For thousands of years, people have used acupuncture to help treat eye problems. Today, it can be a helpful way to protect your eyes if you have conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eyes, or cataracts. Acupuncture is part of a traditional Chinese medicine practice. It involves sticking tiny needles into your skin. Many states in the US have rules and standards for acupuncture. But how does it work, and what can it do for your eyes? We'll explain how acupuncture works, what it does for eye problems, what you can expect from acupuncture treatments, and where you can find the best acupuncturist in Asheville.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture comes from ancient Chinese traditions. A trained acupuncturist puts tiny needles into specific points on your body. These points are usually along energy pathways called "meridians." In Chinese medicine, when these meridians get blocked or unbalanced, it can hurt your health. There are 71 meridians in your body, but acupuncturists typically focus on about 20 of them. These points vary depending on what the acupuncturist thinks is wrong with you. They pick points based on what they see and ask you during your visit. Small needles stay in your skin for a short time, usually around 20 to 30 minutes. The idea is to help your energy flow better and balance your meridians.
Western medicine often treats diseases with specific treatments. These treatments usually focus on relieving symptoms and managing the illness. But Chinese medicine thinks that diseases happen because some parts of your body aren't working well together. If you fix these imbalances over time, you can get better. An acupuncturist looks at your body, sometimes by checking your tongue and pulse, to find these imbalances. They use this information to choose which meridians to work on. That's why two people with the same disease in Western medicine might get different acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture often combines with herbs as part of your treatment. These herbs also aim to fix imbalances. After your acupuncture session, you might get a bag of herbs, teas, or ointments to use at home.
For chronic conditions, you might need acupuncture once or twice a week until you feel better. Acute problems might need more frequent treatments. You usually go to an acupuncturist's office for treatment. You wear loose clothes, and you might have to roll up your sleeves or pants. After the acupuncturist checks you, you lie down, and they put in the tiny needles. These needles are thinner than a human hair. They don't usually hurt. The FDA makes sure the needles are clean and only used once to reduce the risk of infection.
The Liver Meridian's Role
The liver meridian is important for eye problems because it connects to your eyes. It's the main energy path that supports good vision. All your organs give energy to your eyes, and your meridians connect to your eyes too.
In your eyes, certain meridians have a big effect:
eye and pupil: kidneys
sclera: lungs
veins and arteries: heart
bottom eyelid: stomach
top eyelid: spleen
cornea and iris: liver
Retina: kidneys and liver
An acupuncturist might choose a few meridians to work on during your treatment. They might pick different points during your visits as your body gets better. You don't need to believe in acupuncture for it to work. Many studies show that it can help with all kinds of health problems.
Acupuncture and Eye Health
We don't have a lot of scientific research about acupuncture, even though people have used it for thousands of years. Some studies haven't been translated from Chinese to other languages, so we can't read them. Also, many studies use fake acupuncture for comparison, which might not be the best way to study acupuncture.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
When older people's eyes start to break down, Western medicine often says there's not much we can do but wait. This is especially true for eye problems like Dry Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt's Disease, and Rod-Cone Dystrophy. Doctors usually give injections, eye drops, and laser treatments for bleeding or swelling in the retina. But they don't usually think about energy imbalances or nutrient problems that can lead to eye diseases.
A small study in China found that acupuncture helped 88% of Macular Degeneration patients, while a control group that got vitamins and medicine had a 60% success rate.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
People with Retinitis Pigmentosa often lose their side and color vision as they get older because the cells in their eyes break down. A small study in 2014 found that half the patients got better vision from acupuncture and nutrition support.
Glaucoma and Acupuncture
In 2007, researchers tried to see if acupuncture could help with glaucoma. But they couldn't find enough research to say for sure.
A small study with 11 patients showed that acupuncture made their eye pressure better 15 minutes after the treatment. They also saw better with their eyes. They got acupuncture twice a week for five weeks, but the effect didn't last more than a month.
But a recent study found that electro-acupuncture on certain points helped lower eye pressure.
Acupuncture and Myopia
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is common, especially in places where people use screens a lot and study a ton. Doctors usually use glasses or contact lenses to treat it. One study used a method where they stimulated acupuncture points with electricity and gave eye drops called atropine. The people who got this treatment had less worsening of their myopia, their eyes didn't get longer, and they had less pressure in their eyes.
Another big study with 409 kids found that acupuncture didn't make myopia better, but it helped with their eye symptoms.
Acupuncture might not work for everyone or every eye problem, but it could be a helpful option for some people. If you're interested in trying it, talk to an acupuncturist to see if it's right for you.
Asheville Intergrative Acupuncture: Helping Heal Your Eyes and So Much More
At Asheville Intergrative Acupuncture, Dr. Kystal Kinnunen, DAOM, L.Ac. has been helping people with all kinds of ailments for over a decade. With over 12 years of experience, Dr. Kinnunen can help you feel better. Her clinical interests range from treating pain, digestive health, mental health, women’s health, infertility, as well as maternity and postpartum care.
Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Krystal Kinnunen, and begin your path to wellness through the healing art of acupuncture.
