Eye Care in Summer

We use sunscreen to protect our skin from the summer sun's damaging rays, but do we take the time to make sure our eyes receive the same protection? Ultraviolet light, long known to cause skin cancer, can also be absorbed by the eyes, causing a number of chronic eye diseases.

Overexposure to the sun can contribute to these common eye ailments

Cataracts, a build-up of protein on eye's lens which can cloud vision. Pteryguim a growth of tissue on the cornea which can interfere with vision. Skin cancer which can form on the eyelids and areas close to the eyes. Age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss.

During the summer, the strongest UV rays occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and particular care should be taken to protect the eyes during those hours.

Prevention during summer

• Wear quality sunglasses to provide UV protection. Choose sunglasses with 100 percent protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
• Choose lenses that cover the largest area around your eyes.
• Choose lighter-colored lenses, which cut glare without changing the color of what you see. Consider photo chromic lenses, which darken when exposed to UV light.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or a visor to provide extra protection.
• Do not look directly at the sun, even while wearing sunglasses. This can cause permanent eye damage.
• Don't forget the kids! Children and teens should also wear sunglasses with the same level of protection as adult sunglasses.

Jiwadaya Netraprabha is one Ayurvedic product, which can be used for prolonged periods without side effects. Jiwadaya Netraprabha acts as an antimicrobial through Amla and Madh. The ingredients present in Netraprabha give it the ability to keep the eyes in good condition even after exposure to everyday pollutants.

Jiwadaya Netraprabha when applied stimulates the lachrymal glands leading to natural flow of tears rapidly flowing out of the eyes. These natural tears provide essential cleansing to the eyes. Further, this action takes place within 15-20 seconds after application thereby providing immediate relief from any feeling of irritation, heaviness or dryness in the eyes.

Jiwadaya Netraprabha is an effective medicine for treating Redness, Swelling, Irritation, Itching or Foreign body sensation in the eyes. It is an Anodyne – Collirium. The medicine is particularly useful when applied after removal of contact lenses since it prevents any infection or diseases that may occure due to prolonged use of the lens. Jiwadaya Netraprabha reduced swelling of the eyes due to late sleeping after reading during exams. It prevents eye allergy, harmful effect of glares, Photophobia (Difficulty in tolerating light), development of weak eye sight (Poor vision) and Dark circle around the eyes. The medicine is particularly effective in preventing and treating Dry Eye Syndrome due to watching T.V. or cinema, after driving vehicles at long stretches or due to working on computers.

Recipe with Neem - Ugadi Pachadi

It is a nutritious low-calorie pachadi, where the jaggery, new tamarind, fresh raw mangoes and neem flowers are full of nutrients that purify the system and help in prevention of the disease or illness by acting as prophylactics. Each ingredient used in Ugadi Pachadi has its own scientific explanation for its usage in the recipe. Neem flowers are proven good for skin problems and diabetes, jaggery enhances hemoglobin levels and it is good for combating jaundice, and tamarind & raw mango also have therapeutic values. All in all, a mixture of all these ingredients is good for maintaining good wellbeing.

Ingredients:

Neem flowers - 1 tablespoon - For Bitterness - Represents sorrow

Finely chopped raw fresh Mango - 1 cup - For Tanginess - Represents excitement

Tamarind - 1 small lime size - For Sourness - Represents Mischiveiousness

Grated Jaggery - 1 cup - For Sweetness - Represents Happiness

Red chilli powder or Black pepper powder - 1/4 teaspoon - For Spiciness/Hotness - Represents Angriness

Salt - 1/2 teaspoon - For Saltiness - Represents scariness

• Firstly, soak tamarind in water, put aside for 20 minutes, and then take out a dilute pulp.
• Now, take a pan, heat oil in it, and add curry leaves, mustard seeds and hing.
• After crackling of them, add the tamarind pulp and let it boil and lessen in volume.
• Next, add mango pieces and boil for a while.
• Add chilli powder and salt and mix well.
• Now, it’s a time to add jaggery. Stir in for a while until it gets somewhat thick.
• At last, add the neem flowers after dry roasting of them. And your Ugadi Pachadi is ready.

Herb of the week - Neem

Neem leaf or bark is considered an effective pitta pacifier due to its bitter taste. Hence, it is traditionally recommended during early summer in Ayurveda (that is, the month of Chaitra as per the Hindu Calendar which usually falls in the month of March - April).

Azadirachta indica Neem (Hindi) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.

Leaves

The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20–40 cms long, with 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3–8 cms long.These leaves are also used in many Indian festivals (by making them into garlands).Elders find it useful in controlling high blood sugar level and is said to clean up the blood.Neem leaves are dried and placed in cupboards to prevent insects eating the clothes. Neem leaves are dried and burnt in the tropical regions to keep away mosquitoes.

Flowers

The white and fragrant flowers are arranged axillary, normally in more-or-less drooping panicles which are up to 25 cms long. An individual flower is 5–6 mm long and 8–11 mm wide.

Fruit

The fruit is a smooth olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundishThe fruit skin (exocarp) is thin and the bitter-sweet pulp (mesocarp) is yellowish-white and very fibrous.The white, hard inner shell (endocarp) of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three, elongated seeds (kernels) having a brown seed coat.

Uses

• Neem oil is used for preparing cosmetics and many oral health products.
• Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients with chicken pox sleep on neem leaves.
• Neem blossoms are used in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to prepare Ugadi pachhadi. In Tamilnadu, a rasam made with neem blossoms is a culinary specialty. In West Bengal, young neem leaves are fried in oil with tiny pieces of eggplant (brinjal). The dish is called nim begun and is the first item during a Bengali meal that acts as an appetizer. It is eaten with rice.
• Azadirachtin : One of the first active ingredients isolated from neem,It appears to cause some 90% of the effect on most pests.
• Fungicides : Neem has proved effective against certain fungi that infect the human body.
• Antibacterials :In trials neem oil has suppressed several species of pathogenic bacteria including Staphylococcus & Salmonella spp.
• Antiviral agents : In India,small pox, chicken pox have traditionally been treated with a paste of neem leaves - usually rubbed directly on to the infected skin.
• Dermatological Insects : In India, villagers apply neem oil to the hair to kill head lice, reportedly with great success. Neem seed oil and leaf extracts may be the wonder cure for psoriasis. It relieves the itching and pain while reducing the scale and redness of the patchy lesions.
• Dental Treatments : In India, millions of people use twigs as "tooth brushes" every day. Dentists have endorsed this ancient practice, finding it effective in preventing periodontal disease.
• Malaria : Practitioners of the Indian Ayurvedic Medicine system have been preparing neem in oral doses for malarial patients for centuries.
• Cosmetics : Neem is perceived in India as a beauty aid. Powdered leaves are a major component of atleast one widely used facial cream. Purified neem oil is also used in nail polish & other Cosmetics.
• Lubricants : Neem oil is non drying and it resists degradation better than most vegetable oils. In rural India, it is commonly used to grease cart wheels.
• Fertilizers : Neem has demonstrated considerable potential as a fertilizer. Neem cake is widely used to fertilize cash crops particularly sugarcane & vegetables.
• Bark : Neem bark yields a strong, coarse fibre commonly woven into ropes in the villages of India.
• Honey : In parts of Asia neem honey commands premium prices & people promote apiculture / apiary by planting neem trees.
• Neem fruits : The fruits are recommended for urinary diseases, piles, intestinal worms, leprosy etc. The dry fruits are bruised in water & employed to treat cutaneous diseases.
• Medicinal Use: Neem products are believed to be anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative. Neem products are also used in selectively controlling pests in plants. It is particularly prescribed for skin disease.