Acupuncture for Glaucoma – research

Glaucoma is a common eye disease which, if left untreated,  may cause blindness. Although there are numerous treatments such as glaucoma drainage devices, incision surgery, and even laser therapy, glaucoma is a chronic disease that requires continuous care to manage the condition. It may take a psychological, emotional, and physical toll on patients. This why glaucoma sufferers may seek alternative or complementary medicine to support conventional treatments.

Acupuncture for glaucoma and other eye conditions

Numerous studies point to acupuncture as an effective treatment to manage glaucoma and prevent further loss of vision. Acupuncture practitioners treat disorders based on the flow of Qi (energy) by stimulating specific acupoints on the skin. Our highly qualified practitioners at our clinics in Hamilton and Remuera, Auckland can use acupuncture to help treat glaucoma effectively.

Open-angle Glaucoma and Pricking Blood at Ex-HN 9

There are different acupoints on the body that correspond to different organs and body functions. One such acupoint is the Neiyingxiang (Ex-HN 9) located in the nostril. Pricking blood at Ex-Hn 9 is a modified acupuncture technique known to relieve pressure, hypersensitivity, and congestion. In a study by Huo et al., (2009), the authors used disposable acupuncture needles to reduce intraocular pressure and consequently treat open-angle glaucoma.

The researchers divided their 96 participants (diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma) into a control group (56 patients) and an observational group of 44 patients. The latter were treated with 0.5% Timolol Maleate eye drops, which is a conventional treatment for the condition, while the observation group were treated with pricking blood at Ex-HN 9. The outcome of the study was the change in intraocular eye pressure after the treatments.

The findings revealed a significant reduction in intraocular pressure in both groups – a 6.63 mmHg and 6.06 mmHg reduction in the observation and control groups respectively. From this study, we can conclude that pricking blood at Ex-HN 9 is just as effective as conventional treatments, if not more so.

Acupuncture is an effective treatment for many ailments.

Acupuncture may work quickly

So acupuncture is effective at reducing intraocular pressure, but how long does it take to record significant results? In a 2011 study published in the journal of Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, Liu et al. conducted a comparatively small study that answers this question.

The objective of Liu and his team of researchers was to find an effective and simple approach to stabilise and control intraocular pressure among glaucoma patients. As their findings revealed, the ‘effective and simple’ approach they sought turned out to be acupuncture. The study started by measuring the intraocular pressure of 39 patients with glaucoma and later administering acupuncture treatment at various acupoints including Qiuhou (EX-HN 7), Jingming (BL 1), Cuanzhu (BL 2), and Sibai (ST 2).

The response of the patients was observed and monitored over a 24 hour period to determine the change in the intraocular pressure. Within this prescribed period, the diurnal intraocular pressure variation significantly reduced from 7.06 mmHg to 5.31 mmHg (P<0.05). The team of scientists concluded by recommending acupuncture as an alternative treatment to improve vision function of glaucoma patients by stabilising 24-hour diurnal intraocular pressure variation and reducing intraocular pressure.

References

Huo, Q., Shen, Q., Zhang, D. M., & Zhang, R. T. (2009). Effect of pricking blood at Neiyingxiang (EX-HN 9) on the intraocular pressure of patients with primary open angle glaucoma. Zhongguo Zhen jiu= Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, 29(8), 629-630.

Liu, W., Yang, G., Zhao, X. J., Song, Y. G., Liu, T., Chai, P. P., & Zhao, X. Y. (2011). Impact of acupuncture on 24 h intraocular pressure of glaucoma. Zhongguo Zhen jiu= Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion, 31(6), 518-520.

Our Offer to You

Free Online Questionnaire

Fill in our online questionnaire for free – and save the $135 it would cost you to do this detailed medical history in person with a practitioner.  You can request a phone call from a practitioner after they have read your online form, or just book the 30 minute initial exam for $40.  So, call us on 07 846 7956 to book, or fill in the questionnaire now.

Leave Comment

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.