Evidence supporting the use of: Lycium
For the health condition: Glaucoma

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lycium, commonly known as goji berry or wolfberry, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for promoting eye health and vision. It is often included in herbal formulas intended to "nourish the liver" and "improve eyesight," as TCM theory associates liver health with eye function. However, its application specifically for glaucoma—a group of eye diseases characterized by optic nerve damage, often associated with increased intraocular pressure—is based primarily on traditional rather than scientific grounds. There are a handful of animal studies suggesting antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, which could theoretically support retinal and optic nerve health. Some researchers have proposed that these properties may be beneficial in slowing the progression of diseases like glaucoma, but robust clinical evidence in humans is lacking. No large-scale, high-quality clinical trials have validated Lycium as an effective or primary therapy for glaucoma. Thus, while Lycium is traditionally used to support eye health and is sometimes mentioned in the context of glaucoma in TCM practice, current scientific evidence does not strongly support its use for this specific condition.

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