| Author |
Message |
    
Jonathan
| | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 23:21: | |
Hi, I have this patient woman (26) who suffers from excessive tearing in both her eyes. Can you recommend points that can be used for this problem? So far, acupuncture has not been able to help her much. 
Thank you for any input on this. |
Sidney Rosenberg
Username: Sidney
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 12:04: | |
I thought that I might be able to help a little on your question Jonathan as a layman who was employed in medical promotions for several decades with a pharmaceutical company who specialized in the ophthalmic area.
The problem of excessive tearing is usually associated with elderly folk due to instability of the tear-duct (lachrymal sac) due to age. These folk often suffer from the dry eye syndrome at the same time as the tears which are responsible for cleansing and lubrication of the eyes run off leaving dry spot to form on the cornea which can be a cause of corneal erosions with a subsequent effect on visual ability. Apart from a minor operation to amend this problem, I really do not think a holistic discipline has a part to play here. If dry eyes are involved in this problem then they can be alleviated by numerous polymer based artificial drops that are on the market worldwide.
If the tearing is caused by a hormonal imbalance or some other reason which the age of this lady suggests, then the above is most probably not relevant.
However, even if tear-duct instability is not the underlying factor then in my humble opinion, the lady should be thoroughly diagnosed by a qualified ophthalmologist anyway as a symptom is not a cause and her visual health is of foremost importance here. |
Shmuel Halevi
| | Posted on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 15:07: | |
Dear Jonathan and Sidney, I suppose the young woman has already been diagnosed by a qualified ophthalmologist and that the usual symptomatic eye drops were suggested to her. This is usually the case, but it does not relieve the problem on the long run. Moreover, the basic condition my gradually deteriorate if the only solution is to administer symptomatic eye drops as a habit. In view of Ch. med. such a condition may be attributed to either exogenous causes such as exposure to the Wind energy or to endogenous causes. Internal causes may be a stagnation of Yin fluid in the area of eye due to improper circulation, or a combination of both exogenous and endogenous causes.
If the main cause is that of Wind or Wind-Dampness pathogen, there will be a marked aversion to wind and/or dampness. There may exist also other symptoms such as runny nose, allergies, headache etc. Endogenous factors may or may not be also systemic. Systemic pathology may involve the kidneys which fail to circulate the Yin fluid due to Qi or Yang deficiency. In such a case, the contraceptive pill may be a contributing factor, as Sidney has implied. Also other internal systemic causes may be relevant, especially those that relate to the spleen or even the lung systems - all of which play a role in water metabolism in T.C.M.
Yet, the most prevalent cause for such a phenomenon is usually a combination of both external and internal causes. The invasion of an exogenous weather related pernicious ebergy such as intense/sudden or continuous exposure to wind, may stagnate the circulation in the eye region. If, in the same time, there exists a Qi deficiency in the kidney or bladder system, the problem may reside and become chronic or latent. The good news in that, is that acupuncture is extremely helpful in resolving this cindition, even in old people, in most cases.
The points are usually these:
B-1/ K-6 for the Yin Qiao Mai extra vessel. B-1 re-circulates and absorbs excessive or stagnated fluid in the eye region, while K-6 (the master point of Y.Q.M) opens and activates the entire meridian. For the wind pathogen add:
Du-16 and St-8
For kidney Qi Xu add: K-3 and/or B-23
If you rae not adept in using B-1 you may use B-2 which is also good for this problem, albeit to a lesser extent. |
Jonathan
| | Posted on Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 16:26: | |
Thanx. This seems very helpful and I will definitely try these combinations. I'll keep you posted. |
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Excessive tearing