Background

Electrodermal testing (EDT) is an acupuncture-based approach and was originally developed to refine homeopathic prescriptions. Some practitioners may use EDT as a diagnostic technique to advise patients about allergies.

Safety Safety definitions

Pregnancy And Lactation: There is insufficient reliable evidence about the safety of electrodermal testing in pregnancy and lactation; avoid use.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE TO RATE

Disease diagnosis. Research shows that EDT is not able to help predict allergies to common allergens such as house dust mites and cat dander. EDT seems to be inappropriate for diagnosing hypersensitivities.

More evidence is needed to rate electrodermal testing for this use.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

None known.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

None known.

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

Interactions with diseases

Mechanism of action

EDT is based on the ideas of acupuncture and homeopathy and the basic concept of "energetic pathology," which postulates that the first sign of a problem in the body is an electrical charge.

EDT is thought to work because the body theoretically becomes more resistant to conducting electricity when presented with a substance which induces an allergic reaction. Therefore, foods, additives, and medications that do not affect the normal electrical resistance reading on the Wheatstone bridge are determined to not be allergens. In contrast, substances that result in a decreased reading are identified as possible allergens.