What Chinese herbs can be used for macular degeneration?

Nov 18, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration in traditional Chinese medicine is mostly categorized as "shizhan hunmiao" (defective vision with blurred sight). Commonly used Chinese herbs include Lycium fruit (Lycii Fructus), chrysanthemum, salvia, astragalus, and cassia seed. These should be prescribed according to individual patterns such as liver-kidney yin deficiency or qi-blood deficiency, and must not be self-administered without professional guidance. If symptoms such as sudden vision loss or visual distortion occur, prompt medical evaluation is recommended for accurate diagnosis. Lycium fruit: sweet in taste and neutral in nature, enters the liver and kidney meridians.

Age-related macular degeneration falls under the category of "blurred vision" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Commonly used herbal medicines include Lycium fruit (Gouqizi), chrysanthemum, salvia (Danshen), astragalus (Huangqi), and cassia seeds (Juemingzi). These should be prescribed according to specific TCM patterns such as liver-kidney yin deficiency or qi-blood insufficiency. Self-medication is not recommended. If symptoms such as sudden vision loss or visual distortion occur, prompt medical evaluation for accurate diagnosis is advised.

1. **Lycium fruit (Gouqizi)**: Sweet in taste and neutral in nature, it targets the liver and kidney meridians. It nourishes the liver and kidneys, enriches essence, and improves vision. It is commonly used to address blurred vision, dry eyes, and dim sight caused by liver-kidney yin deficiency. Often combined with chrysanthemum to enhance its therapeutic effect.

2. **Chrysanthemum**: Slightly cold in nature with a sweet-bitter taste, it enters the lung and liver meridians. It clears liver heat, improves vision, and disperses wind-heat, helping relieve redness, swelling, pain, and blurred vision due to ascending liver fire. It serves as an adjunctive treatment for macular degeneration accompanied by dry or irritated eyes.

3. **Salvia (Danshen)**: Bitter in taste and slightly cold in nature, it affects the heart and liver meridians. It promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, unblocks meridians, and relieves pain. It improves ocular blood flow and alleviates vision decline due to blood stasis, making it suitable for macular degeneration associated with obstructed collateral circulation.

4. **Astragalus (Huangqi)**: Sweet in taste and mildly warm in nature, it enters the spleen and lung meridians. It tonifies qi, raises yang, strengthens the exterior, and stops sweating. By enhancing qi to promote blood and qi circulation, it nourishes ocular vessels and is particularly beneficial for macular degeneration due to qi-blood deficiency, improving symptoms like blurred vision and fatigue.

5. **Cassia seeds (Juemingzi)**: Slightly cold with a bitter-sweet-salty taste, it targets the liver and large intestine meridians. It clears liver heat, improves vision, moistens the intestines, and promotes bowel movements. It helps relieve redness, swelling, pain, and blurred vision associated with liver fire, and is especially suitable for patients with constipation.

Herbal medicine should be prescribed under the guidance of a licensed TCM practitioner based on individual pattern differentiation; single herb use should be avoided. A light diet rich in vitamin-containing fruits and vegetables is recommended. Avoid staying up late and excessive eye strain. Moderate eye massage may help improve circulation and support eye recovery.

View All

What traditional Chinese medicine should be taken for allergic asthma?

For allergic asthma, traditional Chinese herbs such as Ephedra (Mahuang), Perilla seed (Zisuzi), Bitter Apricot Seed (Kuxingren), Earthworm (Dilong), and Astragalus (Huangqi) may be used under medical guidance. Treatment should be individualized based on syndrome differentiation—including cold asthma, heat asthma, or deficiency of lung and spleen qi—with emphasis on relieving wheezing, stopping cough, resolving phlegm, promoting lung function, and strengthening qi to consolidate the body's defenses. If acute asthma attack occurs with difficulty breathing or persistent wheezing, prompt medical attention is recommended.

View Full Answer

Can I take cold medicine after consuming lingzhi soup?

If you wait 1–2 hours after drinking the Reishi mushroom soup and choose a simple traditional Chinese medicine cold remedy—such as Fenghan Ganmao Granules or Fengre Ganmao Granules—it is generally safe to take. This interval helps reduce direct interactions between the two in the gastrointestinal tract. Mild cold medicines have a low risk of ingredient conflict with Reishi soup, minimizing discomfort and allowing each to exert its respective regulatory and therapeutic effects.

View Full Answer

Is taking cough medicine for a month harmful to the body?

If a mild traditional Chinese medicine (e.g., Chuanbei Pipa Syrup) or a single-ingredient expectorant (e.g., ambroxol) is taken, and the use is indicated according to a doctor's diagnosis, taking the medication for one month at the prescribed dose usually causes minimal harm to the body. These drug ingredients are relatively safe, and short-term, proper use rarely leads to serious adverse reactions, while also helping to control cough symptoms.