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Relationship between the management of refractive errors (Timira) and binding traditional Sri Lankan remedies on the great toe

N.S Abegunasekara

The history of traditional medicine in Sri Lanka runs beyond the era of great king Rawana. Throughout many years, it has developed its own way autonomously according to the needs of the human being. It is gifted from generation to generation as a great heritage which helps to maintain the health of the Sri Lankan nation. Sri Lanka has been inherited to traditional eye physicians who have great miracle powered remedies and treatment procedures. One of the treatment methods from them is binding traditional remedies on great toe on feet for refractive errors (Timira). An eye that has refractive error when viewing distant objects is said to have ametropia or be ametropic. This eye, when not using accommodation, cannot focus parallel rays of light (light from distant objects) on the retina. The word "ametropia" can be used interchangeably with refractive error or image formation defects. Types of ametropia include myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Timira is a condition in Ayurveda Shalakya Tantra that can be comparing with the refractive errors. It is a disease that can be accredited to wide range of clinical conditions starting from mild blurring of vision and having potential risk of long-lasting vision loss. In this preliminary study, an outlook has been made on the relationship between the management of refractive errors (Timira) and binding traditional Sri Lankan remedies on great toe on feet. The Asian acupuncture techniques, theory of shad chakras have been contributed to clarifying this review. The spleen channel originates its superficial course on the medial side of the big toe and the relating organ of spleen channel is spleen. Spleen channel is related with manipoora chakra from shad-chakras. Thejo bhootha is related with manipoora chakra and vitiation of the samana vatha and pachaka pitha which belongs to manipoora chakra caused eye diseases. Therefore considering eye diseases, binding traditional medicine on the great toe has significant potency of relieving of them. The medicinal qualities of that remedies absorbed by the great toe and then it stimulates the manipoora chakra. The stimulation of manipoora chakra effects on the eye and reduce the eye diseases like refractive errors.