Out-of-Town Patients
Due to the shortage of medical clinics which treat chronic diseases in the way we do, an increasing number of patients are coming to us from outside our immediate area. For them, we offer intensive treatment, individualized to fit their health issues, on the premise that if they are coming to stay with us, we need to make their stay as medically cost-effective as possible.
We begin with a telephone consultation, while they are still at home. This provides us with an overview of their health issues, and allows us to select laboratory studies relevant to their individual circumstances. Specimens are collected and lab results obtained before they come to us. This allows us to get started immediately with therapy.
On arrival, we begin Monday morning with completion of the initial consultation, physical examination, and completion of any additional labs needed, if any. Treatment begins, involving whichever of our various modalities are appropriate to the patient’s individual circumstances. We try to find the “sweet spot” between pushing too hard – which may produce Herxheimer reactions (aggravation of symptoms) and not being aggressive enough – which would waste time and money.
Your individual treatment plan is written before you arrive, and cost estimates can be given on request prior to arrival. All your treatment sessions are scheduled in advance, and your schedule can also be given on request. We do some fine tuning to adjust the schedule, as needed, but generally the planned treatment plan is followed faithfully.
Housing accommodations at the Ojai Retreat (805-646-2536, www.ojairetreat.com) can be had for reasonable prices. The Ojai Retreat (about a mile from our clinic) is located on a hilltop which usually enjoys the clean sea breeze. Most of the rooms have hardwood floors and very little synthetic material and have “passed muster” with some extremely chemically sensitive patients. Views are beautiful from rooms and patios, and the ambience meditative and restful.
We rent HEPA charcoal air cleaners for those requiring additional support, although that is seldom necessary at the Retreat.
Organic meals and foods can be obtained at The Farmer and the Cook (805-640-9608) on El Roblar near the Retreat, or at Rainbow Bridge, 1.5 miles to the east on Matilija.
Ojai is a small town with an active cultural life, largely due to the fact it is heavily populated by actors, artists and screenwriters It is located at the foot of a spectacular mountain range which rises abruptly 5,000 – 7,500 feet from the edge of town, into the Los Padres National Forest and the Condor Refuge. Our air is generally clean, with a wind from the west, off the Pacific, over 90% of the time. There is no significant agriculture upwind from our office or the Retreat (although there are citrus orchards downwind in the east part of the Ojai Valley, some of which use pesticides, which almost never drift our way because of the dominant wind direction). There are several dozen hiking trails in the nearby mountains. Lake Casitas is about 3 miles to the west and has boats for rent. Ventura and its beaches and restaurants are 13 miles down state highway 33, Santa Barbara about 30 miles west through the mountains via Hwy 150 and US 101, and Los Angeles about 75 miles (downwind!) to the southeast on US 101.
Come join us on the road back to health!