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General Bibliography

Bensky, D., and O'Connor, J. Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 1981. Cerney, J.V. Acupuncture Without Needles. New York: Parker Publishing Co., Inc., 1974.

Elias, J., and Ketcham, K. The Five Elements of Self-Healing. New York: Harmony Books, 1998. Elias, J., and Masline, R.S. Healing Herbal Remedies. New York: Dell Publishing, 1995. Maciocia, G. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1989. Sardi, B. Nutrition and the Eyes, Volumes 1,2,3. Montclair, CA: Health Spectrum Publishers, 1994.

Xiangcai, X. The Encyclopedia of Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine: Ophthalmology. Beijing, China, 1990.

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Glossary

Acupressure: Using finger pressure on acupuncture points to increase circulation in that area. Acupuncture: The placement of needles into specific points on the body to increase energy flow.

Antioxidant: Any substance that donates an electron that quenches free radicals, preventing tissue aging and degeneration.

Aqueous humor: Watery fluid inside the front of the eye.

Base formula: A constitutional herbal formula used to balance out imbalances in specific organ systems. Cataracts: Loss of clarity of the crystalline lens inside the eye.

Chronic simple glaucoma: Loss of peripheral vision with a normal drainage angle; also called open-angle glaucoma.

Conjunctivitis: ''Pink eye.'' Inflammation of the white of the eye and/or the inner lining of the eyelid. Cornea: Clear covering over the colored part of the eye; the most sensitive part of the body. Essence: Extract of the vital energy of a flower or other substance.

Floaters: Shadows that appear to float in the vision, especially in bright light.

Free radical: Unpaired electron that will steal an electron from other molecules, damaging them (a process called oxidation).

Glaucoma: Peripheral vision loss due to loss of optic nerve fibers.

Homeopathy: Potentized (serial dilution and agitation) remedies prescribed according to similarity of symptoms. Hypothyroidism: Low thyroid function.

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Intraocular pressure: Fluid pressure inside the front of the eye.

Lens: Crystalline lens that changes focus of the eyes; densest protein in the body.

Macular degeneration: A deterioration in the central part of the retina, where the ability to see detail and color vision exists.

Meridians: Energy pathways that connect the various acupressure/acupuncture points and internal organs. Osmolarity: Concentration of electrolytes.

Peripheral vision: Side vision, as opposed to central vision.

Qi: The Chinese word for energy that circulates through pathways in the body called meridians. Retina: The photoreceptor layer in the back of the eye; the most electrically charged tissue in the body. Sties: Local inflammation in eyelid, the thinnest skin in the body.

Tonometer: Instrument to measure eye pressure. (See intraocular pressure.)

Traditional Chinese Medicine: The style of medical practice that originated in China thousands of years ago based on the principles that health dysfunctions are due to imbalances of energies represented by five elements water, wood, earth, metal and fire.

Yin/yang: Represent opposite but complementary qualities. A symbolic representation of a universal process that portrays a changing, rather than a static picture of reality.

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Resources

Optometry/Ophthalmology

Organization

American Academy of Ophthalmology Public Information Program

PO Box 7424

San Francisco, CA 94210-7424 (415) 561-8500

e-mail: ips@aao.org

Brochures and eye fact sheets on eye conditions and visual impairment.

American Foundation for the Blind 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300

New York, NY 1001 (800) 232-5463

American Optometric Association

243 North Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63141

(800) 365-2219