Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques
| Alternative medicine | |
|---|---|
| Claims | Allergies can be diagnosed with muscular testing and cured with subsequent acupuncture or acupressure treatments and dietary restrictions. |
| Related fields | Acupressure, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Applied kinesiology |
| Year proposed | 1983 |
| Original proponents | Devi Nambudripad |
| See also | Applied kinesiology |
Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) is a non-invasive, drug free, alternative therapy intended as a treatment for allergies and chemical sensitivities. Founded in 1983 by Devi Nambudripad, a California based acupuncturist and chiropractor, NAET draws on ideas from acupuncture, applied kinesiology, and allergy medicine. Nambudripad claims that NAET is practised over 8500 licensed medical practitioners all over the world.[1]
A French article, listed in the medical literature, describes NAET to be useful when combined with traditional methods in treating allergies.[2]
Background
Devi Nambudripad was a licensed chiropractor and student acupuncturist at the time she developed NAET. Whilst experiencing a reaction to eating carrot she attempted to overcome the reaction through a self-administered acupuncture treatment. After the treatment the reaction to eating carrot did not return. At the time of the acupuncture treatment, a remnant of carrot was on her skin, and Nambudripad concluded from this that the presence of a minute quantity of carrot during the acupuncture treatment was the key to the treatment. She then proceeded to develop the theory of NAET on the principle that contact with a small amount of an allergen during an acupuncture or acupressure session can remove reactions to food and other substances.[3]
NAET is promoted by Nambudripad’s Allergy Research Foundation (NAR Foundation) who also publish a journal called The Journal of NAET, Energetics & Complementary Medicine.[4] Such a close relationship between the developer and promoter of a medical treatment and the journal intended to research it presents a conflict of interest.
Technique
The theory of NAET suggests that allergies develop due to energy blockages, and that allergies can be eliminated by addressing these energy blockages through the use of acupuncture or acupressure. NAET practitioners use a form of Applied kinesiology to compare the strength of a muscle before and during contact with a potential allergen. NAET practitioners will then aim to remove energy blockages by having the patient hold a glass bottle containing the allergen whilst acupressure or acupuncture techniques are employed. After treatment, patients rest 20 minutes while continuing to hold the jar containing the allergen, after which time the patient will again be tested for an allergic reaction using the muscle strength test. If the NAET practitioner determines the allergy has cleared, the patient is advised to avoid the allergic substance for the following 25 hours. Patients are instructed to return for retesting with NAET between 25 hours and 7 days after the treatment.[citation needed]
NAET treatment itself does not have documented side effects, but its effectiveness in the treatment of mild, moderate or severe allergies is not scientifically proven yet. Effective methods for dealing with the symptoms of an allergy include avoiding the allergen. However, pharmacological and immunological interventions that are known to conventional medicine also have side effects, including anaphylaxis and death.[5][unreliable medical source?]
Scientific investigations
A randomized, blind study showed 23 out of 26 children treated with NAET returned to regular school after one year of follow-up. All 30 children in the control arm, who did not receive NAET, remained in special education after the same time period. In addition, the experimental group experienced a significant reduction in allergy symptoms compared to the controls. The authors did state that more research needs to be completed before making any final conclusions.[6][unreliable medical source?]
A case study of a child, published in Cases Journal has suggested that four weeks of NAET treatment relieved eczema that may have been caused by food allergies.[7][unreliable medical source?]
See also
References
- ^ Nambudripad, Devi, Eliminate Your Pet's Allergies, Delta Publishing, p. 215, ISBN 978-0-975-927779
{{citation}}: Text "2006" ignored (help) - ^ Savornin, S. (2011). "Psychosomatic approach to allergies". Soins. 760.
- ^ Nambudripad DS. Say Goodbye to Illness. Buena Park, CA: Delta Publishing Co., 1993
- ^ NARF's website
- ^ Slomski, A. (2011). "Treatment rather than avoidance may be within reach for children with food allergies". Journal of American Medical Association. 307 (4).
- ^ Teitelbaum, J. (Oct/Nov 2011). "Improving Communication Skills in Children With Allergy-related Autism Using Nambudripad's Allergy Eliminaton Techniques: A Pilot Study" (PDF). Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal. 10 (5).
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Terwee, CB. (2008). "Successful treatment of food allergy with Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) in a 3-year old: A case report". Cases Journal. 1 (1).