A Clinical study on the effect of Marichanjana in comparison with Marichanjana along with Vachadi Kashaya internally in Kaphaja Kacha with special reference to Senile Immature Cataract.

Vision- the ability to see, perceive, interpret and enjoy the surroundings, is one of the greatest assets a human is blessed with. Unfortunately, 94 million people are blind or visually impaired globally and cataract is the most common cause of blindness worldwide. However, most cases of blindness are avoidable.The annual incidence of cataract blindness in India is about 3.8 million. Senile cataract is the most important variant of avoidable blindness.

Cataract refers to development of any opacity in the lens or its capsule. There is no direct mentioning of Senile immature cataract in Ayurveda. However, considering the signs, symptoms and histological changes in the lens, different stages of senile cataract may be compared to kaphaja timira, kacha and linganasha. In Kaphaja Kacha, the persons perceive Sun, Moon and Lamp as lustureless and dull, and Drishti mandala of eye appears as Svetha in color. Thus lakshanas of Kaphaja Kacha can be equated with signs and symptoms of Senile Immature Cataract.

Currently in conventional system of medicine, cataract surgery is the major available treatment. Owing to the increased incidence of senile cataract and possible complications and contra indications of surgery, research for the drugs that could effectively tackle the problem has arisen. Present study aims at evolving an effective measure to tackle this problem by employing Marichanjana explained in the text Basavarajiya by Nellakantakotturu Basavaraja in the chapter named Netra roga nidana lakshana chikitsadaya and Vachadi Kashaya internally described in the text Chikitsa sara sangraha by Vangasena in the chapter named Netra roga adhikara. Marichanjana containing Maricha, Amalaki, Karanja bija and Bringaraja toya are kaphahara and chakshushya. Vachadi kashaya containing Vacha, Trivrit, Chandana, Guduchi, Kirata tikta, Nimba, Haridra and Vasa, are kapha-pitta hara, lekhaniya and chakshushya. Hence, they are effective in kaphaja kacha. Also, they are feasible and affordable. Considering all these facts, the work has been taken up.

HYPOTHESIS:

Null hypothesis:

H0 : Marichanjana and Marichanjana along with Vachadi Kashaya have no significant effect in Kaphaja Kacha.

Alternate hypothesis:

H1 : Marichanjana has better effect than Marichanjana along with Vachadi Kashaya internally in Kaphaja Kacha.

H2 : Marichanjana along with Vachadi Kashaya internally has better effect than Marichanjana alone in kaphaja kacha.