TAMPA (BLOOM) – Acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioner Dr. Josh Hanson and Reed Manning, who has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, sat down with Gail Guillardo, host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show “BLOOM” to discuss the use of acupuncture in treating degenerative eye diseases.
Treating these eye disorders with acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, but the data demonstrating its effectiveness has grown exponentially over the past 40 years.
When asked how the treatment works, Dr. Hanson said acupuncture increases blood flow to the retina. A German study showed that the treatment increased blood flow to the retina by about 70%. Acupuncture activates the dermal retinal cells, flushing out inflammation in the area and restoring vision.
Manning explains that she was a little apprehensive about undergoing acupuncture because of an eye condition.
“The benefits outweigh the drawbacks,” he says.
Dr. Hanson furthered his education to better understand and treat the ocular area, studying with a group of doctors in Denmark.
“I got to study with some of the smartest people in the world,” he says.
Dr. Hanson has seen many professional athletes who need help managing their pain, and he also supports fertility clients.
As for how long it takes to see a change in vision, Dr. Hanson says it varies from patient to patient, with some noticing changes in the brightness of their vision just a few days after treatment.
“Unfortunately, it’s not a cure, but it can help slow down the progression,” he explains.
Manning’s treatment plan calls for adjustments about every six months. After the first few treatments, her vision improved slightly. Manning will receive four acupuncture treatments a day for four days. The needles are inserted for about 15 minutes each time.
Bloom TV in the Tampa Bay market can be seen weekdays at 2 p.m. on NBC affiliate WFLA NewsChannel 8. Bloom reaches approximately 61 million homes across 40 markets across the U.S., as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Madison, Wisconsin.
Bloom TV is available to stream via the CW and DBTV networks, which are seen in more than 300 million homes worldwide, including Roku TV and Amazon Fire. For more information, visit www.BloomTampaBay.com.
