Herbal fumigation combined with vessels acupoint improves the prognosis and reduces inflammation in patients with dry eye disease: A retrospective study

Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent condition often associated with inflammation and tear film dysfunction. Complementary treatments such as herbal fumigation and acupoint applications have shown promise in handling EDE. This study evaluates the combined efficacy of herbal fumigation and vessels acupoint in treating DED. A total of 123 DED patients were randomly assigned to three groups: Fumigation group, Acupoint group, and combined group. Treatment outcomes were assessed using the Schirmer I test (SIT) for tear production, the Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) for symptom evaluation, corneal sensitivity measurements, and inflammatory cytokine levels. All groups showed significant improvements post-treatment, with the combined therapy yielding the greatest effects. SIT scores increased by an average of 4.5 mm in Fumigation group, 5.0 mm in Acupoint group and 6.6 mm in combined group. OSDI scores improved by 31.0%, 34.5%, and 40.8% for each group, respectively. Corneal sensitivity and cytokine levels also showed the highest improvement in combined group, indicating enhanced tear production and anti-inflammatory effects. The combination of herbal fumigation and acupoint application provides superior benefits for DED patients, enhancing tear production, symptom relief, and inflammatory reduction. This integrative approach could be a valuable complementary treatment for managing DED symptoms.