What is Bio-resonance Testing?

How it all began

The first Bio-resonance machine was introduced in 1978 by the German doctor of medicine and dentistry Dr Helmut Schimmel. It was the first Bioenergetic or Electrodermal testing device, and has proved since then to be an extremely valuable tool in the analysis of both acute and chronic conditions of ill-health. This is particularly so in many cases of feeling not right but not having obvious symptoms, of vague symptoms that do not correspond with a clear medical diagnosis, of treatment-resistant conditions and complicated, long-standing or changing conditions of allergy, environmental poisoning and hidden infection.

The use of Bio-resonance testing combines Traditional Acupuncture theory and Classical Homeopathic theory. An experienced practitioner is able to quickly obtain information about many of the stress factors that come from the environment and which are not usually considered in normal medical testing such as:

  - Heavy Metal Poisoning,
  - Toxin such as Pesticides, Environmental Poisons, Pcb's etc.,
  - Hidden infections that are contributing to the overall toxicity such as dental infections.

Some testers, who are not usually health professionals, test only for allergies and for mineral and vitamin deficiencies but they do not exploit the full potential of thesystem to track down and unmask the root causes of disease.

Readings are taken from acupuncture points of very low electrical vibrations from within the body, and they are compared with homeopathic potencies or native substances that are put in the circuit. No needles are used, the readings being taken by the tester who touches the test probe to the point on the surface of the patient's skin. The person being tested has another probe which they hold in their hand, thus completing the circuit. If the normal reading is lowered it indicates that the substance in the circuit with the patient at that time is relevant for them and they could be poisoned by it or that it represents an intolerance.

The really powerful aspect of bio-resonance testing, is in the detective work that is possible following the identification of the relevant stress factors and the stressed organs in the patient's body. This is done by a technique called filtering and it involves placing 2 or more test substances in the circuit with the patient at the same time. This enables a skilled tester to gather much more precise and useful information about the patient's condition. This is not possible by a tester who is only testing for allergies, which in most cases are actually secondary symptoms to the primary stress factors and will only be resolved when the causal roots are removed from the patient's . The filtering technique determine the relationships between the various indications, for example to find:
the most stressed organs,
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  - key blocking factors to a person's ability to apply their own immune system,
  - organs that are most affected by a chemical or heavy metal toxin or by electromagnetic stress,
  - the origin of chain reactions that have occurred in the body,
  - the location in the jaw of a root canal or a filling that is disturbing the whole body's functioning.

The bio-resonance machine is also used therapeutically to test for the effectiveness of remedies or medicines before they are taken. Remedies that indicate improved Biological Vitality or which filter positively against a stressed organ are considered to be effective.

The technology first appeared in 1978, the first Bioenergetic testing device. The technology, which is now partly computerised, takes the testing possibilities to a greater level of precision, particularly in the analysis of Residual Toxins (from unresolved previous illness, negative vaccination effects, viral fragments, pharmaceutical and chemical toxicities etc.).

More recently there has been the development of the Vegacheck which provides Energy Screening ~ a general overview before the main testing that enables the tester to identify general trends. This includes an assessment of energy distribution in different areas of the body, of areas where the body does not adapt well under stress and of the likely location of blocks to normal function and normal recovery.

As with many new techniques, bio-resonance testing has been misunderstood and been the subject of some genuine criticism based on real concerns. The misunderstandings have arisen because very few individuals have a working knowledge of modern medicine, acupuncture theory, homeopathy and electronics.
Dr Reinholdt Voll, whose original work in the 50s, 60s and 70s led to the development of the Vega machine, was adept in all these 4 areas. His original research was to investigate whether measurements taken from acupuncture points could be linked to the pathology in the organ after which the acupuncture meridian was named. He did indeed show this link and also went on to demonstrate that his electro-acupuncture system could be used to test the effectiveness of medicines being considered to remedy the pathology.

This was revolutionary at the time, and in orthodox medical terms it is still revolutionary. For those health professionals who have trained and become proficient in the use of the Vega system this effectiveness test is very basic. It is a fundamental part of the approach to health in terms of restoring biological energy and vitality that is at the heart of this system.

The two areas of genuine concern revolve around the reliability of the test results, including their overlap with orthodox medical testing, and the practitionership and clinical excellence of the tester.

Reliability

Many of the areas of testing that are possible with bio-resonance testing are either not acknowledged as relevant by more orthodox approaches or else there is no comparable orthodox test for them. These can not therefore be compared. This includes Geopathic stress, Radiation stress, electromagnetic stress, foci of infection, functional organ stress before damage or disease is observable, some chemical and heavy metal toxicity factors, nutritional overloads, and several other environmental stress factors.

The reliability of the test very much depends on the skill of the operator and can take a number of years to be proficient in the test. There has been some controversy on the web, not necessarily with the results discovered with the Vega test but with the reproducibility of the indications by different testers. It has been illustrated repeatedly in clinical trials in Germany that the most important factor in reliability is the expertise of the tester and not the system itself. Also as the patient makes progress with their healing other toxins can be detected which may have not been identified with the first testing. It can be likened to layers of an onion a different toxicity factors are resolved other factors are identified to be resolved.

When considering disease and pathological factors, bio-resonance testing gives a positive indication before there is demonstrable pathology i.e. when there is functional disturbance but the body is still regulating itself well enough for there to be no symptoms yet. This does not make for fair comparisons either, since medical tests usually require there to be a symptom to measure whereas this system can give an earlier warning that things are not working as well as they could even though there is no damage or disease. Hence its usefulness in Health Maintenance and Prevention of illness.

Overlap with conventional medical tests

Bioenergetic testing overlaps with orthodox testing and is not necessarily an alternative but an adjunct. Its usefulness is in indicating environmental stress factors and intolerances, in assessing progress towards improved biological vitality, in the early detection of functional stresses that are precursors to disease, and in the testing of remedies and medicaments for effectiveness before they are taken by the patient. It is also useful for people who are concerned about health maintenance, prevention and a wellness lifestyle. In areas of developed pathology, such as cancer, heart disease, and slow-growing tumours, it is not as useful or reliable as conventional blood tests, X-rays and scans.

I was fortunate enough to be personally trained by the late John Morley and I now offer practitioner level training in advanced bio-resonance testing.

Reference and acknowledgements: This article is based on information given to Philip by the late John Morley and from Dr. Schimmel's book on Functional Medicine.