TestingEnvironmental Medicine Physicians specialize in looking at the total person, and take into account his physical, environmental and emotional stressors. In the manner of their mentor Theron Randolph, M.D., they will take an extensive history from their patients to determine the cause of their patient's health problems in order to avoid just treating symptoms. This is usually done by a detailed questionnaire and a long first consult. The history will include the patient's heredity, past and current residence and work environment, chemical exposure, surgeries and medications, pregnancies, etc. and symptoms.
Laboratory tests which carefully examine the immune system and detoxification mechanisms would be ordered. Nutritional status, and intestinal health and function are areas of focus. These tests, together with the patient's personal and environmental history, will guide the Environmental Medicine physician toward a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Scans, urinalysis, stool analyses, etc would also be ordered as deemed important for each patient's particular needs.
Environmental Medicine physicians test for allergies/sensitivities because exposure to common chemicals can cause environmental sensitivity as well as health injury. Resultant sensitivity to foods, chemicals, molds, pollens, etc. (sometimes unknown to the patient) can cause reactions which affect every organ system of the body. Combinations of these symptoms are often diagnosed as named diseases. Testing can consist of:
Additional Ways to Test Yourself
- Intradermal Testing - During these tests, a patient's skin response and symptom response will be carefully monitored, recorded and addressed in the treatment regime. Patients will often experience the symptoms caused by their particular allergens in the testing office! For instance, an injection of a dairy antigen may provoke a patient to become very sleepy, have pain, or have cognitive function problems. Or, as is often the case in children, have mood swings. This type of testing is a real eye opener to patients as the connection between a particular food and a particular symptom has been revealed and proven. Patients can then avoid positive-reacting items or have antigens of their allergens made to neutralize reactions. Neutralizing antigen doses can be given before exposure to a known allergen to prevent a reaction, after an exposure to an allergen to help overcome a reaction, and to diminish reactions from allergens in the future. (1)
- The ELISA/ACT blood test which measures lymphocyte changes to reveal delayed food, chemical, mold and animal dander sensitivities. This type of reaction can be delayed for three weeks! Thus, a fatigued person or someone in pain would never be able to connect exposure to a food or everyday chemical to a reaction/symptom. And symptoms are most likely to be chronic as exposures to common foods and everyday chemicals are ongoing. (2)
- The RAST blood test for immediate reacting food allergens. (3)
Resources
- The book The Pulse Test by Arthur F. Coca, M.D. instructs chronically ill people how to test for reactions by taking their pulse. As stated on the book cover "...your pulse pattern is as unique as your fingerprints; you will have discovered what that pattern is. Dr. Coca explains how and why your pulse rate is accelerated by exposure to substances to which you are allergic. The author presents step-by-step instructions on how you can give yourself his absolutely safe, foolproof pulse test to discover the causes of your allergies."
- Similarily, breathing can be affected by allergens. Doris Rapp, M.D. will often teach mothers how to use a Peak Flow Meter (PFM) to test children who have "asthma, irritable or reactive airway disease or a cough after exercising, laughing, being exposed to cold air, or drinking cold beverages." There are child and adult PFM's. Dr. Rapp also teaches mothers how to have their children write and draw pictures before and after eating or drinking, or exposure to common chemicals. The ability to draw and write, as well as mood can be affected by allergens. Her book Is This Your Child's World explains these procedures as well as pulse testing for children.
- The "Multiple Elimination Diet" and "The Rotation Diet" are very helpful in weeding out immediate-reacting foods. A diet/environment diary can also be very helpful. By recording foods eaten, chemical, dust and mold exposure, and symptoms on a daily basis, patterns of exposures and symptoms can be revealed.
1. To locate an Environmental Medicine physician for testing, contact the:
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
6505 E. Central Suite 296
Wichita, KS 67206
316-684-5500
2. The blood test for delayed allergies (up to three weeks!) to foods, chemicals, molds, etc. can be ordered by any physician, and in some states by chiropractors. A blood draw kit will be furnished. The test is not covered by insurance and costs $595.00 for 307 items to be tested. Attention: The positive results of the ELISA/ACT test may be discounted because the patient perceives no problem with the food or chemical. And, items they may be aware they are sensitive to are not listed as positive. This is because this test reveals allergens from three hours after contact up to three weeks. It will not show items known to be allergens unless they are both immediate and delayed reactors. (Immediate reacting allergens may also be unknown due to chronic exposure to them.)
ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies, Inc.
2 Pidgeon Hill Drive, Suite 410
Sterling, VA 20165
800-553-54723. A blood test for both immediate and delayed reactions to 88 foods can also be done by a blood draw kit. Contact:
Genova Diagnostics (formerly Great Smokies Lab)
63 Zillicoa St.
Asheville, NC 28801
828-253-06214. Share, Care and Prayer offers free copies of "The Rotation Diet," "The Multiple Elimination Diet," and a sample "Diet/Environment Diary" form. We also sell Dr. Theron Randolph's book An Alternative Approach to Allergy for $16.00 plus $1.59 for shipping. (California residents, please add sales tax.) Anyone who suffers from allergy and chronic illnesses should take the time to read about Environmental Medicine. (4)
May God guide you to a correct diagnosis and healing of your symptoms.
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