pitta (a kind of specific metabolism found in the eyes) and Prana Vayu (A drying factor found in the head). To re-establish equilibrium in these two factors I used the Herbal combination called Triphala (It is three dried fruits from the Himalayas … Amalaki-Emblica ofticinalis, Bibitak -Terrninalia belerica Hirataki-Tenninalia chebula. Triphala is considered among other things a rejuvenator for the eyes. I used Triphala in the following ways: 1) I took 1.2 grams per day in capsule. This was the correct dosage for my body weight and my energy type. 2.) I made a cold infusion of Triphala and after extensive filtering I used it to wash my eyes daily. 3.) I made a medicated ghee (a kind of Ayurvedic extradition) of Triphala and placed it in cotton over my eyes before sleep.
I also used an extensive detoxification program called Pancha Karma to remove various toxins from my body… particularly heavy metals. This program within 2 ˝ years completely stopped the growth of the Drusen and the need to change my prescription every six months. It seemed to arrest the degeneration and the growth of the condition.
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Ayurveda considers Eye disease as a combination of imbalance of Alachaka Pitta (a kind of specific metabolism found in the eyes) and Prana Vayu (A drying factor found in the head). To re-establish equilibrium in these two factors I used the Herbal combination called Triphala (It is three dried fruits from the Himalayas … Amalaki-Emblica ofticinalis, Bibitak -Terrninalia belerica Hirataki-Tenninalia chebula. Triphala is considered among other things a rejuvenator for the eyes. I used Triphala in the following ways: 1) I took 1.2 grams per day in capsule. This was the correct dosage for my body weight and my energy type. 2.) I made a cold infusion of Triphala and after extensive filtering I used it to wash my eyes daily. 3.) I made a medicated ghee (a kind of Ayurvedic extradition) of Triphala and placed it in cotton over my eyes before sleep.
I also used an extensive detoxification program called Pancha Karma to remove various toxins from my body… particularly heavy metals. This program within 2 ˝ years completely stopped the growth of the Drusen and the need to change my prescription every six months. It seemed to arrest the degeneration and the growth of the condition
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The problem of the existing “Kapha” was still to be resolved. I continued the above program and included a form of Herbal kelation therapy used in Ayurveda. This herb absorbs the Kapha slowly and removes it from the retina. This herb is called Bringaraj in Sanskrit (Ecliptic Alba). I take one gram per Day of this herb in the form of medicated ghee.
The herbal supplement I have been used for vitamin supplementation is called Chywanprash. It is made with 54 herbal ingredients… To this I add a medicated ghee made with marigold flowers and calendula flowers for luten.
The results are that fat (kappa) deposits have begun to appear near my eyes as the body pushes the toxic Kapha out. Also my eyesight has improved. I am now using the prescription from one year before the degeneration stopped. It has been six years and I have not completely returned to my original vision but I defiantly feel that I ma headed in the right direction. It may be slow but it seems to be curing the incurable