For the generation that was the first to be fed prescription drugs like Ritalin and Adderall - sometimes with the same fervor as push-pops - a non-invasive therapy that can lessen the effects of everything from attention disorders and Tourette’s, to anxiety and depression might sound like a godsend. And, for people of all ages, a new wonder treatment technically known as LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System) has become just that.

Since the 60’s, various neurofeedback systems have been in the development stages. But, within the last few years, LENS, the latest form of brain re-ordering, has been making waves in the medical marketplace. We first learned about LENS - which boasts the ability to restore the brain to optimal function, raise IQ, and combat a wide range of disorders - from a 20-year-old friend of ours who had undergone the treatment at a sought-after Southern California clinic run by a physician named Dr. Barbara Blume. After completing ten sessions at $100 a pop (in hopes of lessening both stress and anxiety levels), our friend felt the effects immediately. Fast-forward a year later, and he stills swears by the treatments’ positive effects. So, what exactly is this man-made miracle, and how might it affect younger generations? We called Dr. Blume at her Ventura, CA office to find out.

How would you describe the LENS treatment in layman’s terms?
It’s electromagnetic energy that is different from any other system. It works by inhibiting slow frequencies in the brain. I’m the only person in Southern California with the LENS system. It’s a newer system that has been in the works for years. I’ve had it for the last year and a half.

How does it work?
First we’ll do a reading of the dominant frequencies in the brain. 11 electrodes are placed on the brain and a map is done. We map different parts of the brain and look at sides of the brain that are putting out higher and lower frequencies. The sides of the brain that have lower frequencies are given one second of stimulation. During each session anywhere from one to seven sites will receive treatment. [Essentially, the goal is to get the parts of the brain that aren’t working at full capacity to speed up and match those parts that are.] It helps get the brain un-stuck.

What kinds of ailments does it help?
Head injuries, epilepsy, strokes, depression, anxiety, addiction, anger and rage disorders, attention disorders…

And the success rate?
90%.

LENS has also been credited with helping lessen children’s anger and temper disorders. What's the age range of the patients that you treat?
My youngest is 2 years and 5 months and my oldest are in their 80s.

What treatments work particularly well for twenty-somethings?
It’s a little easier to treat younger patients. We can wean them off psychotropic drugs like those that treat ADD and ADHD. One of the other things that the LENS does really well is increases IQ 10-27 points. Peak performance is a big issue - a lot of patients use it for peak performance, to help them achieve their maximum potential both creatively and intellectually. For college kids, what could be better than retaining information and performing better without stress? The learning curve increases dramatically. I also have CEOs come to me. I’ve treated Olympic athletes. IQ never increases over time; it will only decrease without something like LENS. It can also dramatically improve one's immune system, which can be more important for the baby-boomer generation.

Do you find that young people as a whole are any more open to the treatment?
I think so. I think they’re more curious. They have fewer stereotypes that blind their reasoning.

How many sessions does the average patient require?
It totally depends. LENS has the potential of speeding up the treatment though. Traditional neurofeedback might take 40-60 sessions, whereas LENS can cut that in half or less.

What are some drawbacks?
The drawbacks are that there should always be a brain map; otherwise a person is guessing. That’s really critical.

What has been most surprising with regard to your treatment of twenty-something’s?
I treat a lot of people with head injuries. Many patients come in with mood and sleep disturbances and one of the things we always screen for is, ‘have you ever hit your head?’ So actually have had head traumas and post-concussion disorders and diagnoses have been inaccurate. It’s a silent epidemic. We can work around genetic disorders. I’ve had spectacular success with addition – a 90% success rate. I’ve worked with a former heroin addict who’s now been clean for three years. When people are committed they can literally make the cravings stop.

*To set up an appointment with Dr. Barbara Blume, call (805) 658-7792, or, to set up an appointment in the NY area, contact Dr. Stephen Larsen, whose Stone Mountain Center is located in the mid-Hudson Valley region, at (212) 639-7373 or larsons@mskcc.org. Larsen is author of The Healing Power of Neurofeedback: The Revolutionary LENS Technique for Restoring Optimal Brain Function.
*For more on LENS techniques see www.isnr.org.