The term ulcerative keratitis is frequently interchanged with the term corneal ulcers but may also be referred to as Rodent’s Ulcers or Mooren’s Ulcers. The later terms describe diseases that are similar, but not identical to ulcerative keratitis, however for the purposes of Chinese medicine, which focuses on presentation and paterns, they are diagnosed and treated the same way.

Regardless of how we name this disease, all are considered very serious. The ulcers occur quickly and the progression gallops forward, frequently leaving patients blind. Western medical treatment is efective for simpler ulcers causes by abrasions from plant material or contact lenses, and much less effective when there is an immunological cause, a vitamin deficiency, or, in the case of Mooren’s Ulcers, no identifable cause at all.

The primary case in this chapter depicts a pattern not frequently discussed in the English language literature: heat accumulation in the liver and lung. In this case, there is a dual pattern of wind and heat: internally from the liver and externally from wind heat pathogen. This man, a smoker and a drinker, a laborer, was constitutionally hot and dry. The actions of the formula must arc between the interior and the exterior.

Modifed Jiā Wèi Xiū Gān Săn (Supplemented Liver-Repairing Powder) is selected. Within the formula, the medicinals that clear heat from the surface are mainly bò he,mù zéi căo and lián qiào. Mù zéi căo is the leading medicinal to help abate the nebula and chē qián zĭ supports this. Zhī zĭ, căo jué míng and huáng qín clear liver fre. Căo juémíng has a slippery nature, making it especially helpful for this patient.

Herbal steams and compresses are utilized to reduce infammation and provide comfort.

By the second visit, with the patient vastly improved the formula is rewritten to emphasize eye-moistening yin-nourishing medicinals. Although both formulas contain zhī zĭ and căo jué míng, now, dark and heavy huáng jīng and xuán shēn are included to nourish the yin. Zhī mŭ fts with this pair well. Qīng xiāng zĭ, chán tuì and mì méng huā flesh out the vision-clearing components of the formula, each with individual actions germane to the patient’s condition: qīng xiāng zĭ is cold and strongly clears heat from the eyes and eliminates nebula, mì méng huā is milder in action, but is also effective for clearing the vision. Finally, chán tuì enters the liver and lung channels, disperses wind, clears heat, clears the vision and helps abate nebulae.