Maddening eye twitch: is there a homeopathic remedy for eye twitches? My eye has been twitching for the past three years, and it's maddening! - Ask the experts: answers to your questions from the leaders in natural medicine - Brief Article

JENNIFER JACOBS, M.D., M.P.H., REPLIES: Homeopathy can be quite effective for eye twitches, as well as for other types of involuntary neurological or muscular activity. Most facial tics or twitching are "idiopathic," a term that means that no one knows what causes them.

Conventional treatments for tics include prescription tranquilizers, anti-epileptic drugs, and antipsychotic medications, depending on the severity of the problem. Some practitioners inject botulinum toxin into the area surrounding the tic. All of these methods have potential adverse side effects, such as drowsiness, nausea, and stomach upset.

I have used homeopathic remedies (which have no potential for adverse effects) to treat several patients with facial twitching. One case that stands out is that of a 7-year-old boy with facial grimacing and blinking of the eyes. At the initial interview, I found out that he also strongly feared the dark, had a history of night terrors and bed-wetting, and sometimes burst out in a violent temper.

The remedy Stramonium, made from thorn apple, fit his case very well. He responded quickly to a single dose of 200C potency and after six months was free of facial twitches.

Your case, however, sounds much less severe. It's likely that a different homeopathic remedy would be indicated, based on your specific physical and emotional symptoms.

To find the best remedy for your eye twitch, I suggest you seek treatment from a trained homeopath. To locate one near you, contact the American Institute of Homeopathy (call 888-445-9988 or visit www.homeopathyusa.org) or the National Center for Homeopathy (call 877-624-0613 or visit www.homeopathic.org). Also, keep a comprehensive guide to homeopathy around for self-treatment. Maesimund Panos's book Homeopathic Medicine at Home (J.P. Tarcher, 1981) is a classic.

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