What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a poorly understood disease. Early glaucoma symptoms are not always immediately detected. In someone with Glaucoma, the optic nerve of the eye begins to lose its function. The optic nerve is the transmitter of visual images from the eye to the brain. In the early stages damage of the nerve results in loss of peripheral vision; in later stages blindness may result. Abnormality in the circulation of the optic nerve appears to be the reason for damage to the optic nerve. Elevated intraocular pressure is felt to be the main contributing factor, although there are patients with glaucoma who have low or normal intraocular pressure. Other factors, which make the nerve more susceptible to damage, are arteriosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. The good news is that many lifestyle changes can help improve blood circulation in the eyes, preventing glaucoma symptoms. Given below are effective treatment tips, followed by a list of homeopathic remedies to treat glaucoma.
What other treatments are available?
Diet
You should shift your diet away from meats and dairy products towards a largely vegetarian diet that includes cold water fish and eggs. There is evidence that this type of diet will help in weight reduction, reduce the risk of arteriosclerotic vascular disease, lower blood pressure, reduce the incidence of diabetes and improve blood flow to the eye.
Exercise
Aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce mean intraocular pressure by 4.6 mm Hg when compared to previously sedentary glaucoma patients. This has the same result as the pressure lowering properties of glaucoma medication.
If you do not have a regular exercise program now is the time to start. You should begin slowly under your physician’s supervision. Begin with 10 to 15 minute several times a week. This should gradually be increased to 30 minutes of moderate exercise everyday. The ideal exercise will increase your heart rate a small amount without producing undue fatigue.
Moderate exercise improves your cardiovascular system, helps keep off extra pounds, lowers cholesterol, reduces high blood pressure and improves retinal circulation. Exercise also helps to improve your mental outlook and reduces stress. These factors are important in helping the body fight disease. This is probably the best thing you will do for your health!
Coffee
Coffee should be reduced or eliminated. Studies have shown that coffee can produce a 13% reduction in retinal blood flow. This is especially important in patients that have existing retinal damage and who are losing vision.
Smoking
If you smoke please do everything possible to stop. Some studies show that there is a 2.9 increase in risk in developing glaucoma in smokers. While smoking, each cigarette can raise the intraocular pressure by 5.0-mm Hg or more. Nicotine has been shown to reduce retinal blood flow by 16%. Tobacco also robs the body of 25 mg of vitamin C per cigarette. Smokers have an increase in lipids (both fat and cholesterol) which increase the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. These factors produce narrowing of the retina blood vessels that carry valuable nutrients to the eye.
Sunlight
UV and Blue Violet sunrays increase the risk of developing free radicals. A good pair of sunglasses which block 100% of UVA and UVB and block at least 85% of blue violet sun rays.
Hypothyroidism
If you have glaucoma it is important to have your thyroid checked. Many cases of low-tension glaucoma have been reported related to low thyroid functioning. Hypothyroidism can lead to a condition called myxedema, which results in a buildup of mucopolysaccharides throughout the body. Increase in mucopolysaccharides in the eye may block the outflow of aqueous producing elevations of intraocular pressure.
Reducing levels of Mucopolysaccharides
Proper thyroid functioning is important to prevent increase levels of mucopolysaccharides. A high fiber diet, vitamins A and C have also been shown to reduce these levels.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants may help improve outflow of fluid in the eye and lower the intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork is the drain of the eye. There have been some studies, which have shown that when the antioxidants are blocked the intraocular pressure will be increased.
Antioxidants may also protect the optic nerve by blocking oxygen free radical vasoconstriction, which may lead to ischemia. Antioxidants may also protect the optic nerve from the inflammatory affects of infection and inflammation.
Recommended antioxidant vitamins include Vitamin E, C and Beta-carotene.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 may have a protective effect on the optic nerve and prevent visual loss in glaucoma. A Japanese study showed that people who took 1500 Meg. had a much lower visual loss. It protects the myelin sheath or covering around the optic nerve.
Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is associated with systemic hypertension. It may have a role in blocking the affect of calcium, which causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels. The use of magnesium has been shown to improve retinal circulation in some cases of retinopathy. Physical or emotional stress also causes an increase in the need for magnesium.
Chromium
Studies have shown that Chromium will lower lipid levels in the body and increase the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). Chromium may be especially important in patients taking beta-blockers. Timoptic has been shown to increase the levels of lipids and lower the levels of HDL. All individuals who are taking Timoptic should consider supplemental Chromium.
Coleus Forskohlii
It is an extract from the Coleus, a variety of the mint plant. It has been used by Hindu practitioners for the treatment of cardiac disease, asthma and high blood pressure. It relaxes smooth muscles and produces vasodilatation of blood vessels. It has been reported is several studies to lower the intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. Forskohlii was an experiment eye drop found to reduce eye pressure. It was abandoned because the eye drops produced a milky covering over the eye. Taking the herb orally eliminates this side affect.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is scientific method of therapy based on the principle of stimulating the body’s own healing processes in order to accomplish cure. The basic system was devised and verified by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, nearly 200 years ago. Homeopathy’s astounding success rates in both chronic and acute diseases has resulted in not only standing the test of time, but also rapidly achieving widespread acceptance in Europe, India and South America.
In Homeopathy (“homeo-” means “similar”), each of us is a total complete individual, no aspect of which can be separated from any other. To be effective, any valid therapy must be based on a deep understanding of and respect for the uniqueness of each individual. In Homeopathy each patient is evaluated as a whole person- mental, emotional and physical. The prescribing remedy is based on the unique patterns found on all three levels. This means that each person is given a remedy that will stimulate his or her particular body to heal. Ten people with glaucoma might each receive a different homeopathic remedy..
Homeopathy has been carefully researched and its effectiveness has been reported in the following well respected national medical journals: Jacobs J, Treatment of Acute Childhood Diarrhea with Homeopathic Medication. Pediatrics 1994; 93:719-7255, Reilly DT , Is Homeopathy a Placebo Response? Lancet 1986; Oct: 881-886 and Kleijnen J, Clinical Trails of Homeopathy. British Medical Journal 1991; 302: 315-323.
Homeopathy can be a very valuable adjunct in your treatment of Glaucoma.
The following products are recommended for glaucoma:
- Glaucoma Nutritional formula- 2 capsules with each meal
- Glaucoma Aid sublingual spray- 5 sprays under the tongue a day
- Glaucoma Homeopathic Formula- 1 pellet under the tongue twice a day
- These can be ordered at Nutritional Research at www.nutritionalresearch.net or call (877) 341-2703
Read more about glaucoma symptoms.
Dr. Edward Kondrot is a board certified Ophthalmologist and is certified in classical homeopathy. He is the author of the best selling book- Healing the Eye the Natural Way: Alternative Medicine and Macular Degeneration, and Microcurrent Stimulation: Miracle Eye Cure. He is a contributing author in the Clinician’s Rapid Access Guide to Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Mosby.
Be sure to listen to Dr. Kondrot’s weekly radio show “Healthy Vision” which can be heard every Weds. 8:00 to 9:00 AM on Phoenix station KFNX 1100 or on the internet at www.nabcinc.com For more information on alternative medicine and the eye you can contact his Phoenix office at 1-800-430-9328 or visit his web page at www.kondrot.com
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I have IOP 22 in both eyes. My Dr. recomended me eye drops: Xalatan, Alphagan, Azop, but I heard that Cold pressed castor oil drops works fantastic lowering the IOP. Do you have this product? If so, let me know to buy it.
Thanks DR.
Marco Cabrera