Age Related Macular Degeneration
ARMD / AMD

What is Age Related Macular Degeneration?

Macular Degeneration (ARMD or AMD) is the slow degradation of the macula cells, in a tiny area near the center of the retina, where vision is the most precise. ARMD causes the loss of central vision,  which you use for reading, writing, driving and recognizing faces, but peripheral or side vision isn't damaged.. 

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Blindness is avoidable for people suffering from AMD. There is a huge amount of peer review research showing ARMD to be responsive to nutrition and lifestyle changes. That means that with the proper customized strategy, you can stabilize and possibly even improve your vision with healthy lifestyle choices.

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Nearly 90% of all ARMD cases are “dry-AMD”, 10% being of the “wet-AMD” variety.

Dry macular degeneration (sometimes described as non-neovascular) happens in the early stages of this disease and results mostly from the overall aging and breakdown of the macular tissue in the eye itself. Pigments and proteins are  accumulating inside of the macula, creating your blind spots.

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Symptoms

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• Lines look distorted or wavy

• Blurred or fuzzy shapes in the center

• Colors appear more dim and less distinct

• Difficulty reading 

• Blank areas or dark spots the center area of your vision

What can taproot acupuncture & herbs
do for AMD ?

Research shows very promising improvement rates with acupuncture for patients suffering of AMD.

At taproot, we provide you with a complete integrative protocol that includes 2 sessions of acupuncture a day, with micro-current stimulation for your eyes, personalized herbal formulas and supplements, as well as lifestyle and nutrition recommendations. 

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In a 2005 study on 108 patients treated by acupuncture for AMD disease, 69% of patients improved in distant vision and 69% improved in near vision.

Patients with both wet and dry forms of AMD benefited equally. Half of patients had subjective vision improvement, 33% of patients gained more than 2 lines on EDTRS charts, 20% reported lessening or disappearance of scotomas, and 7% of patients noted improved color vision.

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Reference:

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Your treatment plan to improve vision & eye health ​​

  We offer either a 5- or 10-day treatment plan. We recommend that first-time patients come for two weeks (ten days of treatment) so we can  see how you respond to treatment. Some patients have the most response during a five-day plan, while others do best on a ten-day protocol.

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• Prior to treatment,  we recommend that you receive testing from your local eye doctor to establish a baseline. We might conduct a series of vision tests (central acuity near and far, visual field, contrast and color vision) to establish a baseline. 

• Bring your report of findings to the initial consultation and assessment

• Therapy consists of two 30-minute sessions per day, with at least an hour break in between treatments. Depending on your eye condition we might include acupuncture,  electro-acupuncture or micro current therapy (see below).

• Receive a customized plan for diet, exercise, vitamins & supplements, herbal formulas, breathing exercises and eye exercises to improve maintenance while at home.

• Reassess your vision after your treatments with your ophthalmologist.

Maintenance and continued treatments are possible if the patient showed an obvious positive response. Maintenance treatments can be offered monthly or seasonally, depending on your needs. ​

And of course, no needle ever goes into the eye.