Oriental Medicine:Electrodermal Testing, Applied kinesiology, Detoxification Therapy, and Homeopathy

While looking for a homeopathic specialist in allergies someone recommended that I visit an Oriental Medicine Doctor. This particular doctor that I visited utilized multiple techniques including Electrodermal Testing, Applied Kinesiology, Detoxification Therapy, and Homeopathy in working to help my body heal itself.

Defintion:
-Oriental medicine: The term Oriental Medicine may also include other related traditional Asian medical systems such as Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, and Mongolian medicine. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the processes that occur in the human body are intricately related to each other, and the body is also constantly interacting with the external environment. TCM theory looks for the signs of disharmony in the external and internal environment of a person in order to understand, treat and prevent illness and disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine theory is based on a number of philosophical frameworks including the Theory of Yin-yang, the Five Elements, the human body Meridian system, Zang Fu theory, and others. Diagnosis and treatment are conducted with reference to these concepts.

-Electrodermal Testing: Electrodermal Testing instruments are a synthesis of advanced electrical and computer technology and the ancient concepts of Chinese medicine. Known as "chi" in traditional Chinese medicine, bioelectric energy is said to flow through a series of circuits called meridians which can be affected by stimulating the topical acupuncture points of the body.

Although the theory of life-energy (called the vital force in European natural medicine) seems very abstract to logical Western thinking, European researchers have validated the existence of acupuncture points by electrical conductivity readings. In 1951, a researcher named Nivoyet established that acupuncture points do in fact have a slightly lower skin resistance than points elsewhere on the body's surface. Since these topical acupuncture points have a lower electrical resistance compared with other areas on the skin, their conductivity as measured by changes in skin resistance is higher. It is this particularity that is the basis of our ability to electrically read the energy field of the corresponding organs and tissues.

In 1952, Dr. Walter Schmidt examined patients with a variety of known disorders including heart problems, stomach ulcers, etc. He examined the corresponding acupuncture points using electrical current and established that resistance at the relevant acupuncture point increased when the appropriate organ was malfunctioning. In contrast, this resistance remained constant when organ function was not impaired.

In 1953, Dr. Reinhold Voll, a German physician, was the first to consolidate the information from previous research and develop a systematic approach for evaluating the body through skin resistance measurements. Over the last 45 years, German research has led to Electrodermal Testing or Screening being utilized to aid in the determination of the appropriate therapy for the patient as well as to evaluate disturbances in the body.

-Applied Kinesiology (AK): This is a term most commonly used to identify a pseudoscientific system of muscle-testing and therapy. It was initiated in 1964 by George J. Goodheart, Jr., D.C., and has become quite elaborate. Its basic notion is that every organ dysfunction is accompanied by a specific muscle weakness, which enables diseases to be diagnosed through muscle-testing procedures.

-Detoxification Therapy: This form of therapy includes a variety of techniques designed to assist the body in removing the buildup of potentially harmful chemicals and toxins. Practiced by many Naturopaths, as well as some Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Nutritionists, and holistically trained M.D.s, the purpose of the therapy is to improve the body's overall well-being through internal cleansing and purification.

-Homeopathy: This is a comprehensive system of medicine in which practitioners use solutions containing minute amounts of animal, vegetable and/or Mineral substances to promote healing. Homeopathic practitioners (Homeopaths) believe in what they call the "law of similar." This means that "like cures like" and that illnesses can be treated by giving patients a small dose of a substance that produces similar effects to those of the illness. This is the same principle used in allergy treatments and immunizations.

My Experience: Before going in for the appointment the doctor asked me to gather all my medication, vitamins and herbal supplements and bring them with me to the appointment. The first thing the doctor did was use the Electrodermal Screening (see definition above) to gather information and do an initial assessment on my general health.

It is very complicated and difficult for me to explain and all I really know and remember is that I was asked to put a metal rod in one hand and that the therapist/doctor used a probe to touch various meridian points and then keyed in a bunch of stuff on the computer. I am certain there were about 100 more steps in the process, but I can’t seem to recall all of them.

The therapist/doctor told me that the initial reading was literally off the chart and that she had never experienced such an unhealthy reading. Once she took the reading she then used Applied Kinesiology (see definition above) to determine not only if the medications, vitamins and herbal supplements that I was taking were good for me or not, but also if the dosages were the correct ones for me. She determined that half of the medications I was on were considered to be unhealthy for me. No surprise here!

The therapist/doctor then went back to her initial assessment and began analyzing the results to determine which organs were unhealthy and what the problems were. She also used her findings to determine if I had any bacteria or viruses. It was all very complicated to me and slightly confusing.

Next the therapist/doctor picked the areas of greatest concern and began making homeopathic remedies (see above definition) for me to take. She again used Applied Kinesiology to determine the correct dosage and to double check that indeed I needed each particular remedy.

When I left her office I carried with me about 14 bottles of liquid that I was supposed to take several times per day and at a variety of dosages. It was like having my own personal chemistry set! I believe I stayed with this program for about 4 months. And over that time the number of bottles of homeopathic remedies grew to probably 40. I had to create quite a system to remember times, dosages etc… along with all my other prescribed medications and supplements.

What happened, the doctor told me in advance to expect this was that I became sicker and sicker. The body was Detoxifying and all these toxins were flooding my body and until they were flushed out I was going to feel like death. And the problem kept escalating month after month. Finally I decided I had enough. I contacted the doctor and asked about not trying everything at once and to let me know if there was an expected time frame for the whole death like feeling to go away. I really didn’t get the response I was looking for. So I made a decision to stop the treatment.

I feel like each of these techniques independently of each other has potentially healing benefits. But doing all of them at once is going to be tough on a healthy person much less some one who has trouble just getting out of bed! Overwhelming the body in any capacity is counter productive to the healing process. Balance is the key and this is where I had to learn that I was responsible for making my health care decisions and that a balanced approach is always the best approach.

Would I do it again: The jury is still out on this one. The techniques, independent of each other I think all have great value. I am not certain if it was a total overload on my system, the wrong method for me or the wrong timing.