Treating "Dry Eyes" in Chinese Medicine
By Dr. med. Michael Wullinger, medical practice Dr. Wullinger
Dry eyes is the most frequent diagnosis in ophthalmology. The most common symptoms are dryness, foreign body or pressure sensation, burning eyes, pain, sensitivity to light, and increased lachrymation. Since a causal therapy is often impossible, dry eyes are mainly treated symptomatically by administering artificial tear preparations. This, however, does not always lead to satisfactory results. Therefore, many patients turn to other medical treatment methods. Acupuncture and phytotherapy of Chinese Medicine are alternatives that several studies have shown to relieve the symptoms.
The prerequisite for a treatment with acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs is a Chinese diagnosis. Apart from a detailed interrogation and examination of the patient it also includes pulse and tongue diagnosis.
Subsequently, the doctor decides on the most promising and appropriate procedure. Chinese Medicine basically distinguishes between two types of condition. The first type is a disorder of the centre, which results in impaired tear production. The second type presents an altered tear composition, often caused by various factors. As a result, the surface of the eyes is no longer sufficiently lubricated. In Chinese Medicine this condition is viewed as a YIN deficiency in the kidney and liver networks. It is accompanied by marked reddening, strong sensation of burning and symptoms of inflammation. Depending on the kind of disease dry eyes are treated with different acupuncture points and medicinal herbs.
Usually, a series of 10 to 15 acupuncture treatments are carried out, in most cases once a week. Points near the eye and what are known as remote points, mostly on the arms and legs, are treated. A frequently used acupuncture point is the point bladder (bl) 2 at the inner edge of the eyebrow.
Acupuncture point bl 2
It is used to soothe the irritation of the eye and to stimulate tear secretion. The acupuncture causes hardly any pain and is carried out in such a way that the eye does not get injured. After six to eight treatments most patients show clear signs of improvement.
Complementary to acupuncture doctors often prescribe Chinese medicinal herbs. In China, these are regarded as the most important treatment method. There are 40 to 50 medicinal herbs in Chinese Medicine that have proved particularly successful in treating eye diseases. On prescription they are available in perfect quality in specialised chemist’s shops. Especially Fr. Lycii is an excellent medicinal herb for the treatment of dry eyes.
Fr. Lycii
Fr. Thanks to their mild and lubricating action, which is directed at the YIN of the liver network, they are an excellent remedy for this condition. Usually these substances are boiled in water. Patients drink the preparation as a kind of tea. Most substances are also available in granulated form or as drops. The doctor determines the exact individual composition of the preparation on the basis of the Chinese diagnosis. The combination of acupuncture and medical preparations often palliates the symptoms of dry eyes so that many patients no longer need to take artificial tear preparations regularly.
Title of the German original article: Behandlung des Trockenen Auges im Rahmen der Chinesischen Medizin by Dr. med. Michael Wullinger
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