Mr. P.D., a 50 year old married male, presented to this examiner asking if anything could be done for his Sjogren’s Syndrome.
Sjogren’s Syndrome is a chronic illness in which white blood cells attack various glands in the body that produce moisture. Initial symptoms occur in the mouth and may move on to the eyes, although other organs in the body may be affected.
Mr. P.D. said that he was using three or four 5 mg. tablets of Salagen brand pilocarpine daily. This drug mimics acetylcholine, a substance normally produced by nerve cells to maintain moist secretions such as saliva. The patient had been told higher doses would not be more effective. He was concerned because inadequate saliva had already made it necessary for him to have two molars extracted by his dentist, who had diagnosed the illness, and he expected two more molar extractions to be necessary. These molars would all later be replaced by implants.
Mr. P.D. appeared to have a genuine oral problem; by his report only his salivary glands were affected. Although he was worried things could get worse, and that his eyes could suffer, he had no problem with them. He had no signs of depression or any other mental symptoms; he only had what seemed to be a genuine health concern.
Since the central nervous system is believed to be responsible for part of the symptoms of Sjogren’s, trying Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) seemed appropriate. We took a complete history of how symptoms had started, and what was associated with them in terms of memories or imagery. The patient associated the onset of the Sjogren’s with a dream reliving the movie “The Fly” with Jeff Goldblum. Somehow, when his mouth became dry, he had the feeling he was becoming a fly as if he were in the movie. He would sometimes wake up with this feeling at night.
Since Sjogren’s meant a “really dry mouth” to this patient, we did the first round of the EFT Basic Recipe on the words “dry mouth,” and managed to forgive his dentist, his teeth, and his mouth and his other physicians and anybody who had diagnosed or recommended treatment.
While the patient was tapping with his right hand on the acupuncture meridian designated as the thyroid area of his left hand, I asked him to continue tapping as we did a visualization exercise. He imagined himself in a theater, watching “The Fly.” He fast forwarded the movie from beginning to end, as he had it quite clear in his mind and said he could see himself go though all of the major scenes. Then, we asked him to run the movie backward in his mind, from end to beginning. He said he was able to do this easily as well. Then, we visualized him leaving the theater, and the movie’s name being taken off the marquee as it would not run again.
We went through another round of the EFT Basic Recipe, making affirmations about moving forward in life, leaving behind The Fly and leaving behind all problems related to a dry mouth.
When the tapping was over, I told the patient to relax and blow his problems out to the universe. Neither he nor I was prepared for what happened. He started to literally froth at the mouth, producing so dramatic an amount of saliva that he started drooling all over his shirt and we needed some tissues to clean things up.
As of an eight month follow-up, the patient, who has learned how to do EFT himself, has not needed it for this symptom. We suggested some alternate forms of “artificial saliva” or salivary stimulants which he may use minimally, but has had no need to do so in the past several weeks. He has had no further dental damage and cannot remember the last time he required pilocarpine.
Estelle Toby Goldstein, M.D. is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is licensed to practice in the state of California. She holds a valid license from the DEA to write prescriptions, but is an expert in nutritional therapies involving vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other cutting-edge treatments. Her philosophy includes working with other professionals to get the best treatment for her patient. Medical specialists in other fields, psychotherapists and alternative practitioners are among her allies in her pursuit of optimum treatment for her patients.
Dr. Goldstein's philosophy is "Whatever It Takes!" Her goal is to do everything possible to solve whatever problem she is presented. This includes seeing patients as quickly as possible - not making them wait weeks for an appointment. This includes making appointments days, nights, weekends or holidays. This includes making house-calls. And it includes using the best, most innovative treatments available -- most of which are unknown to standard, mainstream doctors.