I’m only a day into my treatment and though I don’t know where it will lead, I’m convinced I’ve found the right practitioner for me.

Why? Because Dr. Rosenfarb clearly knows eye health, he takes a whole-body health approach, is big on patient education and answers ALL of my questions.

After filling out the usual paperwork in the reception area (a comfortable room with a sofa, several chairs, a coffee table and magazines), I was greeted by Dr. Rosenfarb and taken into an office to discuss my medical history. Because he focuses on underlying conditions that may contribute to RP symptoms, I was required to undergo extensive blood testing before coming for treatment. Aside from high levels of Vitamin A (which makes sense given all the supplements I take), Dr. Rosenfarb said there was nothing out of the ordinary to suggest a problem or deficiency.

Unlike the Wellspring Clinic, where patients are required to undergo testing in the waiting room in front of all the other patients, here eye testing is done in private and is much more extensive. I underwent a close visual acuity eye exam, a far visual acuity eye exam, a color differentiation test, a visual field test with an actual visual field machine (though it only tests to thirty degrees) and another manual visual field test to measure my outer peripheral vision. The tests provided a very accurate picture of what I’m up against—and it’s not pretty.  This disease has wiped out the vast majority of my peripheral vision and has taken some of my central vision as well.

After the baseline eye tests, it was off to my first treatment—which was different from anything I’ve ever experienced with an acupuncturist.  Dr. Rosenfarb started the treatment with fifteen minutes of laser therapy, in which wires were taped to my face and laser lights beamed over my eyes. (Dr. Rosenfarb explained the reasoning behind laser therapy but I can’t remember—I’ll get clarification tomorrow).  Next, he pulled out a handheld device and began moving it around the edges and inside of my right ear (my dominant ear because I’m right-handed) to administer what called auriculoacupuncture. He explained that the ear contains numerous critical acupuncture points and said the ones that were active and required attention would trigger the device.  Whenever the device started beeping, he inserted what he called a semi-permanent acupuncture needle, which felt like I was getting ear piercings throughout my ear. He told me these tiny needles would stay in my ear for one to two days.  I think he inserted five altogether. The one that jumps out for me was the point connected to my kidneys. He noted that my kidney energy and adrenal glands were low—which he says is common in patients with RP.

After an hour’s break in the reception area, it was time for my second treatment.

It started with Dr. Rosenfarb asking me to stick out my tongue, because he said a person’s tongue is like a roadmap of a person’s body. What he found was interesting to both of us.  The tip of my tongue was bright red, while the rest of it was pale. He said the red at the tip of my tongue indicated inflammation in my head and upper body, while the pale color on my remaining tongue suggested a possible weak immune system.  I’m fighting a head cold right now, which Dr. Rosenfarb said could account for the tongue reading.  It’s something he’s going to keep an eye on over the next two weeks.  Then it was onto the real reason I was in the room: electroacupuncture.  In this procedure, needles attached to wires were inserted around the upper orbit of my eyes.  Then the machine was turned on and electrical currents produced a pulsating sensation where the needles were located.  I’m used to the electrical current part of this because I’ve done micro-current stimulation at home and have undergone electrical stimulation at my Seattle acupuncturist’s office. But I’ve never had it combined with acupuncture needles.  Along with this, Dr. Rosenfarb inserted needles into the palms of my hands and the bottoms of my feet (both very tender areas.)

While he was inserting needles, I asked him about my diet. He said that in Chinese medicine, my body type is considered to be “wood”, which means very active, fast metabolism etc.  As a result, he advised that I incorporate some sort of organic meat or animal protein into my diet. I’m very happy about this because I LOVE cheese.

I think the electroacupuncture treatment lasted for about a half hour, after which Dr. Rosenfarb armed me with a couple of bottles of Chinese herbs and sent me on my way. The entire day’s treatment lasted about three hours.

Okay, I’m signing off because the Seahawks game is about to start. I’ll report more in a few days.

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