My French Acupuncturist suggested today (February 1, 2013) that I be tested for food intolerances (which are not the same as allergies - just as my Kinesiologist said) at a Parisian lab which takes a blood sample and tests for 250 items. Since I have confidence in my Kinesiologist's muscle testing work performed in 1984, I would do the blood test only to compare the two methods. But as my Doctor said, Kinesiology is subjective and one can't be assured of the results or finding a competent one. There are apparently 4 such labs in Paris. This would appear the best road to follow for most people. I assume the same service is available in the United States and elsewhere. See August 19, 2016 blog post for allergy testing.
One added comment: Refer to this page on muscle testing to understand that when the body is balanced energetically through Chinese medicine derived energy therapies, the muscles are strengthened. A stressed organism loses muscle strength. Optimal diet therefore reduces stress on the vascular system preventing blood reflux into the brain, it can heal damaged tissue, and by preventing an "unbalanced" electromagnetic energy field in the body it can actually strengthen the muscles.
I just watched (July 12, 2012) a January 27, 2011 interview which Dr. Wahls gave to Katie Roche. She states she stopped taking the MS medication in order to heal, but gives no advice on how she got off of it, what effects the withdrawal had. She gives no advice or warning. She recommends using a device for neuro-muscular electrical stimulation in order to develop atrophied muscles on her back. She is apparently unaware she is working on the Bladder Meridien (Chinese Medicine) which stimulates blood circulation in the brain. She does not say the true cause of MS is a blood reflux which injures the brain and spinal cord. She recovered by 1) de-toxifying from the MS medication which was poisoning her as well as food toxins 2) nourishing herself optimally with paleo diet food and nutritional supplements 3) progressive exercise and 4) neuro-muscular electrical stimulation which enhances blood/cerebrospinal fluid circulation. She, like about 2/3 MS patients, probably does not have a CCSVI structural vein stenosis and cannot benefit from angioplasty. Her blood reflux, or poor blood/cerebrospinal fluid circulation, must have been due to stress compressed veins/valves which were relaxed by the non toxic diet as well as the electrical stimulation and then her brain healed thanks to the nourishment of this diet.
Here I will explain the basic principles of Muscle Testing which were derived from Chinese Medicine theory and practice. I received a diploma as an Acupressure Massage Therapist in 1987 from the Berkeley Acupressure Institute, and though I only practiced on myself, family and friends. I know what I’m writing about. (I also took several workshops from Dr. Jimmy Scott on his “Health Kinesiology” therapy.)
The foundation course is based on Chiropractor John F. Thie’s book Touch For Health, (Copyright 1973) a course anyone can take. It is founded on the American do-it-yourself principle and intended to train people to help themselves and their loved ones.
There are 12 Organ Meridians and 2 supplementary meridians (Central and Governing.) Each Meridian corresponds to one or several muscles. For instance, the main thigh Quadriceps muscle corresponds to the Small Intestines Meridian. When the Meridian is “balanced”, the muscle is strong. When the Meridian is “blocked or unbalanced”, the muscle is weak. This can be demonstrated, you can learn to do it yourself. One can strengthen the Meridian by deep massage of Neurolymphatic points, or by holding specific acupuncture points, all shown in the book. (One can also brush the meridian from it’s source point to its ending point.) In the course, to teach muscle testing, a meridan is chosen and strengthened and then a corresponding muscle is tested for strength. Then the Meridan is weakened and one tests the corresponding muscle which indeed loses strength. (The only meridian which should never be weakened is the heart meridian.) At first you are taught to strengthen all the meridians, testing corresponding muscles to confirm they are “balanced”,and only after all the meridians have been strengthened can it be said that the person has been “balanced”.
A Kinesiologist shortens the process of meridian balancing by working on points around the navel to test how all the meridians are functioning and then “balances” only those in need of it. Then begins a process of ”ask the body” what issue needs to be addressed using the arm alone for muscle testing. If the answer is yes, the arm muscle is strong, if no, the muscle is weak. (Kinesiologists may vary the technique.)
That is how food intolerances are determined as well as the individualized diet.
Stress of any kind can throw a meridian out of balance, which explains why stress can actually weaken the muscles and the body in general. Therefore consider that in MS loss of muscle strength can occur for 2 major reasons. 1) damage to the nervous system and 2) “unbalanced” acupuncture meridians. Diet that “balances”the meridians can go a long way to strengthen the muscular system which can well precede healing in the nervous system.
I resumed the “paleo-macrobiotic”, veggie juice, gluten free diet around January 17, 2012. Mid March the muscles on the outside of my right leg began to cramp up and “work”. I could pull the leg up in physical therapy without simply using the Quadricep thigh muscle. I was surprised that after only 2 months of detox diet part of the dormant nervous system began to work. (The first time around in 1984-85 it took a year for “dead” nerves to work.)
It doesn’t really make sense that the myelin sheath would heal in such a short time. Then late March I developed a bladder infection which weakened me and eventually I took antibiotics to treat it. As usual this threw my Acupuncture meridians out of balance, my bladder didn’t empty well, my legs were clumsy. Were the nerves affected, or simply the meridians which control the muscles? Also the recent improvement in the leg disappeared. Once off the antibiotics, my legs and balance strengthened and 2 days later the muscles outside the leg reaching into the buttocks began cramping again and appeared to be working. Are these the nerves? My own impression is that the“blocked” blood flow has resumed to nourish the brain. Maybe the problem isn’t simply a question of periodic blood refluxes but insufficient blood flow into the brain (of course this corresponds to my theory that the circulatory system is “stunted” or insufficient in MS). According to Kinesiology, when the body’s energy circulation is “unbalanced”, blockages can occur everywhere, not just the muscles. Perhaps by removing substances my body cannot tolerate,the energy system re-establishes itself, and the blood can nourish the brain correctly. We shall see. I am surprised at such a rapid response to diet change. I wonder how far it will take me?
So now we return to the problem of medication. I spoke with one MS patient who said the only thing that stopped raging MS attacks for her was Copaxone. So how can she risk going off of it without some back-up help. Each "attack" means brain damage. And who will help her? MS patients are up against the “Semmelweis Reflex”. The Neurologists (not to mention the drug companies) dishing out these medications aren’t likely to admit they are poisoning their patients and those who think so don’t have the authority to do anything about it.
I believe that some day there should be MS drug de-tox centers like there are today for alcohol and drug addictions. I believe the first healing step for MS patients is to de-toxify. And then to nourish the body and brain correctly. A “balanced” meridian system will strengthen the muscles, proper blood flow to the brain will nourish the nervous system. And if there are real structural problems, angiologues can correct them. But we aren’t there yet.