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Degenerative eye conditions such as Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Stargardt’s disease, and Retinitis Pigmentosa can be caused by many factors, such as genetic predisposition, overuse, poor circulation, and metabolic disorders. Many holistic and Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities exist to help restore function and health, however, this requires educating oneself, a willingness to learn and apply principles of lifestyle change, and dedication. Preventing damage is very important to keep optimum eye health.

Traditional Chinese Medicine views the body as a whole, and takes into account the internal and external factors that may lead to its disharmony and imbalance. Finding the root of the problem and correcting dysfunction by balancing organs and restoring circulation, helps the body to promote self-healing and move toward balance. 

Below are some simple ways you can achieve healthier vision.

• Eat Right. Try to eat organic fruits and vegetables, especially carrots, kale, spinach, or collard greens. Use healthy fats such as coconut or pure olive oils, fish, eggs, avocado, nuts (pistachios), legumes, seeds, and whole grains. Reduce or eliminate refined sugar, salt, white flour, fast foods. Fruits high in Vitamin C (oranges, berries, grapefruit) help reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Shoot for a high alkaline diet.
• Rest the eyes. Take breaks from computer screens. Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes look 20 feet away from your computer for 20 seconds. Rub palms together and place over eyes for about 1 minute.
• Quit smoking. Avoid pollutants. These expose your eyes to high levels of oxidative stress, which damage blood vessels so the eyes no longer get the nutrients they need, besides increasing your overall health risk.
• Decrease or eliminate stress. Stress accelerates vision loss, and impairs recovery and regeneration, besides affecting overall brain & neurological functioning. Reduce stimulants such as caffeine.
• Get regular check-ups and know your history. Many eye problems can be genetic.
• Get acupuncture. A number of studies have shown acupuncture to have  positive effects on people with eye disease, such as glaucoma, cataracts, dry eyes, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, optic neuritis, optic atrophy.

Call Pointz today to learn about our Acupuncture Vision Loss program!

CONSUMER HEALTH ALERT!    THE TRUTH ON DRY NEEDLING:

Physical Therapists (P.T.) are practicing “Dry Needling”                                           Dry Needling IS Acupuncture!

The definition and issue of “Dry Needling” is complicated and completely depends on who you ask. If you ask a Physical Therapist who advertises Dry Needling (D.N.) they will claim that is is NOT acupuncture. They will claim that D.N. is a practice where needles (acupuncture needles) are inserted in the body at myofascial “trigger points” to help reduce pain. This difference is made ONLY to allow a legal loophole in order to avoid prosecution by practicing acupuncture without a license. They lure patients in with the promise that it is covered under their insurance. They then falsely bill insurance as a “manual therapy”.

THE TRUTH: Several organizations, including the world Health Organization, The American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (AAAOM), the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), have all determined that DRY NEEDLING IS THE PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE. The argument that “D.N. is the use of needles at trigger points and as such is not acupuncture” is a ludicrous and invalid statement. In the practice of acupuncture, acupuncturists will utilize “ashi” points, (which is roughly translated as “tender points”). These points correspond to the “trigger points” that physical therapists claim to have exclusive rights to. This has been done since the beginning of acupuncture 4000 years ago and is the primary way I perform acupuncture. Following this argument, virtually ALL ACUPUNCTURISTS fully trained in TCM also do “dry needling”, but with vastly higher levels of raining, expertise, and understanding in the use of needles and how it affects the Qi of the body and the safety of the patient.

THE RISK OF DRY NEEDLING

Many states in the U.S. have recognized the risk and have banned P.T. from doing this to their patients. Unfortunately, Arizona still allows them to try this on their patients. P.T.’s are putting both the patients and the practice of acupuncture at risk in 2 ways: Lack of Training: Insufficient training and education poses a health risk to the public. P.T.’s may only have 24 – 48 hours of actual training in dry needling.  A licensed acupuncturist is required to have over 2800 hours of training, pass a Clean Needle Certification, a National Certification for Acupuncture, and be state licensed to perform needling.  The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) state potential dangers that may result when acupuncture (dry needling) is practiced without the proper training or education: collapsed lung; punctured organs; miscarriage; extreme pain; adverse effects. Misrepresentation: with their lack of training and education, the care given by P.T. during D.N. is considered sub-standard. Unsatisfied patients will often believe acupuncture does not work without knowledge of their (P.T.) lack of training.

Untrained persons are practicing acupuncture without licensure in Arizona. If you know about the unauthorized practice of acupuncture or know someone who has been injured by dry needling, file a complaint with the Arizona Board of Acupuncture.  The Coalition of Arizona Acupuncture Safety (CAAS) has been formed to protect the public safety and economic health resources by calling for proper education, training and licensing levels in order for P.T.’s to be allowed to perform any type of acupuncture, including dry needling, on their patients.  www.azacupuncturesafety.org