August 4, 2005 • ISSUE 41 / VOLUME 1

New procedure treats facial spasms

Botox too temporary with side effects

Dr. Curtis Takemoto-Gentile uses SCENAR therapy to treat Nannette Akau.

Do you have uncontrollable eye twitches? If so, you have BEB or Benign Essential Blepharospasm – benign meaning it is not life threatening, essential meaning cause unknown, blepharo meaning "eyelid" and spasm meaning uncontrollable muscle contractions..

Blepharospasm usually begins gradually as an excessive blinking. In the early stages, certain stressors like bright lights, fatigue and emotional stress can trigger the blinking problem. Sleeping usually stops the twitching, and a good night sleep can delay the onset of the twitching. As the condition worsens, it usually attracts undue attention to the point that feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment and depression may set in. At the very worse, one could go functionally blind and be at risk for accidents.

Traditional treatments have included anti-seizure medications, psycho-active medications such as artane, tricyclic anti-depressants, benzodiazopines, muscle relaxants and anti-parkinson's medication, all of which have a chance of 10 to 15 percent success rate. Before surgery would be considered, however, the use of botulinum toxin or botox injections around the eye area have been regarded as very effective. But Botox provides only temporary relief. Generally, the toxin will wear off in three months before the next injection is needed. Some of the common complications associated with the botox include ptosis, corneal exposure, dry eye, entropion or ectopion.

An alternative treatment is the Bio-modulator or SCENAR therapy. This is a neuro-stimulator with bio-feedback that works like a painless, needleless acupuncture stimulating the nervous tissue to correct the eye muscles over activity or twitching.

As one patient remarked after one SCENAR treatment at the Integrated Health Center, "It was like a miracle that stopped the twitching instantly."

Nannette Akau, another of Dr. Curtis Takemoto-Gentile's patients at the Integrated Health Center, had previously gone through six weeks of acupuncture and many months of botox treatments to treat her severe facial spasms.

"Dr. Takemoto called me and asked me to come in – he had something he wanted me to try," Akau recalls. "He touched several points on my face with a 'thingy' that was smaller than a cell phone and, after five minutes, said I was 'done.'

"Five months later he called and asked how I was doing. I said, 'It's amazing! I've had maybe five (spasm) episodes in five months! I used to get 15 a day. It's amazing!'"

The best part about SCENAR therapy is that no injections are required with a toxin to paralyze your eye muscles. Also, no pills are needed to risk major side effects, and you can immediately resume your normal work activities after the treatment is completed. Additional benefits with the SCENAR treatment is relief of TMJ, migraine headaches and, in certain cases, a cranio-sacral adjustment that will adjust one's posture and sinuses.

The Integrated Healing Center is located at 2658 South King St. Call 955-1544 today for an appointment and get instant relief.