Durgesh Kumar

Ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, contribute significantly to the global burden of visual impairment and blindness and pose significant health and economic challenges. This review discusses using nutritional supplements and herbal remedies as adjuncts to ocular health. Key findings show that carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin could retard the progression of age-related macular degeneration, omega-3 fatty acids, dry eye syndrome and diabetic retinopathy as such, have been cured by having vitamins A, C, and E, which basically help decrease oxidative stress. Herbal-based treatments like Ginkgo biloba, Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), and Curcuma longa are promising due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular-enhancing qualities. Whereas such improvement might prevail, others, like variation in preparations, imbalanced dosing, and the need for rigorous randomized control trials, remain. The present review underlines the necessity of incorporating these natural interventions into evidence-based ophthalmic care while rectifying the standardization and regulatory gaps for safe and effective treatment. Establishing these interventions as viable, accessible, and sustainable solutions for preserving vision and contributing to a better quality of life worldwide will require further research.

The study presented here was designed to establish the efficacy and safety of herbal remedy treatments for stomach ulcers when compared to conventional medication. A mixed-methods research design using a randomized controlled trial was combined with qualitative interviews of patients. The sample was composed of 200 participants with a diagnosis of mild to moderate stomach ulcers, randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. The herbal remedy group received a combination of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Aloe vera, Zingiber officinale, and Curcuma longa, while controls received standard PPIs or H2 receptor antagonists, along with antibiotics if H. pylori was present. Data were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, assessing ulcer healing rates, symptom relief, and side effects. No significant differences in ulcer healing rates were found between the two groups: 88% versus 82% after 8 weeks, p = 0.299. In both groups, there was a significant alleviation of symptoms: reduction of pain, bloating, and nausea; p = 0.001, 0.005, and 0.002, respectively. Side effects were similar in both groups, with gastrointestinal discomfort being the most frequent but not significantly different between the groups, p = 0.365. Qualitative data, through interviews among the patients, showed that 60% of the patients preferred herbal remedies because of lesser side effects and a more natural approach to the treatment of their ailment. This study is, therefore, conclusive that herbal remedies are equally effective and safe as conventional treatments in managing stomach ulcers, although most patients have expressed preference for the former.