Herb × Condition

Cane for Conjunctivitis

Sanskrit: बेंत | Calamus tenuis Roxb.

How Cane helps with Conjunctivitis according to Ayurveda. Classical references, dosage, preparation methods, and what modern research says.

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Overview

Cane is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for conjunctivitis. Vetra/Bent (Calamus tenuis) is the cane palm, distinct from the willow Vetasa though sharing a similar name. It is a climbing palm with long flexible stems used to make walking sticks and furniture. The young shoots are edible. The plant has compound pinnate leaves with spiny midrib. Its height reaches 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Medicinally the bark and young shoots have astringent and cooling properties. It is used in Raktapitta (bleeding disorders) and as an antidote for certain poisons. The Flagellum (whip-like flexible portion) is used externally. Dose: bark powder 2-4 masha; shoot decoction 1-2 tola.

How Cane Helps with Conjunctivitis

According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Cane has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing conjunctivitis:

  • Potency (Virya): Sheeta (cold)
  • Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
  • Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
  • Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)

Other Herbs for Conjunctivitis

See all herbs for conjunctivitis on the Conjunctivitis page.

Classical Text References (3 sources)

Iksu Varga – (group of sugarcane juice and its products) Iksurasa Guna – (properties of sugarcane juice) :अथे ु वगः इ ोः सरो गु ः ि न धो बं ृहणः कफमू कृत ् ४२ व ृ यः शीतो अ प त नः वाद ुपाकरसो रसः Juice of sugar cane is Sara (laxative), Guru – heavy to digestion Snigdha – unctuous Brihmana – nutritive, improves weight Kaphakrut – increases Kapha Mutrakrut – increases urine volume Vrushya – aphrodisiac Sheeta – coolant Asrapittaghna – useful in bleeding disorders Swadupaka rasa – sweet.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

If the roots, shoots and worm infested parts of the cane is crushed together, the juice gets mixed with dirty material.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Cow’s milk (one adhaka), ghee (two prasthas), sugar cane juice (two adhakas), juice of vidari (two prasthas) and soup of meat of tittira (two prasthas) should be cooked together.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा)

Patient is allowed to consume stomach full of this yavagu followed along with ample intake of sugar cane juice.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

The peri-anal area of the patient should be first anointed with cold oil and then sitz bath should be given with sugar-cane juice and the decoctions of madhuka and vetasa mixed with cold water in excessive bleeding.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)

The patient of pittaja type of chhardi should be given trivrit (Operculina turpethum) along with the juice of draksha (grapes/Vitis vinifera), vidari (Purera tuberosa) and ikshu (sugar-cane/Saccharaum officinarum) for causing downward movement of the morbid matter (laxation).

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 20: Vomiting Treatment (Chhardi Chikitsa / छर्दिचिकित्सा)

Madhu (honey), ghee (clarified butter), majja (bone marrow), payas (milk), gairikam (red ochre), gomaya rasa (juice of cow dung), well boiled sugar cane juice or the juice squeezed out of meat of crow should be given to the patient for protecting the heart.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 20: Vomiting Treatment (Chhardi Chikitsa / छर्दिचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 23: Poison Treatment (Visha Chikitsa / विषचिकित्सा)

There are twenty sharp instruments (shastras): (1) Mandalagra (circular-tipped scalpel), (2) Karapatra (saw), (3) Vriddhipatra (broad-leaf knife), (4) Nakha-shastra (nail/claw knife), (5) Mudrika (ring knife), (6) Utpala-patra (lotus-petal knife), (7) Ardhadhara (half-edged knife), (8) Suchi (needle), (9) Kushapatra (kusha-grass-leaf knife), (10) Atamukhya (sharp-mouthed), (11) Shararimukha (arrow-faced), (12) Antarmukha (inward-facing), (13) Trikurchaka (triple-bristled), (14) Kurchaka (bristle

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 8: Shastravacharaniya Adhyaya - Sharp Surgical Instruments

Gundra, rice, shaivala (aquatic moss), shailabheda, daruharidra (tree turmeric), ela (cardamom), utpala (blue lotus), rodhra, abhra (mica), lotus petal, sugar, darbha (sacred grass), tala (palmyra), rodhra, vetasa (cane), and padmaka.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis)

For a child afflicted by Shakuni, a knowledgeable physician should use a decoction of Vetasa (cane/willow), Amra (mango), and Kapittha (wood apple) for sprinkling.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 30: Shakunipratishedha

a diet consisting of cakes and pastry made up of Sali-rice and wheat prepared with sugar or other derivatives of sugar-cane, sweet or soothing articles with milk or meat juice or flesh of animals of the Biskira or Vilesaya class, and eating of grapes, sugar and sugar-cane at night, are beneficial.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sharira Sthana, Chapter 4: Garbha-Vyakaranam Sariram - Development of the Foetus in the Womb

In a case of imbibed poison, the heart should be protected with a covering of anti-poisonous drugs and the patient should be made to vomit the contents of his stomach with a potion composed of sugar, Pippali, Yashti-madhu, honey and the expressed juice of sugar-cane dissolved in water.

— Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 1: Annapana-Raksha-Kalpa

Source: Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 8: Shastravacharaniya Adhyaya - Sharp Surgical Instruments; Uttara Tantra, Chapter 10: Pittabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Pitta-type Conjunctivitis); Uttara Tantra, Chapter 30: Shakunipratishedha; Sharira Sthana, Chapter 4: Garbha-Vyakaranam Sariram - Development of the Foetus in the Womb; Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 1: Annapana-Raksha-Kalpa

Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.