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Natural Awakenings Twin Cities

Eye Care that Begins with Hope at Bhakti Wellness Center

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For 17 years, Mats Sexton has been giving his clients something that many optometrists cannot—hope. In 2003 he was trained in a specific acupuncture protocol specializing in eye disorders—Macular Regeneration. A few years ago, he began instructing seminars and has taught nearly a hundred acupuncturists in this protocol, one of them being Cassandra Rose, an acupuncturist at the Bhakti Wellness Clinic, in Edina. The two are now partnering at Bhakti to provide macular regeneration service and to educate the community with the foundational understanding that treating eye disorders requires a whole-body, harmonic (rhythmic) approach, offering clients not just hope, but the reality of possible change in their vision.

The option nobody is talking about. Many people who have been given a diagnosis of a chronic degenerative eye condition are often told that there is no option other than a slow slide into loss of vision. “That’s the paradigm,” states Guy Odishaw, founder of Bhakti Wellness Center. “At no point are they offered anything in the nature of hope. It's just an expectation that it only goes one way.”

It doesn’t have to be that way. Research shows there is an ability to change the course of chronic degenerative eye conditions. Macular Regeneration can be used for clients with retina issues, macular degeneration and some congenital eye disorders. To some degree, it can also help with issues such as glaucoma and Sjogren's Syndrome (dry-mouth, dry-eyes). This holistic and natural protocol does not support concerns with nearsightedness, farsightedness or cataracts. Sexton says, “I can't fix everyone's vision, but in about 85 percent of cases, there's some improvement, and all clients experience some level of change to overall wellness.”

Holistic Expectations

Sexton can say that because this approach to eye care is not just focused on eye disorders. It is focused on whole-body rhythmicity and function. When clients come into the clinic for help with chronic vision concerns, there is an understanding and expectation that Macular Regeneration involves a whole-body approach. The body functions as one system. It’s difficult to effectively treat anything if you compartmentalize the treatment.

Sexton explains, “Think of a tree and imagine your eyes as the leaves. You can care for the leaves, make them look shiny and beautiful, but if you're not treating the roots, you’re not going to get true long-term benefits. You have to reach the roots to get to the heart of the issue.”

The protocol requires a commitment on the part of the patient as it’s not unreasonable to expect 50 to 80 treatments in a year to address something that has developed over the past 40 years. That being said, people have often noticed changes in their vision within 10 to 20 treatments, such as their vision seems brighter, clearer or has more acuity. Sexton has seen clients drop five lines on the eye chart within 10 treatments. “It’s insane,” he shares, “but it can happen.”

Natural Vision Care at Home

Much of the Macular Regeneration protocol requires active involvement with self-care at home. It involves working on overall health and rhythmicity of the body. There are plenty of evidence-based practices to get started with your own natural vision protocols, including:

  • Binary beats. Download an app on your phone so you can listen to binaural beats throughout the day or at night when you sleep. You can even find some on YouTube.
  • Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE). This technique utilizes pulses of light and sound at specific frequencies to gently and safely guide the brain into various beneficial brain wave patterns. You can easily purchase a device to use at home.
  • Nutrition. A low-carbohydrate, high-quality fat diet that's going to decrease inflammation. Eating a double handful of leafy greens a day is key as is avoiding anything with hydrogenated oils. Be sure to read labels.
  • Hydration. Drink water. Eye tissue is moist. If they dry out, it could possibly thicken the tissues and cause plaque buildup that could lead to potential eye disorders.
  • Sunglasses. Protect your eyes from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.

On June 17, Bhakti Wellness Center is hosting an informational seminar on functional ophthalmology and the science of this approach. Cost: Free. Location: 7550 France Ave. S., Ste. 220, Edina. For more information, visit BhaktiClinic.com.

Rebecka Lassen is an author, writer, professional speaker, and holistic healer. She is currently completing the requirements needed for a certification in Integrative Health and Healing at Anoka Ramsey Community College by serving as an intern for Natural Awakenings Twin Cities magazine. For more information, visit RebeckaLassen.com.