Frankincense in the Treatment of Benign Essential Blepharospasm

Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is characterized by involuntary contraction of the orbicularis oculi. It is a progressive disorder that can result in functional blindness due to inability to keep the eyelids open. To date, the most effective therapy for BEB is frequent botulinum toxin (BT) injections. Frankincense is a natural gum resin derived from Boswellia trees and has been used in multiple disease states such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Current literature suggests frankincense has anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and neuroprotective properties. We report the novel use of topical frankincense for the treatment of BEB.