The Doctor Gluten Project

Rachel asks: “Many people I talk to - and children I work with - have gone to homeopaths to get help with their diets/conditions.  People recommend a muscle test done by a homeopath to diagnose food reaction.  (I understand this is where a vial with a substance such as gluten is held in your hand and they push your arm down to see if this weakens you - if it does you must be allergic).

However, I am totally sceptical about this and “on-line” references that I have found are not at all supportive.  Do you have any thoughts about this kind of testing and how valid it is?  In my opinion, I would prefer to see them tested with a blood test.”  Regards, Rachel

I Reply:

Hi Rachel

Thank for your question and comments.  I agree. I am also sceptical about the muscle testing procedure.

I strongly recommend that people get tested with a blood test (see my blood test page elsewhere).  In the eyes of the medical profession this gives the Gluten Sensitivity diagnosis a legitimate and solid foundation.  It is also very important to make a firm diagnosis of coeliac disease: this diagnosis needs the tTG test and also usually an endoscopic biopsy).

Naturopath and Homeopaths very often recommend dairy, soy and gluten free to a lot of people without an acceptable level of diagnostic testing.  Every day I see these people who subsequently want a more stringent and accurate diagnosis.

I hope that this helps. Cheers, Dr Rodney Ford