Question Details
Success Story - Glaucoma
by bannink - October 18, 2009
Hi everyone! This forum is such a great resource and also can be a wonderful place to gain some inspiration for the power of herbal medicine. Per Steve's request, I will post some of my success stories in the hope of inspiring us on in our quest to perfect our herbal skills. I encourage everyone to do the same. That way we can also hopefully get a nice bank of cases to refer back to that can help up with ideas for our own patients.

Here's the first one:

A10 year old male neutered Border Collie mix developed glaucoma after phaecoemulsification surgery and intraocular lens placement. Cataracts had developed as a result of radiation therapy for treatment of a nasal carcinoma. Intraocular pressures were above 30 mmHg bilaterally and unresponsive to conventional medications and laser treatments. He developed retinal detatchment and unfortunately lost his vision. Due to ongoing pain, intraocular pressure was being controlled with periodic (about weekly) draining of intraocular fluid. The patient then presented to me to try and decrease intraocular pressures and avoid the need for repeated anesthesia for draining of ocular fluid. He was treated with acupuncture and Ming Mu Formula (modified Liu Wei Di Huang Wan) and Xiao Yao San (had been on this previously for a history of blood deficiency). Blepharospasm resolved. Pressures normalized to below 10 mmHg and were successfully maintained at that level until euthanasia for progressive nasal carcinoma invading into the brain 14 months later. (Sorry, don't have tongue and pulse on this guy - he was a patient during my residency.)

Erin
Replies
by naturevet
October 19, 2009
Wow, Erin. That is really impressive! Glaucoma can be a very difficult problem to treat with herbs. So for the rest of us, any success story goes a long way to helping the rest of us. Thanks so much for sharing the case!

Steve
by rmtran
October 19, 2009
Hi Erin,

What a wonderful story! I am yet to have such a great case, but it certainly inspires us for furhter study.

Rieko
by amymatthews
October 19, 2009
Cool case! Do you remember what points you used? There was a small study done at U FL that suggested that SP6 was effective at lowering intraocular pressures.
by bannink
November 3, 2009
I don't recall the points now and unfortunately don't have access to the chart. I treated with acupuncture for probably the first few months, then maintained with herbs.
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