When I started out as an eye surgeon, I felt there wasn’t any disease I couldn’t repair by cutting and putting it all back together again.
My philosophy changed when a severe case of asthma caused traditional Western doctors to give up. Homeopathy completely cured my condition. I’ve been integrating alternative therapy since then, as I strongly feel that alternative treatments and looking at the underlying cause should be the first approach to any eye disease.
If you’re worried you might be at risk for cataracts, talk with your doctor. Ask if there’s anything you can do to lower your risk.
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding or darkening of the lens in the eye. The lens is responsible for focusing light on the retina, giving you good, sharp vision. This clouding interferes with your eyesight, and it is usually a slow progression. In most cases, it doesn’t cause any pain. A cataract is like a red warning light. When a red warning light comes on, you don’t unplug it or turn it off. You want to find out what is wrong. Those of you who are developing a cataract need to identify the underlying cause. What is wrong? Correct that, and you take some essential steps to reverse the cataract.
The traditional treatment that Western ophthalmologists do is to remove the cataract. They don’t look at the underlying cause. They insert a plastic lens to take the place of the natural human lens. You’ve been hearing all sorts of things about the dangers of plastic. I think it is a potential problem to put a plastic device inside your eye. Although rare, there are complications like infection, loss of vision, corneal swelling, glaucoma, and, interestingly, an increased incidence of macular degeneration.
There is a published five-year study looking at the incidence of macular degeneration in a group of people who had cataracts and cataract surgery. The study demonstrated that there was a threefold increase in macular degeneration after cataract surgery. This statistic is shocking. Most eye doctors, including myself at one time, thought, “The person is just getting older. They’re going to develop macular degeneration anyway.” This is false. Cataract surgery puts you at risk for another condition that can ruin your vision.
I’m not totally against cataract surgery, however. In some situations, you should have cataract surgery—once it has advanced to the point where it is severely obstructing your vision. But in most cases, when the cataract is at an earlier stage, you should consider the alternative treatments I’m going to talk about. Some of the essentials to treat cataracts include improving nutrition and hydration, reducing stress, and detoxifying lead.
Nutrition and Hydration
Physiologically, when you develop a cataract, researchers have found that ascorbic acid and glutathione levels decrease in the aqueous humor that surrounds the cataract. If these protective antioxidant compounds are decreased, then we need to replenish them in the body to help slow the progression of the cataract, or in some cases reverse it.
You need to eat spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, parsley, avocado, asparagus, grapefruit, strawberries and milk thistle. These foods are rich in glutathione and should be part of your diet if you want to treat and reverse cataracts.
There are some doctors who feel that cataracts may be related to focal scurvy. We don’t see scurvy anymore in our country because people are getting small amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C is even found in cereal now. Focal scurvy is a localized deficiency of vitamin C and can be related to periodontal disease, arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, and some doctors believe it’s related to Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Focal scurvy in the eye produces a cataract. If you have a cataract, increase the daily amount of vitamin C that you take.
Quercetin is another dietary product that inhibits lens opacification. This was studied in an organ-cultured model of the cataract. It also inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced cataracts. Quercetin has been shown to prevent the progression of cataracts and is found in apples, peppers, red wine, dark cherries and berries, tomatoes, cruciferous and leafy vegetables, and citrus fruit.
Rutin is a bioflavonoid, and it’s been found to be highly beneficial in fighting cataracts. It’s nice because it works synergistically hand in hand with vitamin C and quercetin. Rutin is found in buckwheat amaranth leaves, elderflower tea, apple peel, unfermented rooibos tea, and figs.
More important are foods to avoid. White sugar is first on the list. The American diet is excessive in terms of white sugar. Another concern is corn fructose. The additional danger in high-fructose corn syrup comes from its origin in genetically modified corn. There are also sucrose and fruit juice concentrate. All these sugars help the cataract grow. In addition to being linked to cataracts, they cause other health issues like diabetes and obesity.
Proper hydration is essential. Your body needs a lot of water to detoxify itself. If you’re not drinking enough water, toxins will accumulate and cause adverse changes in your body such as cataracts. Whatever you weigh, I recommend that you cut that number in half and drink that many ounces of water every day. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, MD, in his book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, felt that by drinking plenty of water, most chronic diseases could be cured.
Water is our friend. The only problem is where to find a good source of water. We know we should stay away from public water because of dissolved toxins. Pharmaceuticals are now found in water if you can believe that. Antibiotics, hormones, and hypertensive medicines are all commonly present. We used to think that drinking water from plastic bottles was healthy. Now we’re finding out that they release phthalates and benzene derivatives into the water that are extremely toxic. Not to mention the obscene environmental cost of even BPA-free bottles. Some estimates suggest plastic waste will outweigh fish in our oceans by 2050.
I’m a big advocate of reverse osmosis as a fairly inexpensive clean drinking-water solution. For a couple hundred dollars, you can get a unit installed underneath your kitchen sink. There are other systems out there, but I would investigate to see which one fits your budget.
Less Stress
It’s important to balance the autonomic nervous system. The “fight or flight” response occurs when your body is in a stressed state. It’s like you’re running away from a grizzly bear. Your pupils dilate, your heart races, and your breathing changes. The digestive process is shut down in your body, and your body’s ability to heal will slow or stop, directing its energy instead to increased focus and agility in the face of imminent danger. It is critical, if you want to reverse any disease in your body, to reduce stress. In our society, this is often extremely difficult to do.
Ways to reduce stress include physical exercise, meditation, prayer, and positive affirmations. In our practice, we use microcurrent stress therapies and light therapies to help. Pick something you like—be it meditation or a daily run—and focus on that to reduce your stress. If you reduce your stress, your body will heal.
Get the Lead Out
There was a study done out of Harvard University that linked low-level lead exposure to the development of cataracts. There’s no question all of us have been exposed to lead. When I was growing up, we had leaded gasoline, leaded paint, and lead pencils. It’s in our environment, water, and food. I believe this is the biggest contributing factor to the development of cataracts, so we need to be tested for heavy metals.
The only accurate way to read your body’s lead level is a six-hour urine provocative test. You could be dying of lead poisoning, and your urine would be negative for lead. Why? Your body knows that it is toxic and removes it from your bloodstream. The lead goes into your bone, brain, eyes, muscle, and fat. To get a reading you need to take a substance to make that lead soluble. This is called a chelating agent. Then you collect your urine for six hours. This is the gold standard with integrative doctors across the country. A hair analysis is not accurate and I would not advise using one for lead-level testing.
The best way to remove the lead is chelation therapy. Robert Rowen, MD, the editor of the newsletter Second Opinion, stated that one intravenous (IV) EDTA chelation a month can prevent cataracts, and I agree with him. The IV therapy consists of an administration of a chemical called ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). This is a molecule that goes into the blood, binds the lead, and makes it water soluble so it can be excreted in the urine. In addition to IV, you can do rectal suppositories of EDTA or use oral and topical forms. There are many ways of administering EDTA to treat elevated lead. The ACAM.org. the website has a listing of doctors near you who do these therapies.
What happens if nothing is done about high lead levels? A half-life is how many years it would take your body to naturally eliminate a substance. The half-life of lead is 99 years. That means in 99 years, half the lead in your body will be gone. You need to do something to get rid of this lead.
Treating Cataracts
I am often asked if there are good over-the-counter eye drops for cataracts. The two most popular ones are Can-C and Cineraria Maritima. I have found both eye drops can help with preventing the progression of cataracts. I have not seen these eye drops reverse cataracts.
However, I am interested in reversing cataracts and improving vision, and there are two prescription eye drops that can do this. The first one is OcluMed. The second is an eye drop developed by Dr. Rowen. His is a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ascorbic acid, and glutathione to replenish reduced levels of these vital antioxidants.
The problem with the DMSO eye drop is that it must be made by a compounding pharmacist. The FDA is currently cracking down on compounding pharmacists, and patients find that it is more and more difficult to get this eye drop made. That is why I have recently been recommending OcluMed.
OcluMed has an effective combination of ingredients to help reverse cataracts. One is L-carnosine, which immediately neutralizes existing free radicals. N-acetyl-L-carnosine provides long-term protection because it lasts longer in the cells. This eye drop also has glutathione, one of the most important antioxidants in the lens; cysteine ascorbate, which is a water-stable source of vitamin C; and L-cysteine, another very important antioxidant. We need to get the glutathione and ascorbic acid to the lens in high concentrations to reverse the cataract. The last ingredient is L-cysteine, which is used to regenerate or reduce the oxidized form of L-glutathione in the eye.
The bottom line is that when confronted by the early signs of cataracts, you should not resign yourself to waiting for them to progress to the point where surgery is your only option. Find an ophthalmologist who can guide you through a natural protocol and see your vision improve.
The post Clear Without Cutting- Potential Treatments for Cataracts appeared first on Alternative Medicine Magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses holistic medicine
Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that treats the whole person, not just specific symptoms. It addresses both the mental as well as physical aspects of well being.
Holistic medicine can include acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic treatment. It also includes nutritional counseling, yoga, and many other complementary therapies.
The majority of holistic medicine patients have had their conditions addressed.
Alternative medicine is important.
Alternative therapies are popular because they can be cheaper and more convenient than traditional treatment. There have been cases in which patients have died from side effects, such as allergic reactions, after receiving these treatments. There are also alternatives that may be more effective.
In addition, alternative medicines can be dangerous if you don’t know enough about them to choose the right ones. Vitamin supplements, for example, are not regulated like pharmaceuticals. It is easy to overdose on vitamins. To make matters worse, there are alternative remedies that contain toxic chemicals.
What is Alternative Medicine?
This approach to healing focuses on prevention and not treatment. It encourages people to be informed consumers and actively participate in improving their health.
Alternative medicine refers any treatment or diagnosis that does not use allopathic (conventional), medical practices.
Statistics
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
- An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
webmd.com
cam.cancer.gov
liebertpub.com
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMed: The Rise and Rise of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Sociological Perspective – PubMed
- PubMed: Holistic medicine.
How To
How to pursue a career in Holistic Medicine
The field of holistic medicine is growing at an unprecedented rate. There are many paths you can take to this career. If you are serious about this career, it is best to return to school.
A number of schools offer holistic medicine programs. The National College for Complementary Medicines offers both undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees. There are also programs that are specifically designed for medical professionals who want to enter this field.
In addition, numerous online universities are offering holistic health classes as well. The Institute of Integrative Nutrition, (IIN), is one example of such an online program. This institution provides students with various holistic health education tools and resources.
Another option is to attend a traditional four year college. Many colleges now offer holistic courses. The University of California even offers a Bachelor of Arts in Holistic Health Sciences.
You should take a nutrition course if you want to pursue a career in holistic medicine. NCCM recommends that students take a course in nutrition before they begin any professional training. A good knowledge of nutrition is crucial for integrative medicine.
Holistic medicine is more holistic than traditional medicine because it focuses on the whole person and not just symptoms. It requires more skill and knowledge. Holistic medicine requires that people who are interested in it understand how to assess different types of illnesses from a nutritional perspective.
According to the NCCM nutritionists often work alongside doctors to give dietary advice to their patients. Some may even recommend diets or supplements that are specific to the patient’s needs based on their assessment.
As a result, holistic practitioners must have a firm grasp of basic nutrition principles. This includes understanding the nutritional content of foods. It can also include identifying nutritional deficiencies or other problems that might be causing them.
It is important to remember that holistic practitioners do not specialize in nutrition. Some focus exclusively on herbal treatments, others only on acupuncture. Some people combine these two approaches into a single treatment.
However, most holistic practitioners recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains. They encourage eating plenty of seafood and fish. They recommend avoiding fast food and processed foods. Instead, they recommend eating organic produce whenever possible.
One thing that holistic practitioners agree upon is that a balanced diet will help prevent disease. There are however some things they disagree on. They disagree with the belief that gluten causes celiac. Instead, they believe that a shortage of nutrients is the cause.
They do agree, however, that certain foods can trigger allergic reactions. They say peanuts and shellfish can cause anaphylaxis. They warn against too much caffeine.
Although many holistic practitioners may use herbs to treat various ailments, they prefer not to use pharmaceutical drugs. These practitioners feel that these drugs mask the problem and do not solve it. Because of this, they prefer to use natural remedies whenever possible.
In addition to offering a variety of alternative therapies, holistic practitioners tend to employ a number of complementary methods. These include:
- Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves strategically placing needles in the skin. It’s believed that this stimulates the body’s healing mechanism.
- Herbal therapy – Holistic practitioners often use herbs to treat a variety of disorders. Ginseng, a popular herb for this purpose, is one of the most common.
- Homeopathy – A form of traditional Chinese medicine, also known as homeopathy, is based around the principle that like cures. You might experience a similar symptom when you are suffering from the same condition as someone else. In that case, you should seek a remedy that contains the same ingredients found in the original substance.
- Massage Therapy – Many holistic professionals offer massage therapy to help you relax and reduce stress. It is also claimed to improve blood circulation, increase energy levels, and reduce muscle tension.
You need to ensure that your needs are met when selecting a practitioner. A nutritionist who has a degree will be able to provide nutritional counseling. Likewise, if you want to learn more about acupuncture, find a practitioner certified by the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM).
Before making any decisions about holistic health, consult your doctor. To find out what services your insurance covers, you might also want to consult with your doctor.
–
——————————————————————————————————————————————
This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.
If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you’re experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
By: Dick Benson
Title: Clear Without Cutting- Potential Treatments for Cataracts
Sourced From: alternativemedicine.com/conditions/eye-health/clear-without-cutting/
Published Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2023 21:15:17 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses holistic medicine
Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that treats the whole person, not just specific symptoms. It addresses both the mental as well as physical aspects of well being.
Holistic medicine can include acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic treatment. It also includes nutritional counseling, yoga, and many other complementary therapies.
The majority of holistic medicine patients have had their conditions addressed.
Alternative medicine is important.
Alternative therapies are popular because they can be cheaper and more convenient than traditional treatment. There have been cases in which patients have died from side effects, such as allergic reactions, after receiving these treatments. There are also alternatives that may be more effective.
In addition, alternative medicines can be dangerous if you don’t know enough about them to choose the right ones. Vitamin supplements, for example, are not regulated like pharmaceuticals. It is easy to overdose on vitamins. To make matters worse, there are alternative remedies that contain toxic chemicals.
What is Alternative Medicine?
This approach to healing focuses on prevention and not treatment. It encourages people to be informed consumers and actively participate in improving their health.
Alternative medicine refers any treatment or diagnosis that does not use allopathic (conventional), medical practices.
Statistics
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
- An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
webmd.com
cam.cancer.gov
liebertpub.com
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- PubMed: The Rise and Rise of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A Sociological Perspective – PubMed
- PubMed: Holistic medicine.
How To
How to pursue a career in Holistic Medicine
The field of holistic medicine is growing at an unprecedented rate. There are many paths you can take to this career. If you are serious about this career, it is best to return to school.
A number of schools offer holistic medicine programs. The National College for Complementary Medicines offers both undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees. There are also programs that are specifically designed for medical professionals who want to enter this field.
In addition, numerous online universities are offering holistic health classes as well. The Institute of Integrative Nutrition, (IIN), is one example of such an online program. This institution provides students with various holistic health education tools and resources.
Another option is to attend a traditional four year college. Many colleges now offer holistic courses. The University of California even offers a Bachelor of Arts in Holistic Health Sciences.
You should take a nutrition course if you want to pursue a career in holistic medicine. NCCM recommends that students take a course in nutrition before they begin any professional training. A good knowledge of nutrition is crucial for integrative medicine.
Holistic medicine is more holistic than traditional medicine because it focuses on the whole person and not just symptoms. It requires more skill and knowledge. Holistic medicine requires that people who are interested in it understand how to assess different types of illnesses from a nutritional perspective.
According to the NCCM nutritionists often work alongside doctors to give dietary advice to their patients. Some may even recommend diets or supplements that are specific to the patient’s needs based on their assessment.
As a result, holistic practitioners must have a firm grasp of basic nutrition principles. This includes understanding the nutritional content of foods. It can also include identifying nutritional deficiencies or other problems that might be causing them.
It is important to remember that holistic practitioners do not specialize in nutrition. Some focus exclusively on herbal treatments, others only on acupuncture. Some people combine these two approaches into a single treatment.
However, most holistic practitioners recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and grains. They encourage eating plenty of seafood and fish. They recommend avoiding fast food and processed foods. Instead, they recommend eating organic produce whenever possible.
One thing that holistic practitioners agree upon is that a balanced diet will help prevent disease. There are however some things they disagree on. They disagree with the belief that gluten causes celiac. Instead, they believe that a shortage of nutrients is the cause.
They do agree, however, that certain foods can trigger allergic reactions. They say peanuts and shellfish can cause anaphylaxis. They warn against too much caffeine.
Although many holistic practitioners may use herbs to treat various ailments, they prefer not to use pharmaceutical drugs. These practitioners feel that these drugs mask the problem and do not solve it. Because of this, they prefer to use natural remedies whenever possible.
In addition to offering a variety of alternative therapies, holistic practitioners tend to employ a number of complementary methods. These include:
- Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves strategically placing needles in the skin. It’s believed that this stimulates the body’s healing mechanism.
- Herbal therapy – Holistic practitioners often use herbs to treat a variety of disorders. Ginseng, a popular herb for this purpose, is one of the most common.
- Homeopathy – A form of traditional Chinese medicine, also known as homeopathy, is based around the principle that like cures. You might experience a similar symptom when you are suffering from the same condition as someone else. In that case, you should seek a remedy that contains the same ingredients found in the original substance.
- Massage Therapy – Many holistic professionals offer massage therapy to help you relax and reduce stress. It is also claimed to improve blood circulation, increase energy levels, and reduce muscle tension.
You need to ensure that your needs are met when selecting a practitioner. A nutritionist who has a degree will be able to provide nutritional counseling. Likewise, if you want to learn more about acupuncture, find a practitioner certified by the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM).
Before making any decisions about holistic health, consult your doctor. To find out what services your insurance covers, you might also want to consult with your doctor.
Leave a Reply