Muscle testing for Food Allergy?

I came across a note from a visit to the chiropractor in May that reminded me I meant to post the results of muscle testing for allergies. First, let me say that I believe there is value in this testing (which is part of applied kinesiology), but I have some reservations about it. I've tried it at various times over the years and it's helpful but not foolproof, at least for me.

Basically, it works like this. Someone who is experienced in this method tests your strength (usually arm strength) while you are exposed to different substances. For foods and supplements, you might actually have a taste in your mouth; although just holding the substance is usually enough to get a result. (I suspect that tasting it might be more accurate but I could be wrong.) If your strength goes down, the substance is probably not helpful to you; you may be allergic to it.

I've found that when my strength decreases dramatically, the results seem to be consistent with my own experience or conventional allergy testing. However, when it stays the same or seems to even get stronger, is not always consistent. For instance, I test "strong" for vitamin B supplements that contain yeast (probably because I need B vitamins), but I am allergic to yeast. On the occasions that I took the supplement anyway (having failed to read the small-print list of ingredients), I felt sick afterwards. Sometimes I felt "under the weather" for several days until I investigated the label and discontinued the supplement. Yeah, this happened several times before I learned to put on my glasses and read the small print before buying.

This strength testing is controversial; it does not work for everybody. But I think that for some of us it is a way to tap into the subconscious part of the mind which has stored away things of which we may or may not be consciously aware.

Anyway, Dr. M tested multiple bottles of food samples, first in groups and then for any group that decreased my strength, individually. I did not know what was in the bottles. I reacted to refined sugar, swiss cheese and soy. When he told me what they were, I was not surprised because I have learned the hard way to avoid sugar, all cow dairy, and most soy (although soy yogurt and soy lecithin seem to be okay for me). I asked him if he could tell whether non-refined sugar was okay for me. He found a sample of raw sugar and tested me; I did not react. Perhaps that's because refined sugar picks up chemicals (such as bleaches and stabilizers) during processing. I don't think I should start using packets of raw sugar though; stevia works fine for me and has fewer carbs.

I have other food allergies that the testing did not pick up, so it's not something that one should depend upon, but it can provide a clue. If you want to read a list of my food allergies, see the end of my 2006 post on health food stores. And by the way, since then I have discovered that Better Thymes in Front Royal is a nice natural foods store. It's a few doors down from Martins Supermarket which has an aisle of health food including some wheat-free items.