Information on methods of Food Intolerance and Allergy Testing
Intolerance testing is simple, quick and effective with Vegatest: and
with no needles or blood tests, it's painless too!
Do I need to be tested?
It is estimated that as many as 20-30% of the UK population find that they suffer from an allergy or intolerance to foods they eat, additives used in food production, or substances
in their environment. An indication that you might have an intolerance would be the presence of some of the following
symptoms:
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Excessive belching or flatulence |
Tingling in throat, mouth or lips |
Constipation or diarrhoea |
Chronically congested sinuses |
Unpleasant taste in the mouth |
Painful, red, swollen & watery eyes |
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There are many ways in which you can be tested for sensitivities to substances.
I use the Vega system because I find it to be fast, efficient and flexible in determining negative reactions. I have
practiced this method for 10 years now and the feedback I have received from people who have been to see me is that the advice
they have been given has led to a general improvement in their health; with wellbeing and quality of life improved from the
reduction in troublesome symptoms.
What's involved in a Vega Test?
There are 3 steps involved in effective Vega testing:
The first is to assess the nature of the problem; so initially you will be asked to
give an overview of your health problems and we will explore the presence of any symptoms that may indicate an intolerance
to a food or environmental substance. Depending on the nature of your symptoms, you will most likely be asked about
your diet, lifestyle and work environment; looking for clues as to where the seat of the problem may lie.
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| Intolerance testing with Vegatest |
The second step is to test your reaction to a range of suitable substances using the Vega
machine. During the procedure, you will be asked to hold a hand electrode connected
to the Vegatest instrument, while test ampules are placed in the instrument. Your reaction to each substance is measured
by the use of a stylus held against an acupuncture point on your thumb or big toe;
as demonstrated in this picture. No needles are used. The process is painless and in no way intrusive.
In sensitive people, a mild and brief discomfort is sometimes felt in the point used.
The final step is to discuss with you the outcome of the test. You
will be given details of the substances that tested negatively, along with a full list of all the substances tested.
In a standard test, this would include approximately 150 different products, of which the majority are foods;
although I can also test a range of additives, airborne irritants, pet hairs and chemicals.
The aim of the session is for you to leave with a plan for how to work towards improving your health,
so part of our discussion will involve advice on what to do next. Often, if foods have been identified as potentially
problematic, this will be an elimination diet and food challenge. Equally however, this could involve referring you
to another health professional who could best help and support you.
Every attempt is made to individualise the advice given to suit your personal needs.
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| The Vega machine |
How does it work? The technical bit and comparisons with
other tests.
Vega produce a wide range
of measuring instruments crossing multiple industries. The Vegatest method has developed from electroacupuncture and, using a galvanometer, measures resistance between the skin in
contact with a hand electrode and the skin tested with a measuring stylus when different substances are placed in the machine.
In other words, the machine reads electrical reactions to substances that are suspected of triggering an adverse reaction.
Though the method of measurement is different, the principal
is the same as Applied Kinesiology; although with this system, many more substances can be tested in one sitting, increasing
the likelihood of finding the full range of sensitivities in any one case; and especially minor sensitivities that may be
hidden by an intolerance or allergy to one of the main food groups such as dairy, shellfish or grains
How effective are these tests?
The range of various techniques for measuring allergy and food intolerance have been examined by the
Committee on Toxicity in their report "Adverse reactions to food and food ingredients"1. Whilst
they conclude that there is no evidence to support the use of Kinesiology or Vega testing, this is fundamentally due to a
lack of rigorous trials rather than to a range of trials reporting negatively on the use of the method. The Committee
go on to point out that no tests are infallible: even amongst more widely tested and medically accepted methods of diagnosing
allergies, such as the skin prick test and blood tests, results can be affected by levels of exposure and the precise nature
of the composition of the material being tested. They report positive skin prick tests only having a 50-60% predictive
accuracy2. They also point out the difficulty imposed on using blood tests and skin prick tests for diagnosing
food intolerances, where the mechanism by which intolerances occur in the body is so poorly understood; and on the use of
food diaries by the delayed nature of some allergic reactions that mean responses (symptoms) can sometimes manifest up to 48 hours after exposure. Their conclusion therefore
is that a food challenge (the elimination of a food followed by its reintroduction when symptoms have abated) is a necessary
component of any food intolerance diagnosis. Food elimination and a food challenge is a fundamental part of the vega
test.
Training
in the use of the Vega machine in the UK can only be undertaken by a qualified health professional to ensure that advice you
are given is safe and is based on an understanding of a wide range of health issues.
What else can I be tested for?
I can test a reaction or intolerance to anything that can rest on top of the test area of the instrument.
The machine can read through glass, plastic or clingfilm. Some examples of other products I have been asked to
tested include prescribed medication, metals, beauty products, household products, such as cleaning products and washing powders
and various non-standard foods. If you felt this to be appropriate for you, then you would need to bring samples along
with you for me to test.
I test for amalgam poisoning
as part of the standard test.
You can also have a test to check for vitamin and mineral deficiency on request.
To book a test, please call Ruth on
01793 771820
Monday
- Thursday, 9am - 6pm
1Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (2000) Adverse Reactions
to Food and Food Ingredients. Available at: http://cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/adversereactionstofood.pdf
2
Pg. 80
