About the hair test
By testing a sample of your hair we can diagnose allergies and vitamin or mineral deficiencies in your diet.
The unique Allergenics approach to the hair test makes it easy for you to exclude the substances you are most allergic to from your diet or surroundings. Or to correct vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
We won't just give you a long list of substances to avoid - we'll tell you which are most likely to be your triggers. So you can start by addressing those. And every Allergenics hair test comes with your own personal test report and prescription from a qualified naturopath.
How the hair test works
The Allergenics hair test is affordable, accurate and non-invasive. You don't even need an appointment. Just send us a small lock of your hair.
The hair test procedure is based on an electro-acupuncture diagnostic method that has been popular in Europe for over thirty years. The electronic equipment we use to test your hair was designed Dr. Reinhold Voll of Germany. The process is commercially referred to as EAV (Electro-acupuncture According to Voll) testing.
Using our EAV machine, we expose your hair sample to different foods, additives and other substances and measure the changes in the electro-magnetic resonance of your hair that result. We then score your results for relative sensitivity.
In the same way, we can test for vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
Are hair test results reliable?
The hair test is one of the most popular and effective forms of allergy testing.
The results of EAV testing have been compared to standard diagnostic methods (RAST, serum IGE, intra-dermal allergy skin testing, food rechallenge testing and allergy history analysis).
EAV testing results were the most effective and accurate, along with food rechallenging testing, which is widely considered the most effective of the standard methods.
But with the hair test, there is no risk of being exposed to an allergen, no pain or discomfort and minimal disruption to your life. What's more, the hair test is a more efficient way of testing, making it more affordable for more people.
Order your hair test now - hair testing, diagnosis and your own personal test report and prescription from a qualified naturopath for just NZ$109.00
- Order an allergy test
- Order a vitamin and mineral test
More about the hair test
Electro-acupuncture has been used in Europe for nearly thirty years to determine the abnormality, pathogenesis or energy imbalance of the body.
At Allergenics, we use the same approach to test a small lock of your hair.
The original device used a galvanometer designed to measure the skin's electrical activity at designated acupuncture points. Instead of testing your skin, one of our specially trained naturopaths will test your hair sample with our EAV machine. The testing procedure allows us to measure your potential sensitivity to a large range of food and other substances. Our unique scoring system lets us prioritise the irritants for you.
The EAV equipment consists of a galvanometer with two probes attached, a positive and a negative one. This testing procedure combines quantum physics, biofeedback and bioresonance providing a leading system for body analysis.
The principle of electro-acupuncture
In the original electro-acupuncture testing, the tester holds the negative electrode in one hand. The probe, which constitutes the positive electrode, is used to press upon the selected acupuncture point on the client's hand. A reading will then appear on the galvanometer. If the measurement reads "50", it indicates that the organ or system associated with that particular acupuncture point is free of pathological problems.
If the initially measured maximum value decreases and settles at a lower value, it is called an "indicator drop".
Voll considered the indicator drop to be the most important criteria for determining disturbance of organ function. It is hypothesized that when function of the organ or a system is disturbed, the bioelectric resistance of the organ or system is unable to maintain a fixed resistance with respect to the incoming current. As a result, new equilibrium is established at a lower reading level. That is, when an organ or system is stressed, the reading on the galvanometer will be lower than "50".
The hair test for allergy testing
With the above in mind, allergy is considered to be a pathogenic entity which can be measured by this electro-acupuncture method.
The difference between allergy testing for food and the original EAV method is that the allergy testing technique uses actual food items to determine allergic reactions to these particular items. Here the tester holds the negative probe in one hand while the client holds the positive probe.
If a particular food item is placed on an aluminium plate, which is attached to the galvanometer, and the indicator drops, this is said to demonstrate the presence of allergy to the food item. If a diluted form of the food extract (resembling a homeopathic preparation) is placed on the aluminium plate, and equilibrium of "50" should be re-established. This method can be used to test for other allergic substances such as inhalants.
Hair Test Procedure
Hair testing for allergy is based on the above principle but the client is absent. In place of the client, a small lock of hair is all that is required to do the testing. The hair sample goes on the metal plate in a small zip lock bag. The hair provides an energetic pattern of the body, indicating issues that might require attention.
The tester holds the negative probe in their left hand. In the right hand is another probe much like a pen which is gently placed on the acupuncture point on the first finger of the left hand of the tester. A small copper cup is then placed over the food, environmental irritant or vitamin and mineral homeopathic sample which are in small vials. This creates a full circuit from the possible allergen, hair sample and EAV tester (in food allergy testing, various foods and food additives are used in the testing procedure).
A reading is then reached somewhere between 0 and 100 (remember that 50 is the baseline and seen as neutral or equilibrium). A reading lower that 50 indicates a sensitivity i.e. the food may be draining energy from the person but the individual is not allergic to the food. A reading over 50 indicates inflammation and irritation in the body and possibly the presence of an allergy to the food.
Hair Test Validity
Most conventional tools for diagnosing food allergy are unreliable including skin tests (1). The skin test for allergy requires the client to be placed in direct contact with the allergen. This introduces an element of risk to the client as it is unpredictable how the body will react. The most reliable method of testing for food allergies and intolerances is to eliminate the food from the diet and then to rechallenge, observing for any possible reactions or reintroduction of symptoms.
The EAV hair testing method removes that risk factor for the client, but is the result reliable?
In a study comparing five diagnostic measures (history, food challenge, skin, RAST and IgE) with the EAV allergy testing method, EAV testing evidenced a high degree of compatibility with the other testing methods, particularly the food challenge test (2). Moreover, the EAV test method was non-invasive and highly sensitive. It is also a more time-saving and cost-effective method of testing.
Order your hair test now - hair testing, diagnosis and your own personal test report and prescription from a qualified naturopath for just NZ$109.00
- Order an allergy test
- Order a vitamin and mineral test
- Or contact us to find out more
References:
(1) Draper, W.L.: Food Testing Allergy, Intradermal Provocative vs. Deliberate Feeding. Arch. Otolaryng, 95: 169-171 (1972).
(2) Tseui, J.J. et al: A Food Allergy Study Utilising the EAV Acupuncture Technique.
www.biomeridian.com/allergy-study.htm accessed 10/11/2008
