Cataract is a gradually developing opacity of the lens or the lens capsule of the eye, which is due to a congenital (at birth) or acquired cause. Aging is the most common cause of cataract (esp. persons over 65-70 years) but many other factors can be involved, including trauma, toxins, systemic disease, and heredity. Age related cataract is a common cause of visual impairment. Cataract usually happens in both eyes, but traumatic cataract may happen in only one eye. Congenital cataract remains stationary.

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TCM treatment is very effective in adjusting the body condition to alleviate the eye condition. Surgical intervention improves vision in 95% of affected people. In clinical observations, herbal medicine is effective in nourishing the qi in the kidney, liver and spleen. This, in turn, reduces the degeneration of the eyes and relieves vision syndrome before and after the operation.

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Syndrome (a)
Kidney and Liver deficient function

A person with a headache and fever who detects the cold, shows signs of having a low kidney and liver function. They may have a white tongue and a string-like pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: By using herbal medicine, one can restore his "Yin"and keep the kidneys and liver strong. Siimilarly, the eye condition can improve as well.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for dissipating Qi and blood stasis channel up to eyes. Lycium Fruit, Chrysanthemun, Cornus, Rehmannia cocked at each 12g; Dioscorea, Alisma, Moutan bark, Tuckahoe at each 15g.

Simple Prescription: Take a Ming Mu Di Huang Wan pill once to twice a day, depending on your condition.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: By using acupuncture points from the Extra meridian point, the Urine Bladder merdian of Food Tai-Yang, and the Liver meridian of Food Jue-Yin you can regulate the circulation of qi in your body and resolve blood stasis while also reliveing blockage of the eye area.

Prescription: Zanzhu (UB2), Yu-Yao (Extra3), Tai-Yang (Extra2), Shen-Shu (UB23) and Xing-Jian (Li2). Acupuncture 10-20 minutes or with Moxibustion at each point 1-2 minutes.

  

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Syndrome (b)
Weakness in Spleen and body low Qi

If the spleen is weak, the qi may not be able to flow to the eyes. Once the eyes are lacking in qi, then the person gets cataract. Studies show that cataract from lack of qi makes vision unclear, and the body feels dizzy. The person may also have tinnitus (ringing in the ears), lower back pain and a lack of energy. The tongue is white without muskeg and the pulse is weak.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: By using herbal medicine one can restore his Yin and keep the Spleen strong, while also leading the Qi to improve the eye condition.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for promoting Qi and blood channel up to eyes. Astragalus Root, Codonopsis, Tuckahoe, at each 15g; Cimicifuga rhizome, Bupleurum at each 8g; Angelica, Atractylodes white, Guan-Sha-Yuan at each 10g; Tangerine peel, Citrus, Liquorice at each 6g; Privet Fruit and Zhu-Shi-Zi at each 12g.

Simple Prescription: Take a Yi-Qi Cong-Ming Wan pill once to twice a day depending on your condition.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: By using the acupuncture points from the Extra meridian point, the Urine Bladder meridian of Foot Tai-Yang, the Stomach meridian of Food Yang-Ming, and the Large Intestine meridian of Hand Yang-Ming you can regulate the circulation of Qi, resolve blood stasis, and relieve blockage of the eye area.

Prescription: Pi-Shu (UB20), Yu-Yao (Extra3), Tai-Yang (Extra2), Zusanli (St36) and He-Gu (LI4). Acupuncture 10-20 minutes or with Moxibustion at each point 1-2 minutes.

  

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Syndrome (c)
Liver heat flow is disturbed to the head

Due to disturbance in liver function, one may have a block in the heat energy flowing up to ones' head. This, in turn, may cause a headache and dry eyes. The mouth may feel dry while the tongue is red with yellow fur.The pulse may be fast.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Herbal medicine can clean the heat and restore Liver energy to control the condition of the eyes.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for removing heat stagnation in the head and eyes area. Haliotis 30g; Cao Haliotis 12g; Celosia Seeds, Gardenia, Rhubarb, Schizonepeta, Shave Grass, Notopterygium root and White caltrop at each 10g; Red peony rood and Ophiopogon Root at each 15g.

Simple Prescription: Hua Zhang Ming-Mu Tang one time a bowl, twice a day.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture or moxibustion can regulate the circulation of Qi, discharge heat, resolve blood stasis and relieve pain by using points mainly from Food Yang-Min Stomach meridian point and the Hand Yang-Ming Lung meridian points and Food Tai-Yang Spleen meridian points and Liver meridian of Foot Jue-Yin points.

Prescription: Chengqi (ST1), Sibai (ST2), Hegu (LI4), Tai-Chong (Li3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) 15-30 minutes Acupuncture and 2-5 minutes Moxibustion.

  

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Syndrome (d)
Spleen Yin defect and higher moisture with heat

When the spleen is weak, energy gets blocked in the body and as a result,the heat reaching the head increases and clinically it shows as decreased vision, halitosis (bad breath), and constipation.The tongue is red with yellow fur and the pulse is weak.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: By using herbal medicine one can restore Yin and keep the kidneys and liver strong which can lead to improvement in the eye condition.

Prescription/Formula: Modified decoction for dissipating Qi and blood stasis channel up to eyes. Rehmannia root, Rehmannia cocked, Ophiopogon Root, Asparagus Root, Dendrobium at each 12g; Oriental wormwood, Cotoneaster shell and Scutellaria at each 10g; Nacre 20g.

Simple Prescription: Bo-Yun Tui-Yi Wan one time a pill, twice a day.

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Therapeutic principle: Acupuncture or moxibustion can regulate the circulation of Qi, resolve blood stasis and relieve block of eye area by using points mainly from Extra meridian point and the Urine Bladder meridian of Food Tai-Yang and the Liver meridian of Food Jue-Yin and Stomach meridian of Foot Yang-Ming points.

Prescription: Zusanli (St36), Yu-Yao (Extra3), Tai-Yang (Extra2), Shen-Shu (UB23) and Xing-Jian (Li2). Acupuncture 10-20 minutes or with Moxibustion at each point 1-2 minutes.

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

1. The Qigong exercise may benefit the eye condition. Eye gong is a self setting exercise done for 10-30 minutes,to relax and to lead the Qi down to the hands and then relieve the bad energy out of the food, before using both hands to do self massage of the head and eyes 5-10 times.

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

• Static Qigong:
  Inner-Nourishing Qigong
  Six-Character Formula
  Standing Qigong
  
• Dynamic Qigong:
  Fifteen Sets of Taiji-Qigong
  Taiji
  
• Specific Dynamic Qigong:
  Eye Qigong.
  

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

2. Collyr. Therapy: Kun Bu eyeswater twice a day.
3. Ear Acupuncture: acupuncture for the eye, kidney, Liver and sympathetic of Ear points.
4. Water Acupoint Injection: Using Dang-Gui Liquor or Vit-B1/ B12 for both side of Guang-Ming (BG37), Zusanli (St36), Sanyinjiao (Sp6), Yang-Lao (SI6), Qu-Chi (LI11) and He-Gu (LI4) points and once a day for one week.

Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.