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 immature sallow area near the cynosure 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, ghost, 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, unethical spots called Drusen form unbefitting the macula. Drusen are believed to be metabolic waste products that accumulate and cause cellular damage. It has been suggested that Drusen slowly circumstance 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 lead to grow toward the macula, causing rapid and severe vision loss. These weak blood vessels can rupture and filter, and so “ wet - type” ARMD. Both wet and dry ARMD are diagnosed by an ophthalmologist and there is currently no safe and effective conventional treatment.
Singular risk factors for macular degeneration have been identified as contributing factors to the development and progression of ARMD. These allow for: female gender, smoking ( increase risk by 200 - 300 % ), diabetics, high blood pressure ( indigenous ) and family history of macular degeneration.
Chinese Medicine and Macular Degeneration
In my experience Chinese Medicine can proposal a very effective treatment for both types of ARMD. Although this kind of treatment will not help every single ARMD plight presented, my personal success ratio has been at lead off 80 %. By success I miserly that there are either veiled and / or nondiscriminatory 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 design. The branch treatment or passing solution can be to activate the blood circulation in layout to resolve stagnation. Visual capacity may be higher quality by promoting the circulation in choroids and retina, preventing cell heaven, and reversing the inability to absorb and circulate vital nutrients for healthy vision.
ARMD ( wet and dry ) is most often an weariness of the body’ s Yin. The Yin aspect of the visual field is the central vision, and the out 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 popularize 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 supportive nourishment for the cells of the body requires a digestive system. It has been stated in the Pi Wei Lun by Li Queer 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 heel Yin and Blood can compromised as a development of poor digestion.
Again, ARMD is much practical as Yin deficiency cause by a " starvation " with an aggrieved transformation and transportation function.
The yin deficiency typically leads to a energizing dry - stagnation of Qi and Blood - the succeeding stages in the development of ARMD. The blood vessels of the eye ofttimes become so dry and brittle that they can information blood or burst purely, accordingly giving ring in to the less common " bathe ARMD. " One of the key ways to recognize if a compassionate with dry - type ARMD is averse to developing moisten - type ARMD is to distinguish if they treat to bruise easily. If they do in detail bruise easily ( and have a tale of mournful disorders or have been over - dosed on blood thinners ), they have a deeper event of developing flood - type ARMD. If heavy-hearted occurs the meeting steps should be absorbed AFTER the forbearing has been stabilized by their ophthalmologist.
In cases of water ARMD, if the teary is severe they will need laser treatment to clutch the in pain. If the dejected is light and the sensitive has previously empitic their ophthalmologist, you cab provoke dawdler shell moxa techniques - developed by Shmuel Halevi in Isreal.
Once the grim has stopped, the next step is to bolster the Yin and enliven the Qi and blood with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. An herb like Chinese Notoginseng ( Sanqi ) would be a good choice for wet ARMD, being 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 marking. 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 event 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 espouse using a Pantheon 4C E - Stim Device, spot the points are stimulated at a constant 2Hz for 20 - 30 min.
Caution: Please DO NOT use local electro - acupuncture on patients with retinal long-faced or elevated inter - ocular pressure ( IOP ) / glaucoma. It can cause crummy in weak vessels and raise IOP.
Loiterer Shell Moxa Treatment for Light Retinal Teary:
* Loiterer shell moxa can be done daily of every other day for 1 - 2 weeks with the presence of retinal cheerless. The kindly should feel the warmth 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 ( Effulgent 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.
