Cover story Collyrium (netra anjana)
Black is beautiful
Indigenous practices in many cultures prescribe eye salve for the protection of eyes. They also help the eye look healthy and beautiful. Ayurveda classics have elaborate description about the preparation and application of ‘anjana’
T
he eyes are susceptible to infections since they are often exposed to smoke and dust. Sudden changes in weather too can have an adverse effect. To reduce irritation caused by environmental factors, drops or salves are often applied in the eye; they act as cleansing agents. Ayurveda employs the use of drops and salves in the treatment of eye diseases like itching, burning sensation, pain, redness, etc. Regular use of anjana (collyrium), a medicinal eye liner, would also make one’s vision more clear. It will add to the sparkle in the eyes, and enhance their ability to withstand bright light. Anjana is basically of three kinds -- scarifying (lekhana), healing (ropaṇa) and eye-invigorating (dṛshti-prasādana). The lekhana kind is prepared from drugs having astringent, sour, salt or pungent taste, and hot potency. Ropaṇa anjana, which is made from bitter drugs, has a cooling effect and lends strength and colour to the eye. The third variety is made from sweet drugs that have cold potency. This tones and improves vision. The excess of doshas in the eye, eyelids, eyeballs, capillaries, and in the nose gristle is drained out through the mouth, nostrils and corners of the eye by applying the 34
scarifying salve. Application of prasādana salve to eyes that have become fatigued by application of strong collyriums is known as counter- collyrium (pratyanjana). Anjana vidhi (method of applying collyrium): Ashtāngahṛdaya says that “application of collyrium is suitable for a person who has his body purified (through emesis, purgation, etc.), in whom doshas are localised in the eyes; when there is slight edema, severe itching and sliminess; when eye excretions are thick; and in those troubled by Pitha, Kapha, Rakta and especially Vata” - (AH Soo. 23.8-9). A metallic eye-liner, ten angula (finger units) in length, which is thin in the middle and tips resembling a flower bud is the best for applying anjana. An eye- liner made of copper is good for lekhana; an iron eyeliner or the finger for ropaṇa; and one of gold or silver for prasādana. Kinds of anjana Eye salve can be in the form of pill or dragee (pinda), gel or confection (rasakriya) or powder (choorṇa), and are used in conditions of profound, moderate and mild increase of doshas respectively. The amount of salve to be applied, when it is in the form of a hard pill and prepared from strong drugs, is one harenu. And if prepared with mild drugs, it should be