Naturopath Intolerance/Allergy Testing Experience

I got it done and was disappointed. I paid about $100. I know my body well enough to know what I'm sensitive too. With no surprise, dairy came up. I guess if a lot of surprising things came up id say it would be worth it, but it wasn't for me.
My gf however, had a tonne of stuff come back and she's eliminated gluten, dairy and eggs from her diet and I don't think she's lost a significant amount of weight from it. If you've got the money to blow then it's a fun experiment, if not I'd keep the money. You can always do an elimination diet ie stop gluten for a week then reintroduce it and see how your body reacts. That will tell you for free, but will take longer.

segacs wrote: »

OdesAngel wrote: »

Why wouldn't you just go to an allergy doctor?

Same reason people go to psychics or tarot card readers, I guess. They're drawn to mystical woo that has no basis in reality.

+1

Okay, maybe that was a bit snarky of me.

To be fair, a lot of people go to naturopaths and other such folks for these allergy tests because they're at their wits' end with pain or discomfort and medical science hasn't been able to determine a cause or find answers for them.

There are a lot of things that medical science simply doesn't know how to treat. And there are a lot of gaps in the medical system where people are rushed through appointments, kept on long waiting lists, or treated like a list of symptoms instead of a person. And it can be frustrating to go see a doctor for symptoms that are (or feel) real and yet the tests keep coming back negative. I've got a lot of empathy for people in this situation.

Unfortunately, there are always charlatans and snake oil salesmen who are willing to exploit people by promising answers. Some people will believe them. Others will be skeptical but figure, hey, it's worth a try.

Well, it's pretty conclusively shown to be NOT 'worth a try'. Naturopathy has been pretty thoroughly debunked. At best, you're wasting hundreds of dollars to be told nonsense. At worst, you're eliminating foods from your diet that you're not allergic to in the least, and restricting yourself (or your kids) as a result.

But the naturopaths have nice warm-and-fuzzy smiles and plush sofas in their offices and mood music, and they make you feel listened to. So people will continue to flock to them.

For your money, might be better to spend it on a psychic. At least you'll get the fancy crystal ball as part of the experience.

segacs wrote: »

Okay, maybe that was a bit snarky of me.

To be fair, a lot of people go to naturopaths and other such folks for these allergy tests because they're at their wits' end with pain or discomfort and medical science hasn't been able to determine a cause or find answers for them.

There are a lot of things that medical science simply doesn't know how to treat. And there are a lot of gaps in the medical system where people are rushed through appointments, kept on long waiting lists, or treated like a list of symptoms instead of a person. And it can be frustrating to go see a doctor for symptoms that are (or feel) real and yet the tests keep coming back negative. I've got a lot of empathy for people in this situation.

Unfortunately, there are always charlatans and snake oil salesmen who are willing to exploit people by promising answers. Some people will believe them. Others will be skeptical but figure, hey, it's worth a try.

Well, it's pretty conclusively shown to be NOT 'worth a try'. Naturopathy has been pretty thoroughly debunked. At best, you're wasting hundreds of dollars to be told nonsense. At worst, you're eliminating foods from your diet that you're not allergic to in the least, and restricting yourself (or your kids) as a result.

But the naturopaths have nice warm-and-fuzzy smiles and plush sofas in their offices and mood music, and they make you feel listened to. So people will continue to flock to them.

For your money, might be better to spend it on a psychic. At least you'll get the fancy crystal ball as part of the experience.

I like snark. I really do. It makes me laugh and there is often a lot of truth in snark.

I will perhaps give a different perspective. I am a scientist. I value experiments that are peer reviewed and that have been examined closely for flaws. I have once in my life gone to a naturopathic doctor. It made my dear grandma happy. I had a test that sounds similar to what you may be having. As I recall (and this has been 20 years so perhaps a different test) the test is controversial at the time. I didn't know it was controversial when I had it done. If I recall correctly it shows antibodies present for certain foods. It has been a long time so I really don't remember the details.

I was skeptical but interested in how the results would work so I ate according to the results of the test. The results changed my life. I ate according to what that showed me and a lot of symptoms went away, I dropped 10-15 pounds very quickly (water weight I'm sure, but it sure felt good that it came off and never came back). I went from having very little energy to having lots of energy. My thinking went from "fuzzy" as if I was trying to think through cotton to clear. My joints which in my mid twenties were achy don't ache (and I'm in my mid forties). My annual (western medicine) checkups come back with beautiful textbook numbers that make my doctor happy.

So, unscientific, totally anecdotal, it was absolutely worth it to me. I found out through other more scientific testing I don't have the enzyme to digest part of wheat properly. I also don't digest dairy properly. I'm sensitive to eggs and almonds. Wheat showed up in the test as my biggest issue.

It may or may not be helpful to you. If I were you I would research the test you are thinking of having done and determine from solid sources (i.e. peer reviewed journals, medical associations, colleges, or government agencies) if this is a test that has been shown to give reproducible and valid results. I got lucky and was given results that really have been helpful.

People often confuse allergies, intollerance, and sensitivities. They are different things. I don't have food allergies but I react strongly (and unpleasantly) to wheat so I have not eaten it (except the rare accidental exposure) for 20 years. I am sensitive to other foods so I eat them in small amounts when I'm willing to feel a little less good for a day or two.
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/food-allergy-myths

EDIT: My results were immediate. My boss was gone for 10 days and came back and asked me what I had done. The biggest "plus" for me was not having the bottom of my feet feel as if needles were poking them when I got out of bed in the morning. That was daily and it (and many other symptoms) stopped immediately when I gave up wheat. I had to do all my own cooking from carefully sourced food back then. It is easier, much easier now. I still do most of my own cooking.

segacs wrote: »

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/tests-for-food-allergies-sensitivities-a-waste-of-money-doctor-says/article535082/

Good article, and good comments, @segacs

Thanks.

Cutting out foods of different types is going to make you lose weight and feel wonderfully like a righteous martyr.

That doesn't mean a naturopath was right about anything.

Yeah, it's the nocebo effect. Well studied. People think that something is making them sick, and the symptoms aren't imagined, they feel very real. They cut something out and feel better (because they're generally eating more carefully / on a more restricted diet and because psychologically they believe they're going to) and they think, wow, it's working.

A telltale way to identify the nocebo effect is to see if it's reproduceable in a double-blind controlled study.

segacs wrote: »

OdesAngel wrote: »

Why wouldn't you just go to an allergy doctor?

Same reason people go to psychics or tarot card readers, I guess. They're drawn to mystical woo that has no basis in reality.

nonoelmo wrote: »

segacs wrote: »

Okay, maybe that was a bit snarky of me.

To be fair, a lot of people go to naturopaths and other such folks for these allergy tests because they're at their wits' end with pain or discomfort and medical science hasn't been able to determine a cause or find answers for them.

There are a lot of things that medical science simply doesn't know how to treat. And there are a lot of gaps in the medical system where people are rushed through appointments, kept on long waiting lists, or treated like a list of symptoms instead of a person. And it can be frustrating to go see a doctor for symptoms that are (or feel) real and yet the tests keep coming back negative. I've got a lot of empathy for people in this situation.

Unfortunately, there are always charlatans and snake oil salesmen who are willing to exploit people by promising answers. Some people will believe them. Others will be skeptical but figure, hey, it's worth a try.

Well, it's pretty conclusively shown to be NOT 'worth a try'. Naturopathy has been pretty thoroughly debunked. At best, you're wasting hundreds of dollars to be told nonsense. At worst, you're eliminating foods from your diet that you're not allergic to in the least, and restricting yourself (or your kids) as a result.

But the naturopaths have nice warm-and-fuzzy smiles and plush sofas in their offices and mood music, and they make you feel listened to. So people will continue to flock to them.

For your money, might be better to spend it on a psychic. At least you'll get the fancy crystal ball as part of the experience.

I like snark. I really do. It makes me laugh and there is often a lot of truth in snark.

I will perhaps give a different perspective. I am a scientist. I value experiments that are peer reviewed and that have been examined closely for flaws. I have once in my life gone to a naturopathic doctor. It made my dear grandma happy. I had a test that sounds similar to what you may be having. As I recall (and this has been 20 years so perhaps a different test) the test is controversial at the time. I didn't know it was controversial when I had it done. If I recall correctly it shows antibodies present for certain foods. It has been a long time so I really don't remember the details.

I was skeptical but interested in how the results would work so I ate according to the results of the test. The results changed my life. I ate according to what that showed me and a lot of symptoms went away, I dropped 10-15 pounds very quickly (water weight I'm sure, but it sure felt good that it came off and never came back). I went from having very little energy to having lots of energy. My thinking went from "fuzzy" as if I was trying to think through cotton to clear. My joints which in my mid twenties were achy don't ache (and I'm in my mid forties). My annual (western medicine) checkups come back with beautiful textbook numbers that make my doctor happy.

So, unscientific, totally anecdotal, it was absolutely worth it to me. I found out through other more scientific testing I don't have the enzyme to digest part of wheat properly. I also don't digest dairy properly. I'm sensitive to eggs and almonds. Wheat showed up in the test as my biggest issue.

It may or may not be helpful to you. If I were you I would research the test you are thinking of having done and determine from solid sources (i.e. peer reviewed journals, medical associations, colleges, or government agencies) if this is a test that has been shown to give reproducible and valid results. I got lucky and was given results that really have been helpful.

People often confuse allergies, intollerance, and sensitivities. They are different things. I don't have food allergies but I react strongly (and unpleasantly) to wheat so I have not eaten it (except the rare accidental exposure) for 20 years. I am sensitive to other foods so I eat them in small amounts when I'm willing to feel a little less good for a day or two.
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/food-allergy-myths

EDIT: My results were immediate. My boss was gone for 10 days and came back and asked me what I had done. The biggest "plus" for me was not having the bottom of my feet feel as if needles were poking them when I got out of bed in the morning. That was daily and it (and many other symptoms) stopped immediately when I gave up wheat. I had to do all my own cooking from carefully sourced food back then. It is easier, much easier now. I still do most of my own cooking.

This is crazy for me to read because I've been suspecting I have a wheat tolerance as well and some of my symptoms are the same as what you're describing. I also had severe stomach cramping occasionally and (sorry tmi) constipation when I was eating wheat. I cut it out of my diet 1 week ago and I feel so much better. I keep thinking "maybe it's just because I'm eating healthier overall", but I started eating better a week before I cut it out and I was still having the stomach issues. Anyway, I don't want to thread hijack, but I just found what you said very interesting.

All of your stories are anecdotal. I have no doubt they're true for you. I'm just saying that widespread scientific studies haven't found them to apply with any statistical significance to the population at large.

It can be frustrating when your doctor doesn't have the answers you're looking for. I sympathize, a lot. And what you've each done may be helping you for a variety of reasons.

But as Tim Minchin says, "By definition, alternative medicine has either not been proved to work, or been proved not to work. Do you know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? Medicine."