Our Integrative Vision Approach
An Integrative Approach Built on Two Rare Credentials
There are practitioners who do M48 ophthalmology acupuncture. There are practitioners who do classical Chinese herbal medicine. There are very few who do both at an advanced level — and offer both as integrated parts of a single treatment plan for chronic eye conditions.
Michael Woodworth, M.S., L.Ac. holds the M48A Certification in Micro Acupuncture for Ophthalmology (trained under Dr. Andy Rosenfarb) and ICEAM Certification #122 in advanced classical Chinese herbalism (Arnaud Versluys lineage). At Makari, those two credentials are not offered separately — they are a single program.
Four Pillars of the Vision Program
Pillar One — M48 Ophthalmology Acupuncture
Every session begins with Five-Wheels observation — reading each region of the eye (iris, canthi, lids, whites, pupil) against the classical organ-network map to identify which pattern is driving the presentation. From there, point selection draws on the Liver, Kidney, Stomach, and Bladder channels, supplemented with microsystem points, scalp acupuncture for the visual cortex, and selective periorbital local points. Learn how M48 acupuncture works.
Pillar Two — Individualized Classical Herbal Prescription
This is the pillar that most distinguishes us. Your herbal formula is individually composed — not drawn from a supplement catalog, not a proprietary branded blend, not the same formula every eye patient receives. It is a named classical formula, adjusted to your specific Liver-Kidney-Spleen-Jing pattern, revised as your presentation changes over the course of treatment. See the formula families we work with.
Pillar Three — Transparent Supplement Recommendations
Where evidence supports supplementation alongside classical herbalism, we name what we recommend — by established name, not under proprietary labels. You know what you’re taking and why. Read our supplement philosophy.
Pillar Four — Ophthalmologist Coordination
Makari works alongside your care team, not as a replacement for it. We do not manage intraocular pressure, prescribe pharmaceuticals, or substitute for retinal imaging. We strongly encourage patients to maintain their relationship with their ophthalmologist or retinal specialist and welcome communication between care providers. Patients who arrive without an established ophthalmologist are given referral guidance before we proceed.
What We Don’t Promise
We do not promise measurable improvement. We do not promise vision restoration. We do not promise that your condition will slow, stop, or reverse. These are claims that no responsible integrative practitioner should make, and we don’t make them.
What we offer is a rigorous, pattern-based supportive protocol run by a practitioner with credentials unusual in this space — and honest communication about what that means for your specific case. Some patients experience meaningful subjective improvement. Some do not. We evaluate at week 8 and discuss the picture honestly.
Who This Program Is For
The Vision Program works best for patients who:
- Are under active ophthalmologic care and want to add a classical medicine layer to their management
- Have a chronic or degenerative eye condition and are looking for supportive options beyond what conventional medicine currently offers
- Are prepared to commit to a minimum 8-week course of 2 sessions per week
- Understand that this is supportive care, not curative treatment
- Are interested in individualized classical herbal prescription as part of their care plan
Patients who expect a cure, are unwilling to maintain ophthalmologic care in parallel, or have active acute conditions requiring immediate surgical management are not appropriate candidates for the Vision Program at this time.
Supportive Care Disclaimer
The Vision Program at Makari Wellness is supportive care. It does not replace ophthalmologic evaluation, prescribed medication, or surgical management. Patients should maintain regular monitoring with their eye care team. Individual results vary. This is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment.