Macular degeneration: the possibilities of acupuncture

January 19, 2005- Acupuncture treatments may have partially restored visual acuity in patients suffering from macular degeneration, according to an American doctor¹.

The D approach^r Alston C. Lundgren, a physician who uses acupuncture in his practice, is not recognized by ophthalmologists for the treatment of macular degeneration. A preliminary study where acupuncture was used to treat this eye disease, however, seems to offer encouraging results for the ten or so patients who experienced improvement in their vision.

Eight of the ten patients of D^r Lundgren reported that they saw better after acupuncture sessions lasting 15 to 35 minutes, twice a week. Treatments were given at this rate for as long as patients reported improvement in their vision. The longest treatment required twenty sessions. An eye test seems to confirm the testimony of the patients. Patients whose eyesight recovered, at least partially, could read an additional one to seven lines of text appearing on a remote screen. Far and near vision measurements also confirmed that the visual performance of these eight patients had improved.

To obtain these results, D^r Lundgren inserted needles around the subjects’ eyeballs to stimulate the optic nerve. Others were placed in the ear, chest, foot and leg, at various specific points related to the nervous system. A very slight electromagnetic current passed through these hands for a few seconds. A special needle was also placed, for a few days, in an ear.

Macular degeneration mostly affects people over the age of 50. It affects the macula, a small area in the center of the retina, which allows you to see details and colors clearly. Poor condition of blood circulation or blood vessels can damage this area and lead to gradual loss of central vision.

Marie france Coutu – PasseportSanté.net

According to Health World Online.

1. Lundgren A, Medical Acupuncture for age-related Macular degeneration, a preliminary report, Medical Acupuncture Journal, Flight. 14, N^o 2. The electronic version of the study is available at http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol14_2/article8.html. [Site consulté le 19 janvier 2005]