Frequently Asked Technical Questions

What can AcuScen treat?

AcuScen is a natural therapy that uses go way beyond treating pain. Major progress has been seen with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, fatigue, infertility, skin tone, aging, allergies and well as treating a myriad of acute and chronic conditions. In Russia and Eastern Europe, AcuScen therapy is used routinely in Hospitals and Doctor's practices in almost every area of medicine, including problems with the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculo-skeletal, urinary, immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems.

AcuScen is effective with virtually all types of pain including:

Acute Injuries: Fractures, tears, burns, strains, sprains and post-operative wounds.

Digestive & Hormonal: irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, endometriosis, menstrual pain.

Neurological: Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD),migraines, myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), and fibromyalgia.

Is AcuScen like a TENS machine?

No. AcuScen works at a level well beyond TENS, ultrasound and short-pulse electrotherapy. AcuScen's lead developer, Alexander Karasev, inventor of TENS. See section on "SCENAR History". He wanted to go beyond just temporarily blocking pain (which TENS machines do, for instance in childbirth). TENS uses a very simple signal which the body soon adapts to. It does nothing to affect the underlying reasons for the pain. So the pain returns when the TENS machine is not in use, and its effects decline over time.

AcuScen is far more sophisticated: with every response it receives from the body (through skin impedance), it sends out a different signal. Combined with the various modes and treatment protocols used in AcuScen therapy, this makes it impossible for the body to adapt and slip back. During a course of AcuScen treatments, the effects are cumulative, going to the root of the problem and producing deep, long lasting relief.

How safe is AcuScen?

AcuScen is very safe. The technology behind AcuScen is one of the best-researched and well-documented of all complementary natural therapies and is suitable for people of all ages. AcuScen treatment feels, and is, safe and gentle.

All that AcuScen does, in a very sophisticated way, is communicate with your body, using impulses that mimic the signals already running through your nervous system. Unlike many other pain treatments, it's gentle, non-invasive, non-damaging, and non- addictive. Unlike still other methods, where the body's natural pain response is blocked or manipulated, AcuScen works as an equal partnership between the body, the AcuScen and the therapist. While the AcuScen therapist uses his or her skills and knowledge to choose settings, techniques and treatment areas, the AcuScen's signals are constantly modified by the body's responses. In effect, the body itself is as much in charge of the process as the therapist and the device. We regularly learn new techniques, but AcuScen is not an experimental therapy: in Russia it was approved for widespread clinical trials in 1983. After rigorous testing on thousands of patients (there are over 50,000 documented case histories from SCENAR's earliest years in Russia alone) in Russian clinics and hospitals, it was approved for general medical use in 1993. It has become a primary, mainstream medical tool there, used by thousands of practitioners to treat almost the entire range of medical conditions. After more than 20 years of daily use there and around 15 years in the West, there are no reports of unwanted side effects. Occasionally there is an initial 24-48 hour healing reaction (see below) but even this is a positive sign that the condition's dynamic is changing. Children and the elderly can be treated, and animals usually love it.

Can everyone be treated?

Yes, even children. The one universal exclusion is those fitted with cardiac pacemakers and other electrically-controlled implants. It has proven to be safe to use in the presence of almost every other condition. So, despite its emergency use in Russia with cardiac arrest and strokes, the Western world therapist avoids directly treating heart conditions like rapid and irregular heart beat. Similarly with undiagnosed pain and tumour. It is in theory safe to use with pregnant women but again, it is avoided, although AcuScen is highly recommended post-partum for re-conditioning the back and abdomen in the weeks or months after giving birth. Also caution is exercised when treating those with alcohol or drug dependencies, or with serious psychological disturbances, who would be difficult to monitor and require more specialist assistance.

Are there any side effects with AcuScen?

AcuScen's greatest side effects are the "Three S's" -- better Sleep, better Skin, and less Stress. This can make a great contribution to general health: excess stress has negative effects on our relationships and many body functions. Insufficient sleep contributes to hypertension, heart disease, impaired mental function and obesity. And our skins are affected by both. AcuScen helps to shift the body towards the parasympathetic (stress relief, "sleep and heal") nervous system, while releasing floods of neuropeptides which include substances for sleep control, depression, skin circulation and elimination of wastes and toxins.

Can I combine AcuScen with other natural therapies like acupuncture?

Acupuncture, reflexology, osteopathy, chiropractic and AcuScen treatment share various principles, but use very different delivery mechanisms and processes. Combining them in the same treatment period may lead to information overload or confusion in the body. A scatter-gun approach will prevent you from knowing which therapy is working best, may therefore be a waste of time and money, and often seems to lead to conditions lasting longer and becoming more chronic. It's better to try one method, intensively and uninterrupted, for say four to six treatments, see what progress is evident, and, if not satisfied, then try another. There are many other natural therapies that AcuScen works well with, and which will not cause such confusion since their treatment goals are different (homeopathy, nutrienergetics (NES), essential oils, lymph drainage, colonic irrigation, and dietary changes). But again, it would be best to stagger the start of them (especially something as systemic as homeopathy), so as to know which therapy is having which effect.

How many AcuScen treatments will I need and how often?

This depends on the nature and duration of the condition, your level of health, and the degree of pain and urgency. For the most routine, sudden-onset back-aches, one or two sessions are often enough to get total or superficial relief. For everything else, it's important with AcuScen to treat frequently and for long enough that the condition is resolved. The body needs enough information and momentum to carry on the healing process; otherwise it will just slip back to how it was before treatment. A condition that took years to develop will probably take more than a few weeks to disappear!

In regard to how often you need to use SCENAR. Generally with acute injuries such as traumas, sprains, bruises, sports injuries etc, five to seven treatments (often less) should be enough to help the body to deal with the problem. With SCENAR treatment, recovery can happen two to three times quicker than if the body was left without treatment. Acute problems such as infections, colds, flu's etc are going to require short treatments of regular frequency. For example, 5 to 10 minutes every 1 to 2 hours or so. You cannot overdose when treating an acute condition but if you do too much the body will just ignore it. It knows when it's had enough!

Chronic problems are treated differently. For chronic conditions 40 to 45 minutes of direct contact is more than sufficient for one session and sessions should be restricted to every second day. With auto-immune conditions it should be shorter, say 30 minutes. The reason for this is that when you re-energise a chronic complaint, you are awakening a sleeping giant and this needs to be done gradually otherwise you can experience what is known as the "Healing Crisis". The Healing Crisis occurs when an area of the body that has been ignored for many years is suddenly over stimulated. This creates a situation of too much, too quick and the effect leads to the onset of acute symptoms. Although it cannot do any harm, it can sure feel like it. Though a healing crisis is a very unpleasant experience it is actually a good sign and an indication that the body is awakening and starting to 'clean out all the garbage' so to speak.

A general recommended treatment course for a chronic condition would be around 10 to 15 treatments (or more) as follows:

Weeks 1 & 2 – 3 times a week

Weeks 3 to 5 – Twice a week

Weeks 6 to 10 – Once a week

If further treatment is required then it will be once every two weeks. By the end of treatment, the body should continue the healing process for a further 2 to 3 months. If you are dealing with regeneration of say, meniscus cartilage or the like, then treatment should be regular and ongoing for at least 6 months or more as it takes a long time for the body to regenerate cartilage. For further information see article:

"How Many Treatments Will I Need?"

Will I experience a healing reaction with AcuScen?

What about my conventional medical treatment?

AcuScen does a great job of locating areas to treat, but it is no substitute for seeing your General Practitioner (GP) (if only to rule out other causes of pain). If you are receiving medication, it is recommended that your doctor knows that you are having AcuScen treatment. As your therapy progresses, you may be able to reduce or even stop taking some medication, and this should be done under the supervision of your doctor.

Why isn't AcuScen better known?

AcuScen co-exists with conventional medicine in Russia and several eastern European countries, but it challenges some deeply held beliefs in western medicine (although cutting-edge research in the developing field of bio-physics validates AcuScen's technology). However, some GP's here have warmed to it after witnessing its effects, and sometimes refer patients for pain management. Also the AcuScen/SCENAR community is fractured. After its many years of initial development and clinical trials, the lead developers went their separate ways and set up competing companies. Other companies tried to reverse-engineer the technology, with varied results. The result is an array of competing AcuScen/SCENAR models and product names, and a lack of cohesive promotion. In addition, we have often learned the hard way that if something seems too good to be true, it often is. Those who have used it know that AcuScen works, but there is still natural scepticism about something that claims so much.

What happens during a AcuScen treatment?

In the first treatment, after taking a case history, a digitised assessment is made, running the AcuScen over zones on the back and comparing the readings taken. AcuScen only works in contact with skin, but intimate areas of the body will not be exposed, examined or treated. Using a brushing technique, we first look for areas of disturbance in the skin, especially changes in texture. The energy blockage in these areas may be so strong (especially with acute conditions) that it's physically difficult to move the AcuScen over it until the blockage has been cleared by repeated brushing.

After working in this general mode, we switch to more complex AcuScen protocols where maps of zones are marked out and readings recorded, especially on the back, shoulders and abdomen. Comparing the readings from each zone helps find areas most in need of treatment. Normally, only one major protocol area, e.g. the neck and shoulders, will be used at any one AcuScen session, but in one of the longer treatment sessions it may be combined with one or more mini protocols (especially if there are several points of pain). Protocols are used in rotation through the course of treatments. The AcuScen philosophy in this is to treat all systems connecting to the pain condition, and to mix things up so that the body can't adapt and move back into a status quo (which is what it has been doing with the condition until now) before we've achieved the result we're seeking.

Is there anything I need to do before or after AcuScen treatment?

Alcohol and recreational drugs block the brain's ability to process information, so it's best to not use them in significant quantities for 24 hours before and after AcuScen treatment. It's also best not to eat a large meal for two hours before or after. And because of the way that AcuScen works with the skin, it's advisable for best results to not bathe or shower for two hours before or after treatment. AcuScen works best when you follow, as much as possible, the advice from your therapist. This is particularly important as the condition improves, and you may naturally want to test your limits and return to old activities quickly. Unless you're a well-conditioned athlete, it is usually more important to consolidate the gains gradually over several months.

How long do AcuScen's effects last?

This varies, but AcuScen effects are particularly long lasting, both in the hours after treatment and on a long-term basis. Some acute cases may be resolved after one course of treatments and never need further treatment. Some chronic conditions may resolve permanently, while others need occasional or regular follow-up treatment (but usually much less often and with much faster results than before). In university research trials in Australia, it was found to have given broad pain management with chronic conditions, reduced and rehabilitated disabilities, and helped restore physical, mental and emotional health. And all the positive effects were sustained for the entire follow up period of 6 months after the end of the treatments. [Chronic Neck Pain/Dysfunction Study of the Effects of ENAR, Macquarie University, 2004.

Is it worth it?

The quality of your life is directly proportional to the quality of your health. Ask those who've used AcuScen to regain their lives and taken back the control over their health. Once we start to put a price on our health we begin to affect the quality of our life. Ask yourself, "What is more important, money or health?" The answer will reflect your priorities. In resolving conditions that threaten quality of life, and sometimes family finances, AcuScen is seen as excellent value. After treating people who've spent large sums of money trying various other routes, sometimes for relatively little gain, I'm often told "I wish I'd known about this ten years ago."

Does using AcuScen require any special knowledge or training?

No. The inventor, Dr Alexander Karasev, designed the technology behind AcuScen so it could be used by anybody, without any special medical training. Using AcuScen devices is as simple as operating a TV remote. Dr Karasev says,"You just hold the device over the affected area or organ and it sends a signal to the brain. This causes the brain to trigger the body's immune system, and, hey presto, after only a few minutes of treatment, the patient starts feeling much better". AcuScen is battery operated and does not require being connected to the electricity supply networks. It does not need additional equipment or facilities. The AcuScen is compact and can easily fit in your bag or pocket. You can use AcuScen anywhere and any time you need. All you need is to read the instructions on use carefully, so that you know what the buttons on the front panel are for or what the LCD monitor displays or LED indicators mean. You do not have to make any complicated calculations or apply complicated techniques and algorithms to effectively use your device. All you need to do is to place the device on the problematic area or projection of the pathological organ or region. Of course, elementary knowledge of the human anatomy is desirable though, with your purchase of any AcuScen device you will be provided with Manuals and Video tutorials that will assist your effectiveness at self treatment. Also after sales support is available should you require it.

Are professional models, like the AcuScen Pro+ and the AcuScen Premium only intended for medical professionals? Can people without medical background use these models effectively?

Actually, calling these models professional does not mean they are only intended for medical professionals. For example, if you buy a professional hair drier, you can use it as effectively as a professional hair-dresser. The professional device will have more features, will be more reliable, and will be able to withstand many hours of work every day. The same is with our professional models. First of all, "professional" means that this model has a lot of useful features which can be very helpful for a professional AcuScen therapist in his everyday work. However, anyone can use them and reap the benefits they have to offer.

What is the difference between devices from "LET Medical" , "RITM" and other companies, and AcuScen?

RITM's" devices are based on the original SCENAR-035 model, developed by Alexander Karasev in the 1980's. See section on "SCENAR History" for more information. Of course, they are not an exact copy of that model. "RITM" has modified it and made some alterations. The main difference is that during the last 20 years "LET Medical" has been doing a lot of research work, improving and advancing SCENAR technology to higher levels and releasing secong generation SCENAR called , Cosmodic. The other manufacturers of SCENAR devices were busy with quite different things - sales, marketing, training. But they are still using the old first genration SCENAR technologies developed over twenty years ago.

We are very impressed with the AcuScen after testing it out. I understand that the wave forms do not allow the body to adapt to the wave forms but with repeated use, would the body get habituated?

No, the body will never get habituated to the wave forms, even if you use the device for a very long time without breaks. In serious cases the longer you act upon the patient with the device, the better. So if you are trying to eliminate or abate the severe condition, you can use the device as long as needed and the body will not adapt to the signal.

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Answers - Treatment

What happens if a healing crisis occurs (we understand that this is normal and a good sign) but the symptoms become too severe - any protocols/recommendations you can provide as guidelines? Or just stop the treatment until symptoms are reduced?

You should not stop treatment with AcuScen. You can continue treatment like before the crisis and the acute symptoms will be eliminated soon. During the healing crisis our body can recover sooner and more effectively.

How to use the device on the head with hair - is there a need for patients to shave their head to receive the best AcuScen treatment on the head?

Shaving the head is not necessary as there is an hair attachment that can be used that we work through the hair.

Can I act simultaneously with two or more AcuScen? What effect can such action produce?

Yes, you can. First of all, simultaneous action with two devices can significantly reduce the action time. And the positive effects of the action appears much sooner.

How can one use 2 devices at the same time on a patient?

Using two devices at the same time can significantly reduce the procedure time. I know cases where three or more devices were used simultaneously. You can put one device under the patient with the electrodes on the necessary segment; with two other devices the therapist is working on symmetrical areas. If you are a practicing AcuScen therapist and have assistants, you can use more than three devices, if so required.

For the 6 points on the face and the basic eye points, which electrode is most suitable?

For face and eye points you can use the electrode on the device that is end-mounted, or any of the remote electrodes you have. They will work.

Does the AcuScen device have the capability to control appetite or induce weight loss?

Yes, AcuScen can be used for weight loss, but there is no universal method of solving this problem. Much depends on what has caused the overweight problem. If this condition is caused by a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, AcuScen may help to eliminate it, which should normalize the weight of the patient. We have not carried out any research concerning overweight by hormonal disorders and cannot say for sure if AcuScen can help in this situation.

I have a patient suffering cardiac fibrillation. She takes heart medications and blood thinners. Can I use AcuScen to treat her pains in the neck and shoulders? Are there any particular pieces of advice on this disease?

Yes, you can use AcuScen for treatment of cardiac fibrillation. Actually, no antiarrhythmic drug can improve metabolic processes in myocardium. Cardiac fibrillation is a cry from your body asking for help. This way the body tries to attract attention to the sick heart. Antiarrhythmic drugs, as well as other medications, suppressing such cries for help, cannot make myocardium healthier. Therefore, using AcuScen for recovery of myocardium will do your patient good.

Recovery from cardiac fibrillation using AcuScen depends on two major things: duration of the disease (i.e. how long the patient has been having this condition) and medications the patient takes. Taking antiarrhythmic drugs hampers the recovery because together with relieving pain, they can make eliminating the disease from the body more difficult. When taking medications, always remember that it is not the drugs that are harmful, but too many of them! This applies to all medications, not only antiarrhythmic ones or blood thinners. Duration of the disease also matters. If this condition appeared for the first time or recently, it can be successfully eliminated with AcuScen therapy in a short time, but only if the cardiac fibrillation is not the result of infarction.

If the patient has been suffering cardiac fibrillation for less than one year and the disease is manifested in the form of attacks, the recovery is possible during the next three months. It does not mean that all these three months the patient must be treated with AcuScen. As a rule, the patient should be conducted one course of AcuScen therapy (10-14 sessions). The complete effect of treatment and the recovery processes are going to occur during the following three months after treatment.

If the patient has been suffering cardiac fibrillation for over two years and the disease is manifested in the form of a permanent condition, there is little chance it can be eliminated completely. However, it does not mean you should ignore AcuScen therapy for treating this condition of the heart. There is another very important thing. When treating cardiac fibrillation with AcuScen, the patient may have short (approximately during 1-3 days) aggravation of fibrillation. This may occur not in all patients, but often happens when treating this disease. Such aggravation of symptoms is a good sign showing that the recovery process has already been started in the heart. Therefore, it is not recommended to increase the dosage of medication during such healing crisis. Let the body take part in the recovery.

Some of my patients have dry skin and the AcuScen Pro+ cannot get a reading, even though they took a bath the previous day. I use a wet tissue paper to wet the area and I do get a reading. Is that reading dependable? What would you suggest?

You are absolutely right about dry skin. Yes, you should wet it and then the device will work perfectly. This also concerns the areas with thick hair - if you cannot get a reading, you should slightly moisten the hair and try again.

Sometimes at a painful area I get a normal reading, why is that so, what do you think I should do?

The area, which is painful, does not necessarily mean that it is the place where the pathological process occurs. This is known as referred pain, and commonly occurs in conditions like Sciatica. You may have a problem in one place and experience the pain caused by this problem in another. So what you should do is find the cause of this pain. You can treat the painful area until the pain is eliminated even if you get a normal reading on this area. After you eliminate the pain you can find the cause of this pain. The manuals that come with all AcuScen devices will assist in how to locate and treat the cause.

Can I treat a patient who has been operated on for thyroidical problems and is taking hormones for her thyroidea?She was operated two years ago and has problems getting air laying down. She has also hearing problems and muscle pain.

Yes, you can treat your patient with thyroid problems. Although it is not recommended combining AcuScen therapy with hormone medications, it does not mean you mustn't use AcuScen. If it is impossible to cancel the hormones, you can combine AcuScen with the medications your patient cannot live without. Though AcuScen treatment may go slower and maybe not as quick and effective if conducted together with medications.

Can I treat my wife who has severe rheumatoid arthritis and was exposed to someone who started her on the AcuScen treatment?

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with AcuScen provides very good results, though at the beginning of treatment she may experience severe and long healing crises. I would suggest you treating three pathways on her back and adrenal glands and also the joints which are most affected. During the healing crises, continue treating her until she feels better.

This "long healing crisis"-- is it very difficult to manage in terms of pain, etc.?

As for the healing crises, they will not be so acute and can be easily eliminated with the device, i.e. as soon as your wife feels worse, just give her another treatment with the device and she'll feel better. Also, not all patients may experience the healing crisis, some of them may even have very slight crises or no crises at all, it depends on the person and disease.

Is the AcuScen good for treatment of diseases like Alzheimer's?

As for Alzheimer's disease, well, I am sure the device can improve the patient's health, but I cannot guarantee you will be able to cure her completely. Remember that though this device is really very good, it cannot treat everything in the world; there is no remedy for all diseases. But you can try.

Is AcuScen good for removing wrinkles and signs of aging on the face etc.?

AcuScen can remove wrinkles but not easily. Every person is individual and the reasons for wrinkles appearing are also different. Some people look young for a long time, yet others get wrinkles at a young age. This also depends on one's peculiar genetic information. First it is necessary to eliminate the problems which have caused the wrinkles. So the devices may work on one person splendidly and produce no effect on the other due to the individual state of health. First you need to put the whole body in order, then start on the rejuvenation process.

Can AcuScen be applied for animals?

Of course, it can! AcuScen devices are successfully used by professional vets, though our models were initially intended for use on people. Long hair is not a problem. You may just need to moisten the hair in some cases and the electrodes of the device will have a good contact with skin. You will not have to shave your patients. For a very long hair you can also use physiologic saline or special gels used for muscle electrostimulators, which will help having a better conductivity. There is also a hair attachment which can be used.

Can the unit assist in the treatment of depression? If so, is there any information available as to treatment success or any other conditions and their success?

Yes, you can use the device for this purpose. Actually, even when treating the main disorder AcuScen produces very good effect and normalization of psychic and emotional condition of the patient. I can recommend you treating the basic areas, like six points on the face and three pathways on the back. That may be enough.

I am treating a patient with osteoarthritis of the hip. Have you had good results working with the AcuScen in this condition?

Treatment with AcuScen can produce good positive results, but it is difficult to eliminate this condition completely.

Is there any contradiction to working with a patient who has had a kidney transplant?

No, there are no contradictions to the patient with a kidney.

SCENAR therapy - click here

The Patient's Impressions - LET Medical link