Successful integrative medicine case management of blepharospasm.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this case study was to use integrative medicine to treat a debilitating and long-standing case of blepharospasm.

SUBJECT: The patient suffered from blepharospasm, which conventional medicine had failed to alleviate despite numerous and varied attempts over the course of 3 years of treatment. Blepharospasm involves the uncontrolled or abnormal blinking or twitching of the eyelids, which impairs the ability to see. The patient's symptoms were so severe that she was unable to work, drive, or in general lead a normal life.

INTERVENTION: Conventional and Chinese medicine practices were used in examining and diagnosing the patient. Treatment involved 6 weeks of electroacupuncture.

RESULTS

The patient's symptoms were reduced from severe to nearly nonexistent, and this improvement persisted at least 6 months after treatment ended.

CONCLUSIONS

While this study involved only 1 patient, it demonstrates the effectiveness of electroacupuncture as a treatment for blepharospasm in a case where the patient was experiencing debilitating symptoms, which conventional allopathic treatment had failed to alleviate. This suggests that electroacupuncture may be similarly effective in treating other cases of blepharospasm.