Reduce Your Reliance on Medication for Glaucoma Treatment.

The inside of the eye has its own plumbing. A thin, watery fluid called aqueous humor is constantly pumped in and _ drained out. But if the drain is clogged, fluid builds up, pressing on and destroying all or part of the optic nerve and damaging peripheral vision.
That "plumbing problem" is called glaucoma.

For people with the most common form of glaucoma, there is usually no pain or other symptoms of any kind. By the time they actually experience vision loss and are diagnosed with the disease, irreversible damage has been done. Medical treatment is a must so that continued pressure (what eye doctors call intraocular hypertension) doesn't cause even greater loss of peripheral vision. The treatment consists of eye drops, and if they don't work, surgery is performed.

There are also alternative remedies that will help control and lower the pressure in the most common form of glaucoma remedies that can help you reduce your reliance on medication.

ALPHA- LIPOIC ACID: To Lower the Pressure
This antioxidant can help lower the pressure and improve the visual field, says Marc Grossman, G.D., an optometrist, licensed acupuncturist, and codirector of the Integral Health Center in Rye and New Paltz, New York. He recommends 150 milligrams a day.

For the best combination of alpha-lipoic acid and other nutrients for glaucoma, Dr. Grossman favors a product that also contains 500 milligrams of magnesium and 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C.

FATTY ACIDS: To Unclog the Drainage System
One reason that the eye's drainage system, or trabecular meshwork, becomes clogged may be that it's inflamed, like an arthritic joint. Fatty acids, such as the omega-3's in fish oil, can decrease inflammation, opening the clog and helping to control the pressure.

Dr. Grossman recommends 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams a day of fish oil, a rich source of fatty acids. Or, if fish oil doesn't agree with you (some people have fishy burps after taking the supplement), use 1,000 milligrams a day of flaxseed oil or black currant (seed) oil.

VITAMIN B12: An Eyesight Saver
This nutrient can help improve eyesight or prevent it from worsening
in glaucoma patients, says Dr. Grossman. He recommends a sublingual
(under-the-tongue) spray form. Follow the dosage recommendations on
the label.

VITAMIN C: Reduce Pressure Three Ways
"In parts of Europe and Asia, vitamin C is considered routine treatment for glaucoma," says Dr. Grossman. It is thought to help the aqueous humor flow out of the eye, decrease excess fluid production throughout the body, and increase "blood osmolarity," which allows blood to flow out of the eye. He recommends 1,500 milligrams a day.

Coenzyme QI0 AND VITAMIN E: A Therapeutic Combination

Combining vitamin E and coenzyme QI0 can help lower pressure in glaucoma patients, says Dr. Grossman. He recommends 400 international units of vitamin E and 30 milligrams of coenzyme Ql0 daily.

MAGNESIUM: Relax Smooth Muscles
The so-called smooth muscles inside the eye regulate the outflow of the aqueous humor, Dr. Grossman says. The mineral magnesium helps relax those muscles, allowing more fluid out of the eye. He recommends 500 milligrams a day.

MELATONIN: Sleep Better and Get Better
The hormone melatonin is thought to reduce the rate of aqueous humor production during sleep and may also help glaucoma patients (who often sleep poorly) sleep better, says Dr. Grossman. He recommends 1 milligram of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE: Herbs to Cleanse the Liver
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a person with glaucoma is said to have a problem with "liver yang rising," says Dr. Grossman. That means that the energy in the liver meridian, a pathway of subtle energy in the body, is stagnant or deficient, stressing the eyes and contributing to glaucoma.
To move or increase that energy, you need to remove strain from the liver with cleansing herbs. "I'm very big on using liver herbs along with nutrition for this disease," he says.

The Chinese herbal formula for this problem is Hsiao Yao Wan (Relaxed Wanderer Pills). After consulting an herbalist, take the formula daily, following the dosage recommendations on the label.
He also recommends a formula with several herbs. Combine 1 ounce each of tinctures of bilberry, coleus, dandelion, eyebright, ginkgo, and milk thistle in a large bottle. Take 1 teaspoon twice a day for 3 to 6 months.

Meditation A Must for Glaucoma.
Stress is an important contributing factor to glaucoma that is usually overlooked by conventional physicians, says John D. Huff, M.D., an ophthalmologist and codirector of the Prather-Huff Wellness Center in Sugarland, Texas. And, Dr. Huff says, meditation is an excellent way of reducing pressure in the eye for those who are prone to it when they're under stress. "The person can often stop using glaucoma medications, with a doctor's approval;' he says. Here are his instructions for a simple technique called breath-focused meditation.

Sit comfortably in a chair and close your eyes. Focus your attention on your abdominal muscles and let them relax. Let your breaths be full and deep. Next, focus your attention on the movement of air in and out of your nostrils-just notice the flow in, then notice the flow out. If thoughts distract you, move your attention gently back to your breathing. Do this for 5 to 20 minutes twice a day, in the morning after you shower and prepare yourself for the day, but before breakfast, then again in the evening before dinner.