My 10 day Triphala Eye Wash experience
Eye strain has been an issue for me over the past few years — Esp. with increased time in front of the screen — I am sure many of us can relate with this!
I had been looking for effective ways to manage eye strain and improve my eye power/strength when I chanced upon a 10 day program just for better eyes called “Netra Jyoti” (literally, Light for the eyes), based out of Sri Sri Tattva Panchakarma center, Bangalore (located near the Art of Living International center). What this program constitutes and its benefits are for another post — However, one of the first things that happen on each day of this program is this amazing Ayurvedic eye cleansing called “Triphala eye wash”.
Tripahala Eye Wash
Triphala is a Ayurvedic concoction that combines three amazing herbs — Bibitaki, Haritaki (natural laxative) and Amalaki (Gooseberries). It’s usually sold in a powder format (can be found online). To prepare the Triphala eye wash, one spoon of triphala powder is soaked in a glass of lukewarm water overnight and the water is strained the next day. The triphala water is then used for the eye wash.
The eye wash is done using an eye cup, filled with triphala water and placed right below the eye balls. To wash the eyes, a series of exercises is done — Including eye rotations in both directions, lateral eye movement and vertical eye movement for a count of 10 or 15. Once one set of exercises is complete, the water in the eye cup is thrown away and refilled with fresh triphala water. Repeat 3 to 4 times.
My experience
I recorded how I felt over a period of 10 consecutive days with the eye wash. Here’s a quick summary of how it went for me:
First Day
The first experience of the triphala eye wash was not so comfortable and it felt like the eyes were burning and it was difficult to complete the eye exercises.
Day 2–5
There was less burning in the eyes and I could do the eye exercises for more counts and comfortably, as each day passed by. The eyes felt clear and hydrated as well, for hours after the eye wash.
Day 6–10
I had mild to no burning in the eyes — Looks like the eyes have gotten used to the wash. Also, I could do the eye exercises during the wash for longer (20 counts vs 10 counts on Day 1) and more comfortably. The eyes felt clear and ready for the day’s load of screen time.
Recommendations
- Triphala eye-wash vs Eye Drops: There are eye drops like I-Tone and others available on the market. The eye drops take care of dry eyes, but it provides temporary relief, lasting not more than an hour. The eye-wash however keeps the eyes fresh and clear for much longer. A combination of eye drops followed by the eye wash is a good idea!
- I plan to do the eye wash every day and it seems like this is something that’s a must-do for the screen-heavy life-style we have these days.
- Blue-light filter glasses can help reduce the strain on eyes, giving you a warmer and more comfortable screen time, and complements other eye care remedies you might be incorporating into your schedule.
- A more comprehensive eye care with amazing benefits I saw in fellow participants (including reduction in power) that I recommend is the 8–10 day Netra Jyoti program offered by Sri Sri Tattva Panchakarma — More on this in another post.