Chakshushya
Chakshushya (eye-benefiting) is a functional category (Gana) of herbs and formulations in the Ayurvedic materia medica, rather than a single herb. Carotenoid-rich Chakshushya herbs show moderate oral bioavailability enhanced significantly by lipids (Ghrita is the classical vehicle for ophthalmic Ayurvedic preparations). Topical ocular preparations (Anjana, Aschyotana) provide direct local bioavailability bypassing systemic distribution.
| Substance type | Identity unsettled: the sources disagree on what this drug is, so no botanical name is given |
|---|
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Chakshushya |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Kashaya, Tikta | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Sheeta | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Ghrita (medicated ghee), Kashayam (decoction), Eye drops (Aschyotana), Capsule, Anjana (collyrium)
Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; Ghrita: 5-10g with warm milk; eye drops: 1-2 drops per eye; as directed by Vaidya for Anjana application
Optimal Timing: Ghrita with warm milk at bedtime for eye nourishment; eye drops morning and evening; Anjana as prescribed
Storage: Ghrita at room temperature in glass jars. Eye drops under refrigeration (2-8°C) after opening. Powder in airtight containers. Protect from light.
Marker Compounds: Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Beta-carotene, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, Rutin
Synergistic Combinations
- With Triphala for comprehensive eye care (Triphala Ghrita)
- With Shatavari for nourishing ophthalmic formulations
- With Yashtimadhu for anti-inflammatory eye support
- With Amalaki for antioxidant eye support
- With Lodhra for astringent ophthalmic preparations
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.