Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique

Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique

Alternative medicine / fringe therapies
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, NAET draws on ideas from acupuncture, applied kinesiology, and allergy medicine. Devi Nambudripad claims that NAET is practised over 8500 licensed medical practitioners all over the world.^[1]

Various reviews of the scientific literature on NAET have empasised that there is no reliable evidence for its efficacy,^[2] concluding that the claims of NAET are "unsubstantiated"^[3] and unsupported.^[4] The theoretical basis for the technique^[5] and the related techniques of applied kinesiology^[6][7] have been criticised.

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.^[8]

NAET is promoted by Nambudripad’s Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) who also publish a journal called The Journal of NAET, Energetics & Complementary Medicine.^[9] Such a close relationship between the developer and promoter of a medical treatment and a 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. Effective methods for dealing with the symptoms of an allergy include avoiding the allergen, and pharmacological and immunological interventions.

Scientific investigations

To date, no randomized, double-blind controlled studies have been performed on NAET. Studies performed on applied kinesiology, a main component of NAET practice, have shown the technique to be an unreliable method for diagnosis.^[6][7]

One published case study of a single individual has suggested that 4 weeks of NAET treatment may have relieved eczema in a child that was caused by certain food allergies.^[10] A case study is not, however, strong evidence for effectiveness; on the basis of their case study, the authors recommend the carrying out of randomized, double-blind controlled studies.

The Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique is not grounded in physiology, and current evidence indicates that it is not effective for any condition.^[2][4][5]

One recent review of complementary allergy tests^[3] writes that "NAET has to be the most unsubstantiated allergy treatment proposed to date." Another concludes that "there have been no studies supporting the use of these techniques, and several have refuted their utility."^[4]

Stephen Barrett (of Quackwatch and related health fraud websites), after an examination of the technique and Nambudripad’s credentials, writes that:

“

NAET clashes with the concepts of anatomy, physiology, pathology, physics, and allergy accepted by the scientific community. The story of its “discovery” is highly implausible. Its core diagnostic approach – muscle testing for “allergies” – is senseless and is virtually certain to diagnose nonexistent problems. Its recommendations for dietary restrictions based on nonexistent food allergies are likely to place the patient at great risk for nutrient deficiency, and, in the case of children, at risk for social problems and the development of eating disorders.[5]

”

See also

• Applied kinesiology

References

1. ^ Devi, Eliminate Your Pet's Allergies, Delta Publishing, p. 215, ISBN 978-0-975-927779, http://books.google.com/books?id=ysnFPcJ5dRcC&pg=PA215 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Unorthodox Techniques for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergy, Asthma, and Immune Disorders". Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. 2007-11. http://www.allergy.org.au/content/view/322/271/. Retrieved 2008-07-31. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Morris, A. (2006). "Complementary and Alternative Allergy Tests". Current Allergy & Clinical Immunology 19 (1). 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Teuber, Suzanne S.; Porch-Curren, Cristina (2003). "Unproved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to food allergy and intolerance.". Current Opinion in Allergy & Clinical Immunology 3 (3): 217–221. doi:10.1097/00130832-200306000-00011. PMID 12840706. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Stephen Barrett, M.D.. "Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET)". Chirobase.org. http://www.chirobase.org/06DD/naet.html. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Ludtke R, Kunz B, Seeber N, Ring J. (2001). "Test-retest-reliability and validity of the Kinesiology muscle test.". Complement Ther Med 9 (3): 141–5. doi:10.1054/ctim.2001.0455. PMID 11926427. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Kenney JJ, Clemens R, Forsythe KD. (1988). "Applied kinesiology unreliable for assessing nutrient status.". J Am Diet Assoc. 88 (6): 698–704. 
8. ^ Nambudripad DS. Say Goodbye to Illness. Buena Park, CA: Delta Publishing Co., 1993
9. ^ NARF's website
10. ^ 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). http://casesjournal.com/casesjournal/article/view/5142.