Chinese Herbal Formulas for Eye Conditions

Why Named Formulas — Not Proprietary Blends

Most integrative ophthalmology programs sell you a supplement kit. The kit has a house name, a list of ingredients, and a price. You take it and hope it helps. You don’t know which ingredient is for what, why the formula is the right one for your pattern, or whether the dosage is appropriate for your constitution.

That is not how classical Chinese herbal medicine works, and it is not how we practice.

At Makari, every herbal prescription is individually composed based on pattern diagnosis — your specific combination of Five-Wheels findings, tongue, pulse, constitutional history, and progression stage. The formula is named (you know what you’re taking and why), drawn from the classical Chinese medical tradition, and adjusted as your pattern changes. This is standard classical practice. It is not the standard at most integrative ophthalmology clinics — because doing it well requires advanced herbalism training that most acupuncturists don’t have.

Michael Woodworth holds ICEAM Certification #122 in classical Chinese herbalism (Arnaud Versluys lineage) — one of the most rigorous classical herbal training programs available in the West. The herbal work at Makari draws on that lineage, not on a supplement catalog.

The Formula Families We Work With

Below are the primary classical formula families used for eye-condition patterns at Makari. This is educational information — your individual prescription will depend on your specific pattern, not on this general framework. A formula that is correct for one Liver-Kidney Yin depletion presentation may be wrong for another, even with the same Western diagnosis.

For Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency — Water Wheel and Wind Wheel

This is the most common pattern in chronic and degenerative eye conditions — macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, optic atrophy, Stargardt’s disease, rod-cone dystrophy. The Kidney stores Jing (constitutional essence) and the Liver stores Blood; when both run thin, the inner eye loses its nourishment.

Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (杞菊地黃丸, “Lycium-Chrysanthemum-Rehmannia Pill”). The classical formula most specifically targeted to eye-pattern Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency. Built on the Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base with the addition of Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子, Goji berry) — which classically nourishes the Liver and brightens the eyes — and Ju Hua (菊花, Chrysanthemum flower), which clears mild Wind-Heat from the eyes and Liver channel. First choice for the Water-and-Wind-Wheel picture in AMD and age-related vision decline.
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (六味地黃丸, “Six-Flavor Rehmannia Pill”). The foundational Liver-Kidney Yin tonic of the classical tradition, authored by Qian Yi in the Xiao Er Yao Zheng Zhi Jue (c. 1119 AD). Used when the Kidney-Yin deficiency is broader and not yet eye-specific, or as the base for modification.
Mai Wei Di Huang Wan (麥味地黃丸, “Ophiopogon-Schisandra-Rehmannia Pill”). The Liu Wei base with Mai Dong (麥冬, Ophiopogon) and Wu Wei Zi (五味子, Schisandra). Used when Lung Yin deficiency is co-present — dry eye with a constitutional dryness picture (Qi Wheel + Water Wheel).
Ming Mu Di Huang Wan (明目地黃丸, “Brighten Vision Rehmannia Pill”). A more complex formula specifically built for the eye. Adds Dang Gui (當歸, Angelica), Bai Shao (白芍, White Peony), Shu Di Huang (熟地黃, Processed Rehmannia), and additional herbs that nourish Liver Blood alongside the standard Kidney-Yin base.

For Liver Fire and Ascending Yang — Wind Wheel

Used in glaucoma presentations with Liver-fire signs, acute inflammatory eye conditions, or Wind-Wheel-dominant patterns with pressure, headache, and eye pain.

Long Dan Xie Gan Tang (龍膽瀉肝湯, “Gentian Drain the Liver”). The classical formula for Liver Fire and Damp-Heat in the Liver-Gallbladder system — redness, acute pressure, bitter taste, headache at the temples. Short-term use; not appropriate for constitutional Yin deficiency without modification.
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San (丹梔逍遙散). The standard Xiao Yao San with the addition of Mu Dan Pi (牡丹皮, Moutan) and Zhi Zi (梔子, Gardenia) — for Liver Qi stagnation turning to Heat, with frustration, eye-redness, and period-cycle variation in eye symptoms.

For Blood Stasis and Circulatory Patterns — Blood Wheel

Used in retinal occlusion presentations, diabetic retinopathy with vessel involvement, and presentations where the Blood Wheel signs point to circulatory obstruction.

Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (血府逐瘀湯, “Drive Out Stasis in the Mansion of Blood”). Wang Qing-ren’s (1830) master Blood-moving formula. Used for Blood stasis in the chest-and-vessels territory, adapted for eye-vascular presentations where stasis is the primary pattern.
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (桃紅四物湯, “Peach Pit-Safflower Four-Substance”). The Blood-moving modification of the foundational Blood-building formula. Addresses Blood deficiency and stasis together.

For Spleen Qi Deficiency and Clear Qi Not Rising — Flesh Wheel

Used in macular presentations where fogginess, visual fatigue after meals, and systemic Spleen-Qi signs point to the Flesh Wheel as a contributing pattern.

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (補中益氣湯, “Tonify the Middle, Lift the Qi”). Li Dong-yuan’s classic for Spleen-Stomach Qi deficiency — raises clear Qi to the head and supports the Spleen’s transport-and-transformation function. Often used alongside a Kidney-Yin base formula when the Spleen component is significant.

For Fluid Deficiency and Dryness — Dry Eye, Qi Wheel

Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang (沙參麥冬湯, “Glehnia-Ophiopogon Decoction”). Nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin, moistens dryness. Used in dry-eye presentations with constitutional dryness, dry cough, or post-illness depletion.
Zeng Ye Tang (增液湯, “Increase Fluids Decoction”). The Wen Bing school’s formula for fluid depletion. Used when dryness is pervasive and the Kidney-Yin formula family alone is insufficient.

What “Individualized” Actually Means

None of the formulas above is prescribed off a chart. The pattern diagnosis happens first — and that diagnosis comes from your specific pulse, tongue, constitutional signs, and Five-Wheels eye observation, not from your Western diagnosis alone. Two patients with AMD may receive different formulas because their patterns are different. One may be pure Water Wheel deficiency; another may have a significant Spleen component that needs addressing first. The formula follows the pattern, not the diagnosis.

Formulas are also modified. The classical texts are not cookbooks — they are frameworks. A skilled classical herbalist adjusts the base formula by adding, removing, or changing the dose of individual herbs to match the specific picture in front of them.

Custom Herbal Prescription Is Included in the Vision Program

Both the Vision Program Package of 10 and Package of 20 include your custom classical herbal formula for the duration of the course — this is not an add-on or a separate purchase. The herbal prescription is part of the treatment plan, not a supplement you self-select.

See Vision Program pricing.

How Our Herbal Practice Differs

Most integrative ophthalmology programs — including some well-known ones — do not offer classical Chinese herbal prescription at the level described above. Some offer standardized herbal supplements. Some offer proprietary blended formulas with trademarked names. We offer something different: an individually composed, classically sourced, named prescription from a practitioner with advanced classical herbalism credentials. You know every herb in your formula, why it was chosen, and what pattern it is addressing.

Supportive Care Disclaimer

Classical Chinese herbal medicine is supportive care. It does not treat, cure, or prevent any eye disease. All herbal prescriptions require clinical evaluation and a full medication review before dispensing. Chinese herbs may interact with pharmaceuticals; disclosure of all current medications is required. This is not a substitute for care by a licensed ophthalmologist or other medical provider. Individual results vary.