Quick Take
A popular Instagram post claims that putting ghee and coconut oil on the navel can enhance eyesight. After fact-checking, we found that it is completely false.
The Claim
A well-liked Instagram post suggests using desi ghee and coconut oil on the navel to enhance vision. The trending reel emphasises that applying the combination to the navel is beneficial for both adults and children, as it stimulates the medulla oblongata of the brain when massaged under the armpit.
The assertions that applying oil to the navel and underarms can enhance vision can be highly deceptive. The ones involving navel oiling are more popular. Hence, this fact check tends to clarify its role in the management of eyesight. A similar claim that has gone viral on Facebook can also be seen here.
Fact Check
Why is it important to improve eyesight?
Vision, or eyesight, is a fundamental sense. This enables individuals to confidently and clearly comprehend and engage with their external environment. Humans normally learn and perceive through vision; therefore, maintaining it takes diligence, particularly in the modern era with increased exposure to UV light, digital screens, and environmental toxins.
Among the eye-related issues that are growing more prevalent are myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, and dry eye syndrome. Myopia is the most prevalent of these due to enhanced screen time and reduced physical activity.
Vision-related issues affect both adults and children, but the underlying causes may be different. While adults are more likely to develop age-related conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, children are more likely to experience refractive errors and amblyopia.
Eye health can have a substantial impact on one’s quality of life; hence, timely evaluation, therapy, and lifestyle modifications are recommended. This will help preserve visual function and prevent irreversible harm across all age groups.
Is navel therapy rooted in Ayurveda? Does traditional medicine recommend it for eye care?
While navel therapy, often referred to as “nabhi chikitsa“, is widely considered to originate from Ayurvedic principles, credible scientific evidence supporting its therapeutic efficiency is limited.
It is essential to note that the navel, or nabhi, is regarded in ancient Ayurvedic medicine as a crucial energy centre that links several physiological systems via channels referred to as strotas. Navel oiling, believed to help with tridosha balance, influencing overall health, is primarily backed by anecdotal reports, and there is no concrete scientific evidence supporting its role in treating any health condition, but not improving eyesight.
Applying oils to the navel for curing diseases is not supported by traditional Ayurvedic texts and has no scientific validity, confirms Dr. P. Rammanohar, Research Director at Amrita School of Ayurveda. He underlines that while oils are used in massage and certain Ayurvedic therapies, the notion that the navel is a healing locus for all medical conditions is at odds with authentic Ayurvedic practice.
On the other hand, Ayurveda takes a comprehensive approach to eye health, including dietary control, lifestyle modifications, triphala usage, and netra tarpana (lubricating therapy). Furthermore, traditional medicine manages vision-related problems in adults and children distinctively.
In an effort to support children’s healthy visual development, Ayurvedic medicine places a strong emphasis on a nutritious diet, adequate sleep, and reduced screen time.
Adults are typically advised to use case-based eye exercises, customised herbal formulations, and detoxification therapies because they are more likely to develop age-related illnesses.
Therefore, while Ayurveda encourages all-encompassing eye care via systemic balance and preventive measures, there is still no empirical evidence that navel oiling or therapy directly improves eyesight.
Does applying ghee or coconut oil to the navel truly enhance eyesight?
No, absolutely not. While ghee and coconut oil have been touted for their nourishing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and eye-supporting benefits, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that applying them to the navel can enhance vision.
Furthermore, ghee and coconut oil are natural fats that contain vital fatty acids and vitamins, especially vitamin E, which may help preserve cellular integrity and reduce oxidative stress associated with eye ageing and dryness.
Despite the fact that it is believed to enhance circulation and balance the three doshas, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that navel therapy affects or enhances vision.
Scientific literature acknowledges the benefits of ghee and coconut oil through dietary or topical ocular pathways instead of systemic absorption via one’s navel. Most significantly, social media endorsement for navel oiling’s ability to improve vision fails to demonstrate that it is the best approach or substitute for medically validated vision correction therapies.
This is further supported by Dr. Satyanarayana Kada, MS (AIIMS), FVRS (Aravind Eye Institute, Madurai), Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist & Retina Specialist, Renova Century Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, who emphasises that there is no scientific or anatomical basis to support the belief that applying ghee, coconut oil, or any other oil to the navel can improve eyesight in any age group. Given that there is no physiological link between the navel and eyes that could offer such benefits, this practice stems from age-old beliefs rather than scientific evidence. Good vision depends on factors like good nutrition, eye hygiene, genetics and protection from UV light. If anyone experiences eye problems, they should consult a qualified ophthalmologist rather than rely on unproven remedies.
Is there any connection between applying oil to the navel or underarms and the medulla oblongata?
No, not at all. This is another concern mentioned in the post requiring rectification. The medulla oblongata, situated near the base of the brainstem, regulates essential autonomic processes like:
- Heart rate
- Respiration
- Blood pressure
Oil absorption from the navel and underarms cannot affect medullary activity since these skin locations do not directly share neuronal or circulatory routes with the brainstem. Furthermore, visual processing mostly takes place in the occipital lobe, which includes the optic nerves, retina, and visual cortex; the medulla oblongata is not related to vision or eyesight.
Therefore, there is no physiological or neuroanatomical link between these practices and visual function or the medulla oblongata.
What are the evidence-based methods to improve eyesight in both adults and children?
Clinically validated approaches for preserving and enhancing vision mainly rely on:
- Early detection and optical adjustment
- Managing systemic illnesses – if any
- Sufficient nourishment
- Environmental regulation
- Preventive care
However, both adults and children have distinct approaches to managing their vision.
For adults:
Regular eye examinations are crucial for the early detection of conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Dr. Isha Agarwalla, an ophthalmologist at Drishti Netralaya in Dibrugarh, Assam, clarifies this further by stating that any treatment for adult eye health usually depends on the underlying cause. Refractive issues can be addressed with glasses, contact lenses, or LASIK surgery. However, if cataracts are the main problem, surgery may be effective to restore eyesight. Finding the best therapeutic option necessitates an accurate diagnosis from an eye care specialist who can direct people to the best course of action for their specific issue.
For children:
Given the high prevalence of myopia in children, Dr. Bhanu Prakash M, Senior Consultant Cataract, Cornea, and Refractive Surgery at Yashoda Hospitals in Hyderabad, recommends using prescription Myatro 0.01% eye drops to address myopia in children. He further explains that by relaxing the focusing muscles, this anticholinergic medication improves vision of far-off objects. Children between the ages of six and twelve are often recommended to take one drop before bed. ZEISS Myopia Management glasses, which provide comfortable and clear vision while delaying the onset of myopia, are also recommended for kids. Additionally, the doctor strongly advises limiting screen time because excessive screen time may worsen myopia.
Children under the age of twelve must use cycloplegic refraction in order to get accurate measurements; children beyond the age of twelve may not necessarily require it. All patients, regardless of age, should undergo routine follow-ups, including a peripheral retinal examination, in situations with extreme myopia (greater than -5). While cycloplegic refraction is necessary for patients with extreme hypermetropia, corneal topography should be used to rule out keratoconus in patients with significant astigmatism (older than two years). All things considered, routine eye exams every six months are essential for tracking and protecting one’s vision.
When applied consistently, these approaches can promote the best possible vision for both adults and children.
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