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Testimonial Whatcausesmaculardegeneration?

Bob D. from Texas
Bob has cataracts in both eyes and had been diagnosed with The most common cause of Eat the right fats: Studies show
macular degeneration. He ended up seeing Dr Grossman, who macular degeneration is aging that diets high in saturated fatty
prescribed herbal formulas and special eyedrops. After just three and a deterioration of the cells acids (SFA), polyunsaturated
weeks of treatment, he says he cannot believe the improvement of the retina. Research also fatty acids (PUFA) like omega-6
in his vision. “Three weeks ago I was leery of driving my car when shows a strong association oils and monounsaturated
it was overcast, and now I can see very clearly,” he says. “It is between advanced macular fatty acids (MUFA) lead to an
amazing having my eyesight back!” degeneration and the presence increased risk of AMD, while
of a specific genetic variant of people who eat diets high in
the immune-regulating protein omega-3 and low in omega-6
the nerves around the eyes, it wakes up the dormant complement factor H (CFH). 1 fats are at decreased risk
cells and gets the ATP going, kind of like a recharge.” Almost half of patients studied of AMD.
5
Rosenfarb likens the use of microstimulation to with advanced AMD—most of
charging your cell phone. The cells around the eyes are European descent—had this Get regular eye exams, to
like batteries, and just like batteries, they can lose their gene variation. check whether you have
charge and go dormant. fatty deposits called drusen.
But you don’t have to give up on them—you just have But here are some other risk The presence of drusen is
to charge them again as you would a battery. “If you have factors you can control yourself: related to a person’s risk
cells that are weak, the charge is going to help you,” he of developing AMD, and is
says. “If you don’t and your situation is more advanced, Don’t smoke: Other than age, one of the major signs that
it’s probably not going to help.” smoking is the risk factor most macular degeneration may be
Lifestyle changes are also an important factor in consistently associated with occurring.
maintaining macular health. Because the macula AMD. 2 “Hard” drusen, which are
receives the highest blood flow of any tissue in the body Eat your greens: Poor nutrition small and distinct from one
in proportion to its size, anything that reduces the rich and a lack of antioxidant-rich another, may not cause vision
blood and oxygen supply to the eyes, such as lack of foods such as leafy greens in problems for a long time, if at
exercise, smoking and oxidative stress (an imbalance the diet have been linked to all. “Soft” drusen, by contrast,
between free radicals and antioxidants in your body), macular degeneration. 3 are large and clump together.
1
can negatively impact the macula. It is the soft type of drusen that
Says Grossman, “Even when advanced AMD has Lower your blood is known to be the precursor to
6
developed, healthy lifestyle choices and targeted pressure: Hypertension and AMD.
supplementation can still play a major role in slowing atherosclerosis, or hardening
down and stabilizing the AMD. But lost vision, due of the arteries, are also
4
to retinal cells no longer living, cannot at this time be contributing factors.
regenerated, though excellent research such as with “When the drusen
stem cells and the regeneration of lost retinal cells is accumulates, it clogs the
underway. eyes like cholesterol will
“Keep in mind that patients can sometimes clog the heart,” says Dr
experience improved vision, as retinal cells that are not Andy Rosenfarb, a Chinese
active may still be alive, but low functioning. These cells Medical Ophthalmologist
can be stimulated and helped to become more active in Westfield, New Jersey.
through diet, exercise, microstimulation and targeted (Drusen are fatty deposits
supplementation.” that collect under the
macula in the eye.)
Emotional and spiritual components “The majority of
Grossman also believes there are clear emotional macular degeneration
and spiritual aspects behind AMD—something that cases are highly linked to
Western medicine often fails to take into consideration. cardiovascular disease. I
“On the emotional level, the macula in Chinese tongue-in-cheek call it ocular-
medicine has to do with earth elements,” he says. vascular disease.”
“The earth element is related to the stomach and the REFERENCES
spleen, and that has to do with nourishing yourself. I 1 Int J Epidemiol, 2012; 41: 250–62
2 J Ophthalmol, 2013; 2013: 895147
find it’s people who are caretakers—who take care of
3 JAMA, 1994; 272: 1413–20
other people before they take care of themselves—that 4 Clin Interv Aging, 2017; 12:
often experience macular degeneration.” 1579–87
5 Arch Ophthalmol, 2001; 119:
This might not be as far-fetched as it first seems to 1191–9
some people, especially considering the statistically 6 Prog Retin Eye Res, 2016; 53:
70–106
significant difference between the number of men and

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