Are your eyes often strained or irritated? Do you suffer from aching eyes, blurred vision, itchy eyes, double vision, dry eyes, eye strain, or any other eye related problems? If yes, you’re not alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.3 billion people have some form of visual impairment. It’s estimated that 80% of these visual problems are avoidable. There are various causes of eye problems. For example, the recent rise of smartphones has been identified as a contributing factor. Read on for more information on an ancient alternative treatment that may help your eye health: acupressure.
What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is a non-needling technique in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture, but without needling. At our Chinese Medicine clinics in Hamilton and Remuera, Auckland, our qualified practitioners can use acupressure techniques to treat many eye conditions.
How Does Acupressure Work?
According to TCM, there are special points (acupoints) that lie along the meridians (energy channels) in your body. These meridians create a complex communication network by connecting body organs. Illnesses, including eye problems, arise when one or more meridians are blocked. This blockage may be caused by stress, physical trauma, poor nutrition, or other factors. Practitioners at Centre of Balance Hamilton’s eye clinic apply pressure to these acupoints using a device or their fingers. This helps regulate opposing forces of yin and yang, and restore energy balance. Acupressure may help with a wide range of health problems.
Acupressure Eye Points to Improve your Vision
According to TCM, most eye problems can be traced to an imbalance in the internal organs. The list below shows how the organs relate to the eyes:
- Kidney – Pupil and eye lens
- Liver – Iris and cornea (NB: Most eye diseases are related to an imbalance in the liver)
- Lungs – Sclera
- Spleen – Top eyelid and circulation in the eyes
- Stomach – Bottom eyelid and circulation in the eyes
- Heart – Veins and arteries in the eyes
As shown in fig. 1, there are various acupressure eye points below the eye and on the eyebrow. Stimulation of these acupoints may promote healing.
- Cheng Qi (ST 1): This acupoint is located in the middle of the lower eyelid. Massaging the ST1 point may help a range of eye problems. This includes optic atrophy, nearsightedness, pink eye, other eye issues.
- Tong Zi Liao (GB 1): Also known as the gall bladder channel, the Tong Zi Liao acupoint lies on the outer corner of the eye (see fig. 1 above). It may help reduce wrinkles, eye fatigue, blurred vision, photophobia, red sore eyes, and lateral headaches. Stimulation of the GB1 point may also improve the circulation of blood to the eye.
- Jing Ming (UB-1/BL1): This is the first urinary bladder channel that is located on the inner corner of the eye next to the nose. Stimulation of the Jing Ming acupoint may help with the early stages of cataracts, hysteria, and glaucoma. It amy also remedy conjunctivitis due to liver heat.
- Zan Zhu (UB-2/BL2): As shown in fig. 1, the Zan Zhu acupoint lies on the inner corner of the eye next to the eyebrow. According to TCM, it may relieve hay fever, blurred vision, headaches, watery eyes, and eye redness.
- Si Zhu Kong (SJ 23/TB23): The Si Zhu Kong acupoint is also known as the Triple Burner Channel. It is located on the outer edge of the eyebrow. Stimulation of this point may help relieve a variety of facial and eye problems originating from liver yang and wind invasion.
- Yu Yao: Located in the middle of the eyebrow, this acupoint may alleviate eye problems related to mental strain such as excessive studying, stress, and overworking.
- Qiu Hou: This acupoint is found between GB1 and ST1. It may help to clear eye redness and moisten the eyes. It may also eliminate wind and inner heat.
The Science:
According to a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, acupressure is an effective strategy to manage multiple symptoms. The American authors found that acupressure alleviated symptoms of trauma, fatigue, insomnia, and nausea, among other health problems. Another clinical trial in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that auricular acupressure helped treat patients diagnosed with glaucoma.
Works Cited
Lee, E. J., & Frazier, S. K. (2011). The efficacy of acupressure for symptom management: a systematic review. Journal of pain and symptom management, 42(4), 589-603.
Her, J. S., Liu, P. L., Cheng, N. C., Hung, H. C., Huang, P. H., Chen, Y. L., … & Wang, H. S. (2010). Intraocular pressure-lowering effect of auricular acupressure in patients with glaucoma: a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(11), 1177-1184.