DistantNews
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ผ Taiwan /Health & Science

The 'Sliding' Generation's Vision Alert! TCM Therapies and Lifestyle Adjustments Combat 'Bad Vision'

From Liberty Times · (9m ago) Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Prolonged use of 3C devices is increasing eye strain and dryness, particularly among younger people.
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes holistic health, linking eye health to liver function and overall well-being.
  • TCM offers dietary recommendations (e.g., goji berries, chrysanthemum) and acupressure techniques to alleviate eye fatigue and promote vision health.

In an era dominated by smartphones and computers, the "sliding generation" faces a growing alarm regarding their eyesight. Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital's Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department reports a significant increase in patients seeking treatment for eye fatigue and dryness. This trend is not limited to office workers and students; dry eye syndrome and floaters are appearing at younger ages and are increasingly linked to the early onset of serious eye conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.

The eyes are the 'windows to the liver,' and their health is closely related to the circulation of Qi and blood and the function of the Zang-fu organs.

โ€” Dr. Zhu Shi-mengExplaining the TCM perspective on eye health.

Dr. Zhu Shi-meng, head of the TCM department, explains that TCM views the eyes as "windows to the liver," emphasizing their close connection to blood circulation and the proper functioning of internal organs. Excessive screen time, irregular sleep patterns, and accumulated stress can disrupt the balance of Qi and blood, negatively impacting vision and eye comfort. Therefore, maintaining eye health requires a comprehensive approach focusing on both constitutional well-being and lifestyle habits.

TCM advocates for a "food and medicine are of the same source" philosophy. Dr. Zhu recommends dietary adjustments, such as consuming 15-20 goji berries daily steeped in warm water or added to soups and congee. Chrysanthemum tea (5-10 flowers) is advised for its liver-clearing and vision-brightening properties, while roasted seeds of the cassia plant (ๆฑบๆ˜Žๅญ) offer a beneficial daily tonic for those who spend long hours looking at screens.

Food and medicine are of the same source.

โ€” TCM philosophyHighlighting the importance of diet in health.

Beyond diet, acupressure on key points like Zanzhu (ๆ”ข็ซน) and Jingming (็›ๆ˜Ž) around the eyes can stimulate circulation and relieve fatigue. For more persistent issues, individualized acupuncture treatments based on a patient's specific TCM diagnosis can offer significant relief. Dr. Zhu stresses the importance of shifting medical focus from treatment to prevention, urging the public to adopt correct eye usage habits and implement protective measures in daily life, such as adhering to the "20-20-20" rule (every 20 minutes of screen time, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) and maintaining regular sleep schedules.

Every 20 minutes of using 3C products, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

โ€” Dr. Zhu Shi-mengRecommending the '20-20-20' rule for eye care.

An-Nan Hospital Superintendent Lin Sheng-zhe echoed this sentiment, stating, "Eye protection shouldn't wait until vision loss occurs." He highlighted that early warning signs like dryness and fatigue are the body's signals to prioritize eye care. Through integrated TCM treatments and lifestyle adjustments, long-term vision health can be effectively maintained.

Eye protection shouldn't wait until vision loss occurs.

โ€” Lin Sheng-zheSuperintendent of An-Nan Hospital, emphasizing preventive eye care.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog