Acupressure for Glaucoma

Acupuncture for glaucoma and other eye conditions

Acupuncture may be an effective treatment method for glaucoma.  Conventional treaments for glaucoma may have side effects and many glaucoma patients desire a natural alternative. There is evidence that acupuncture may reduce vision loss from glaucoma or intraocular pressure.

Auricular (Ear) Acupressure and Intraocular Pressure

Ear Massage to restore organ function

Auricular acupressure is a non-invasive traditional Chinese treatment that may help combat the effects of glaucoma. It aims to lower intraocular pressure and stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanism. Acupoints on the ear represent the bodys anatomical features and offer a direct link to the brain through cranial nerves.

At Centre of Balance clinics in Hamilton and Remuera, Auckland, our acupuncturists often incorporate auricular acupressure as part of their treatment for glaucoma and other eye diseases.  There is a good reason for this as the technique is supported by numerous scientific studies.

Research

acupuncture research

In 2010, a team of 15 researchers led by Her JS published a study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine whereby they evaluated the role of auricular acupressure in controlling glaucoma. 33 voluntary patients diagnosed with glaucoma were divided into two groups; sham group (17 patients) and auricular acupressure group (16 patients). For 4 weeks, the patients in the sham group were stimulated at sham ear acupoints (jaw, shoulder, and wrist) without massage while the auricular acupressure group received stimulation on auricular acupoints (eye, liver, and kidney) and regular massage stimulation.

After the treatment, patients in the auricular acupressure group showed a significant improvement in visual acuity and intraocular pressure. The findings from this study indicate that auricular acupressure is an effective treatment for glaucoma. 

Electro-Acupoint Stimulation and Glaucoma

Electro-acupuncture is a relatively new technique when compared to other forms of traditional Chinese medicine. It’s one of the treatments offered at Centre of Balance to address a wide variety of eye diseases including glaucoma. Similar to the auricular acupressure technique, the effectiveness of electro-acupoint stimulation is evidenced by numerous scientific studies including a recent randomised control trial by Tsui-Yun, Jen-Chien & Chi-Feng (2016).

The study, which was published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine sought to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on intraocular pressure. Specifically, the researchers focused on the Shenmai (BL 62) and Pucan (BL 61) acupoints. 82 participants from the North of Taipei Ophthalmology outpatient department were randomly assigned to control (no TENS electrode treatments) and electro-acupuncture (TENS electrodes with a direct current on BL 62 and BL 61 acupoints) groups.

The findings showed that the electro-acupuncture group had a significant reduction in intraocular pressure (P<0.01) compared to the control group. Based on these studies, it’s safe to conclude that traditional Chinese medicine may provide effective treatment for glaucoma.

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References

Her, J. S., Liu, P. L., Cheng, N. C., Hung, H. C., Huang, P. H., Chen, Y. L., … & Wang, H. S. (2010). Intraocular pressure-lowering effect of auricular acupressure in patients with glaucoma: a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(11), 1177-1184.

Tsui-Yun, Y., Jen-Chien, L., & Chi-Feng, L. (2016). Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation through acupoints of Pucan (BL 61) and Shenmai (BL 62) on intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 36(1), 51-56.

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.