Stargardt Disease & It’s Treatment With Herbal Remedies

ABSTRACT

Eyes are a very precious gift given by god because if a person is blind we may say that he will not have the experience of life, the beauty of nature. Our eyesight is one of our important senses as most of the percentage we discern comes via our sense of light. By protecting our eyes, we will reduce the risk of vision loss and blindness and some other top listed eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataract. All we think is that regular visits to a doctor for the rest of the body is enough by neglecting our eyes. But it’s not sufficient as eyes play an important role as windows of our body and they are the only site where our blood vessels can be seen without any surgical procedure. So we may consider it as one of the easiest examination sites in our body. To prevent many of the eye diseases we must have to visit the ophthalmologist. There are a lot of eye sight threatening eye diseases among which we are going to discuss one of the rarest diseases named as stargardt disease with its Ayurvedic management. So let’s have a look!!

INTRODUCTION

Stargardt disease is one of the rarest eye disorders which occurs due to genetic defects. There is a small part in the retina of our eye which is responsible for the central and sharp region that is the macula. In this disease there is a build up of fatty material on the macula which hinders the vision. Usually vision loss starts in childhood but here are some of the people in which there is no starting of vision loss until they enter adulthood. Generally there is no treatment for stargardt disease but we can rehab vision and keep the most of remaining vision at the time the condition is diagnosed. Further we will discuss the causes and symptoms of stargardt disease.

SOME FACTS ABOUT STARGARDT DISEASE

Here are some facts about Stargardt Disease:

• Stargardt Disease was first diagnosed in the year 1909 by a German Ophthalmologist Stradgardt.
• Stargardt describes 7 patients who are characterized by atrophy of the macula that is covered with yellow-white deep retinal lesions.
• The incidence of this disease is estimated as 1 in 10,000 in the US.
• Vision loss started before 20 years of age and vision loss occur at the age of 30-40 years.
• Among juvenile macular degeneration, stargardt disease is one of the most common diseases.

CAUSES OF STARGARDT DISEASE

There is not as such a cause for stargardt disease but mostly it is occured with a genetic defect. The gene ABCA4 is responsible for this disease, there is a change in this gene which plays a role in how our body uses vitamin A. As our body uses vitamin A for making the cells of the retina and the ABCA4 gene is responsible for making a protein which is important to clean the fatty buildup that is left over on retina while making retinal cells. In the condition of stargardt, the mentioned gene did not work and the fatty material started accumulating on the macula. With the passage of time these fatty deposits start killing the light sensitive cells present in the macula which further destroys the central vision.

SYMPTOMS OF STARGARDT DISEASE

One of the most common symptoms of stargardt disease is gradual and slow loss of the central vision in both of the eyes. The loss of vision varies from one patient to the other. Other than this there are some more symptoms of stargardt disease that are as follows:

• Black, gray or hazy spots in the center of the vision.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Eyes need more time to adapt between dark and light places.
• Color blindness
• Some of patients may lose their peripheral vision too

DIAGNOSIS OF STARGARDT DISEASE

For the diagnosis of stargardt disease it is a must to visit the ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist takes a view with dilated eye examination. This examination is totally painless. This examination is one of basic examination, beside this following are some diagnostic measures that an ophthalmologist should done for clearance of the diagnosis of Stargardt Disease:

1. Color Vision Testing: This condition may lead to color vision loss that’s why it is important to test the color vision.
2. Electroretinography: It is also known as ERG, this helps in knowing how well the retina is responding to the light.
3. Fundus Photography: The ophthalmologist clicks a photo of the retina to evaluate the yellowish deposits on the retina.
4. Genetic Testing: The doctor may suggest genetic testing for confirming the diagnosis for stargardt disease.
5. Optical Coherence Tomography: In this test doctors use light waves to examine the retina.

AYURVEDIC CORRELATION OF STARGARDT DISEASE

As we read earlier the Stargardt disease is an inherited disorder, so as per ayurveda it is correlated with beeja dosha, which means the condition occurs with the defect in beejbhaga (sperm and ovum). Ashudh shukra and Ashudh artava (defected sperm and defected ovum) are considered as the main causes of this condition. If there is any defect in the gametes (sperm and ovum) of parents then the child should inherit the disease. Beeja dosha due to the fact that if the mother conceived when her uterus or artava (gamete) is not totally vitiated but troubled by imbalanced doshas because of her improper diet intake. If there is any defect due to beej bhaga then cause beeja dosha and the deformity will occur in the fetus. As it is a genetic disease, we may manage the symptoms of the disease and there are some natural herbs that manage the symptoms of the disease and make the affected person’s life better by improving the quality of life.

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR STARGARDT DISEASE BY PLANET AYURVEDA

Planet Ayurveda is a clinic with GMP certification and works under the strict regardance of holistic science – Ayurveda. All the supplements are made with ancient time tested formulas and include natural herbs and minerals. They have a wide range of supplements that consist of properties to manage and prevent almost all health concerns. All the products are free from any kind of added preservatives, synthetic materials like gums, resins, fibers, colors, etc. Due to the purity of formulations they don’t produce any kind of side effects. So for better management feel free to consume these supplements. For the purpose of managing the symptoms of Stargardt Disease, Planet Ayurveda listed 5 remedies that we will discuss below how each of these remedies are effective in managing the symptoms of Stargardt Disease.

1. BRAHMI GHRIT
2. ANGEL EYE VITALE
3. SAPTAMRIT LOHA
4. KAMDUDHA RAS (MOTI YUKT)
5. AMALAKI RASAYAN

PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION

1. BRAHMI GHRIT

Brahmi ghrit is one of the classical ayurvedic formulations which is prepared by Planet Ayurveda under the strict observance of M.D. Ayurveda practitioner. This ghrit consists of ingredients such as Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), ghee (Cow’s ghee), vacha (Acorus calamus) and various others. Brahmi is one of the best herbs that is used as a nervine tonic since ancient times. It is very effective in reducing vata dosha with which it prevents the degeneration of macular cells. So these capsules effectively prevent the further progress of the stargardt disease.

Dosage: 1 tsp twice daily with warm water after meals.

2. ANGEL EYE VITALE

Angel eye vitale is a herbal formulation by Planet Ayurveda available in capsule form. This herbal capsule consists of standardized extract of amla (Emblica officinalis), gotukola (Centella asiatica) and bhringraj (Eclipta alba). These capsules consist of properties such as rasayana (rejuvenating), chakshushya (improves eye health) and vata-pitta shamaka. Amalaki rasayan capsules help in restricting the deterioration of the macula and promote vision too. The sthan of alochaka pitta is chakshu (eyes), these capsules by regulating alochaka pitta promote the vision of eyes.

Dosage: 2 capsules twice daily with plain water after meals.

3. SAPTAMRIT LOHA

Saptamrit loha is one of the best rasayana remedies used for eye disorders since ancient times in the field of Ayurveda. This remedy is prepared by Planet Ayurveda under the strict observance of M.D. Ayurveda practitioners. Saptamrit loha is available in tablet form and consists of ingredients such as triphala (Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica), yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and loha bhasma (calyx of iron). These tablets consist of various properties that help in improving eye health. The properties of saptamrit loha are neuroprotective which also relaxes the optic nerves and being a bioactive compound works well in increasing vision.

Dosage: 1 tablet twice daily with plain water after meals.

4. KAMDUDHA RAS (MOTI YUKT)

Kamdudha Ras moti yukt is one of the classical ayurvedic formulations which is formulated by Planet Ayurveda. This remedy is available in tablet form which consists of ingredients such as Kapardika Bhasma (Calyx of cowries), Shankh Bhasma (Calyx of conch shell), Swarna gairik (gold ochre) and various others. Being a good pitta pacifier it regulates the alochaka pitta in eyes and promotes healthy vision.

Dosage: 1 tablet twice daily with plain water after meals.

5. AMALAKI RASAYAN

Amalaki Rasayana is one the best rejuvenating ayurvedic medicines for eyes. This remedy is formulated by Planet Ayurveda in capsule form and consists of standardized extract of amalaki (Emblica officinalis). These herbal capsules prevent the degeneration of macular cells in the retina. As the center vision loss in stargardt disease is due to macular degeneration so by preventing further macular degeneration amalaki rasayan capsules helps in restricting the further vision loss.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice daily with plain water after meals.

CONCLUSION

Stargardt disease is one of the rarest eye disorders which occurs due to genetic defects. In this disease basically there is a deposition of fatty substance on the macula of the eye which is responsible for centre vision. There is no other cause other than genetic defects in this disease. The major symptoms in this condition is gradual and slow vision loss. As per ayurveda this condition is correlated to beej dushti so it can be managed not fully cured. It only happens with ayurvedic medications, so to prevent further vision loss you must add ayurvedic management into your day to day life. For the management of stargardt disease Planet Ayurveda provides you with herbal remedies free from any kind of additives and preservatives. So if anyone is detected with this disease must start taking these remedies to prevent further vision loss.