Can traditional Chinese medicine cure dry eye syndrome?
Nov 22, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
If a patient has mild dry eye syndrome, treatment with traditional Chinese medicine under medical guidance may be considered, such as Chinese patent medicines like Mingmu Dihuang Pills or Shihu Mingmu Pills, or herbal ingredients including Lycium fruit, chrysanthemum, Cornus officinalis, Chinese yam, tree peony bark, raw rehmannia, Scrophularia, and Ophiopogon. However, for moderate to severe dry eye syndrome, the condition is more difficult to treat, and using herbal medicine alone tends to be ineffective.
Generally speaking, mild dry eye syndrome can be effectively treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), but moderate to severe cases cannot be completely cured by TCM alone. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Dry eye syndrome is a common eye condition characterized by impaired tear secretion caused by factors such as ocular inflammation or Sjögren's syndrome. Common symptoms include dryness, itching, foreign body sensation, sensitivity to wind, and photophobia. In mild cases, patients may be treated under medical guidance using TCM, such as proprietary Chinese medicines like Mingmu Dihuang Pills or Shihu Mingmu Pills, or herbal ingredients including Lycium fruit (Gouqizi), chrysanthemum, Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu), Chinese yam (Shanyao), tree peony bark (Danpi), raw rehmannia (Shengdi), Scrophularia (Xuanshen), and Ophiopogon (Maizhong). However, for moderate to severe dry eye syndrome, the condition is more difficult to cure, and using TCM alone tends to yield poor results. Patients should instead combine TCM with Western medical treatments to improve therapeutic outcomes.
Patients should maintain a light and varied diet, avoid rubbing their eyes and excessive use of electronic devices, and maintain regular sleep patterns by going to bed early and waking up early, avoiding staying up late.
