Vision loss due to age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is becoming more common as the large population of baby boomers are reaching the age of 65 and older. In the last blog entry we discussed ways you can better nourish the tissues of the eyes to prevent further vision loss. This blog entry will discuss looking at the disease from a different perspective – Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The wonderful thing about Chinese medicine is that there is a rich history of clinical experience that has been recorded for thousands of years describing the treatment of vision loss. The earliest records about the eye and eye diseases in Chinese medicine were inscribed on tortoise shells 3000 years ago (seen in the picture below).

How Chinese medicine views vision loss

The liver is the most important organ that relates to the health of the eyes in Chinese medicine. It is written that “the liver opens into the eyes, and the eyes reflect the function of the liver.” When the liver is functioning properly, the eyes receive the proper nutrients they require and one can see. When the liver is out of balance, the eyes lose this proper nutrition and begin to degenerate. Macular degeneration is no exception to this statement.

The kidneys are the the second most important organ system in relation to the eyes. They help nourish the fluid of the eyes and support the connection between the brain and the eyes. One of the books of Chinese medicine states “If the essence (which is stored in the kidneys) is abundant, the eyes can see things, distinguish color, and judge length.”

This is why ARMD is often diagnosed as Liver and Kidney depletion. The two organ systems are over burdened and cannot provide the proper nourishment to the eyes, resulting in degeneration.

Remember in the last blog entry when we discussed drusen? This is the fatty waste material that forms on the retina in ARMD. Chinese medicine describes this material as ‘phlegm-dampness.’ It is seen as the result of improper digestion caused by a poor diet or a weak digestive system.

Now you can see that poorly functioning liver, kidneys, and digestive system (resulting in phlegm-dampness) will all result in the deterioration of the eyes.

How Chinese medicine treats vision loss due to ARMD

1. Acupuncture
2. Herbal medicine
3. Nutrition
4. Massage
5. Exercise

Utilizing these therapies one can help nourish the deficient organ systems, improve circulation, and increase nourishment to the eyes.

Specific points on the body can be stimulated with acupuncture and massage to strengthen the liver and kidneys and increase circulation to the eyes. It is important to find a licensed acupuncturist trained with experience in treating these eye disorders to obtain the best results.

Some of the basic principles of nutrition were discussed in the last blog entry. It is important to nourish your eyes with foods containing Omega 3 fatty acids, colorful vegetables and fruits that are high in antioxidants, and foods high in macular protecting pigments containing lutein and zeaxanthin.

Chinese herbal medicine is a very complex topic of it’s own, but a well trained herbalist can make you a formula that is specific to your diagnosis. There are herbs that are used to get rid of ‘phlegm-dampness’ (drusen), and other herbs to help strengthen the liver and kidneys.

Three common formulas used to strength the liver and kidneys to benefit the eyes are:

• Ming Mu Di Huang Wan
• Qi Ju Di Huang Wan
• Zhu Jing Wan

An effective formula to get rid of ‘phlegm-dampness’ is:

• modified San Ren Tang

There are a couple simple single herbs that can also help benefit the eyes like:

• Gou Qi Zi (Goji berries, lycium fruit)
• Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum flowers)

Conclusion

This blog entry begins to explain the unique approach Chinese medicine takes in healing the eyes. Macular degeneration can take two forms – wet type and dry type. This article is primarily discussing the dry type, as the wet type is more serious and can cause serious damage to your eye very quickly. If you are suffering from the wet type, then it is important to visit your ophthamologist to try and stop the bleeding as soon as possible. After the bleeding is under control you can look into the above methods of further healing your eyes. Western medicine and Chinese medicine each have their benefits, and when dealing with such complicated diseases like macular degeneration it’s prudent to get the best of both worlds.