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Wow, people do seem to enjoy getting tested medically or quasi medically. They seem to relish the whole scientific method, forming a hypothesis, the testing process, getting a "working" diagnosis and the like. In fact, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on medical and alternative medical tests each year.
As any good clinician knows, a lot of testing is unnecessary. A good history, exam, and eyeballing the client will lead to the proper conclusion over 90% of the time. But people do love their tests. I see many new clients who bring in a sheaf of papers of "screening" alternative tests: allergy testing medical and alternative, adrenal profiles, hormone panels, candida antigens and no one has any idea what to do with them until they get to me and we get to work. On occasion, even conventional medical tests like the PSA for men are called into question. In addition, even the very best of tests are only about 75-80% accurate, so it is important to choose a practioner with great clinical skills. Some tests are downright quackery and live cell microscopy may fall into this category.
People are impressed with the images of their blood on a darkfield microscope and are given health and nutritional advice based on these images. Often this advice is alarmingly similar, I've discovered. Some of the "findings" I've been hearing about are:
- Excess protein in the blood
- Fermenting RBC's caused by mold or yeast overgrowth
- Bacterial mold toxicity
- Basophiles in the RBC's due to latent allergies
- Crystals in the blood due to excess proteins or leaky gut
- Toxic infection of the RBC's
Unfortunately, none of these "findings" has any basis in fact or real science according to microbiology experts. See quackwatch.com for details about this testing.
Upon the patient's findings, interventions such as expensive detox or cleansing programs are employed. They may or may not involve colon hydrotherapy. Expensive supplements are prescribed and people are asked to return frequently for updated testing and supplements. Sometimes their symptoms improve for a couple of weeks due to the placebo effect but in time this wears off and the client is no better off and his wallet lighter.
When I was training in acupuncture in China we shared this anecdote. If a westerner opened a clinic in China and gave the same exact antibiotic treatment to each person a few patients might be helped. If an easterner opened a clinic here and gave the same chinese herbs to each patient a few people would be helped but most would not be. There are two concerns with this testing: number one, people delay real exploration and treatment and get worse, they ignore important symptoms requiring medical treatment and get worse, AND they tend to become dismissive towards alternative medicine due to these experiences.
My advice? Seek a reputable practitioner with a solid reputation in alternative care. An ND or nutritionist has solid western training and knows when to refer out and also will have higher standards regarding testing using hopefully the scientific method AND experience to make clinical judgements. Clients: STOP wasting your time and money chasing your symptoms for entertainment sake and sit down, commit and WORK with someone reputable.
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Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN
Naturopath
Acupuncturist
Clinical Nutritionist
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Chinese Herbs
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Arlington Heights, IL
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