Healing Macular Degeneration With Acupuncture

Treating Macular Degeneration

with

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

by

Andy Rosenfarb, L. Ac., MTOM

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration ( ARMD - Aged Related Macular Degeneration ) is the slow deterioration of the cells in the macula, a embryonic anaemic area near the nerve center of the retina. The macula functions to give us clear central vision and fine limitless images. The deterioration of the macula affects an individual’ s central vision - the ability to read, typewrite, drive and recognizing faces - among other visual abnormalities.

There are two types of macular degeneration, wet and dry. Ninety percent of people with macular degeneration have the dry - type in which small, sneaking spots called Drusen form beneath the macula. Drusen are believed to be metabolic waste products that accumulate and cause cellular damage. It has been suggested that Drusen slowly one's say down the cells of the macula, causing distorted vision.

Dry macular degeneration can progress into the second, more severe type, called wet - type macular degeneration. The cause of this progression is unknown to conventional medicine. In wet - type ARMD, new, abnormal blood vessels occasion to grow toward the macula, causing rapid and severe vision loss. These weak blood vessels can rupture and extract, whence “ wet - type” ARMD. Both wet and dry ARMD are diagnosed by an ophthalmologist and there is currently no safe and effective conventional treatment.

Select risk factors for macular degeneration have been identified as contributing factors to the development and progression of ARMD. These introduce: female gender, smoking ( increase risk by 200 - 300 % ), diabetics, high blood pressure ( consistent ) and family history of macular degeneration.

Chinese Medicine and Macular Degeneration

In my experience Chinese Medicine can approach a very effective treatment for both types of ARMD. Although this gracious of treatment will not help every single ARMD situation presented, my personal success percentage has been at numero uno 80 %. By success I parsimonious that there are either arcane and / or just measurable improvements in a person’ s vision after a series of treatment. There are many simple ways to test vision that are well within our scope of practice as acupuncturists; two being Visual Acuity Test ( eye chart ) and an Amsler Grid Test.

The clinical disinterested in treating ARMD is to treat the root cause of the disease ornament. The branch treatment or passing solution can be to activate the blood circulation in standardization to resolve stagnation. Visual capacity may be exceptional by promoting the circulation in choroids and retina, preventing cell end, and reversing the inability to absorb and circulate vital nutrients for healthy vision.

ARMD ( wet and dry ) is most oftentimes an prostration of the body’ s Yin. The Yin angle of the visual field is the central vision, and the outmost vision is more Yang in nature. When the central vision goes, it indicates a “ burn - out” of Kidney and Liver Yin, so using Chinese herbs that sponsor Yin seems to work best.

Central Vision Loss – Yin Deficient

The function of the Spleen ( supported by the Kidney ) is to transform and transport nourishment that is ingested. When working towards generating Yin in the body, it is essential that the Earth element ( spleen - pancreas and stomach ) be in a state of optimal function. The process of breaking down food into applicable nourishment for the cells of the body requires a digestive system. It has been stated in the Pi Wei Lun by Li Squelch Yuan that as we age, our earth element ( digestive function ) weakens. When the body’ s capacity to break down food becomes less efficient, the ability to look after Yin and Blood can compromised as a production of poor digestion.

Again, ARMD is often seen as Yin deficiency cause by a " starvation " with an marred transformation and transportation function.

The yin deficiency typically leads to a influential dry - stagnation of Qi and Blood - the later stages in the development of ARMD. The blood vessels of the eye ofttimes become so dry and brittle that they can cue blood or burst utterly, then giving come to the less common " weaken ARMD. " One of the key ways to mark if a compassionate with dry - type ARMD is sensitive to developing sodden - type ARMD is to gaze if they nurse to bruise easily. If they do in actuality bruise easily ( and have a biography of miserable disorders or have been over - dosed on blood thinners ), they have a likewise spell of developing spray - type ARMD. If dragged occurs the adjacent steps should be prejudiced AFTER the understanding has been stabilized by their ophthalmologist.

In cases of bathe ARMD, if the melancholy is severe they will need laser treatment to clutch the saddened. If the gloomy is light and the forgiving has previously heuristic their ophthalmologist, you cab predetermine loiterer shell moxa techniques - developed by Shmuel Halevi in Isreal.

Once the crestfallen has stopped, the next step is to speak for the Yin and fortify the Qi and blood with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. An herb like Chinese Notoginseng ( Sanqi ) would be a good choice for wet ARMD, as Dan Shen based formulas work better for dry ARMD. You can then follow up with digestive tonic formulas and yin - nourishing formulas, based on the dominating TCM ornament. These formulas should be taken long term ( 6– 12 months ), as it can take time to build the Central Qi, and generate Yin.

Acupuncture Treatment:

Body Points:

Distal: Li - 3, Si - 3, Ht - 8, SJ - 3, Sp - 3, Ki - 1, Sp - 6, St - 36

Local: UB - 2 ( same fallout as UB - 1 ), Yuyao, GB - 14, Yintang

Ear Points: Adrenal, Pt. Zero, & Corpus Callosum

Electro - acupuncture:

E - Stim #1: UB - 2 to Alt Point – 1 finger medial to St - 2

E - stim #2: SJ - 23, Tongming ( ½ cun below GB - 1 )

Note: I build up using a Pantheon 4C E - Stim Device, locus the points are stimulated at a constant 2Hz for 20 - 30 min.

Caution: Please DO NOT use local electro - acupuncture on patients with retinal bummed out or elevated inter - ocular pressure ( IOP ) / glaucoma. It can cause teary in weak vessels and raise IOP.

Dawdler Shell Moxa Treatment for Light Retinal Hurting:

* Loiterer shell moxa can be done daily of every other day for 1 - 2 weeks with the presence of retinal sorrowful. The understanding should feel the hotness of the moxa burning.

Chinese Herbal Medicine - Base Formulas:

Wet ARMD

1. Yunnan Paiyao or Sanqi Powder ( dissolve 2 g 2x / day in water )

2. Ming Mu Di Huang Tang ( Blazing Eye Tea )

3. Shu Gan Tang + Erchen Tang ( Soothe the Liver Tea + Two Aged Tea )

4. Xiao Yao San

5. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Dry ARMD

1. Ming Mu Di Huang Tang ( Vivid Eye Tea )

2. Shu Gan Tang ( Soothe the Liver Tea ) + Er Chen Tang ( Two Aged Tea )

3. Dan Shen Pain

4. BuZhing Yi Qi Tang

NOTE: These are suggested base formulas. Chinese herbal formulas are most effective when tailored to each patients needs based on your TCM diagnosis.