Applied Kinesiology
If you are like me the first time you ever heard the words, “Applied Kinesiology,” you pictured high school coaches or college students seeking a degree in kinesiology. Kinesiology is the study of the way a human body moves. If that is what you thought, do not be embarrassed. If it was not for my good friend, Marjorie, I would not know anything about applied kinesiology.
Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a controversial alternative to traditional medicine. Before I continue, I want to reassure everyone that I am not against traditional medicine. I delivered all five of my children with an obstetrician. I take my children to a pediatrician for check-ups. Doctors and nurses are instrumental in our society.
However, I also seek out alternatives to the accepted norm. I enjoy doing things differently than other people. I definitely do not try to keep up with the imaginary Jones family. If I did, I would not live on a homestead. I like using natural approaches in gardening, cleaning my house, schooling my children, etc. In addition, I use as many natural approaches to medicine as I can. I know that I am not the only one. In 2001, Time magazine published an article, “A New Breed of Healers” describing the interest in alternative medicine by Americans.
AK is typically done by a chiropractor. It has been called pseudoscience by skeptics. Regardless of ones beliefs, AK uses manual muscle tests to diagnose a patient and his/her prescribed therapy. My family first went to an Applied Kinesiologist to find out about our food allergies. Despite countless clues and suspicious symptoms, I could not get our pediatrician to believe or agree to test Isaac for milk and wheat. She discounted every concern I had.
This is when my friend, Marjorie, opened my eyes to the world of Applied Kinesiology. She told me about her doctor and her experiences. She described in detail what to expect during the appointment. Even though I was skeptical, I called and made an appointment for Isaac.
Without painful pin pricks or blood testing, Isaac was diagnosed with allergies to cow milk, wheat, peanuts, and aspartame. To watch the doctor work was fascinating. He has vials with allergens. He takes one and places it on the patient’s body. His/Her muscles are weakened when the allergen is present. It is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen. It looks like magic. I tell people that sometimes “seeing is believing.”
Everyone in my immediate family has now been tested for food allergies. Not one person came away with the same diagnosis. My oldest son is not allergic to anything, food or seasonal. This fact has convinced me further that AK is credible.
I wrote last fall about how my husband was injured in the article, “An Interesting Weekend.” We went to a doctor about his leg, took x-rays, and consulted with the doctor again when his leg was not improving after two weeks. The doctor referred us to an orthopedic specialist, who was unbelievably expensive. As an afterthought, I called the Applied Kinesiologist. They had a cancellation and told us to come immediately.
My husband left a new man. He was able to walk without a limp. The pain was almost completely gone. It was incredible to see the difference in him. My husband is a huge fan of applied kinesiology.
In the 1960′s Dr. George Goodheart developed the practice of this alternative medicine. He is often referred to as the “Father of AK.” He said, “Your patients will make you the complete doctor if you let them.”
The whole point of this article is to expose more people to AK. You can read the article, “An Appreciation of George Goodheart,” by Dr. Stephen Kaufman if you would like to find out more about AK. If you are still interested, I am sure that you will be able to find an applied kinesiologist in your area. Like with anyone, make sure that he/she is reputable and experienced. Ask around. Get feedback from other patients. I want to encourage you to be open to other alternatives to the traditionally accepted practices in our society.
Thanks for the article, I wanted to point out the methods utilized by this chiropractor for allergy testing are NOT in accordance with applied kinesiology (putting a vail up to the body, testing). Although this may have some merit, such tests should be done orally and always backed up with another finding of some sort. I’m certified in AK and a last year intern at Parker College of Chiropractic and just want to make sure that the correct picture of AK is explained to the masses. So glad you found help in whatever technique the doc used, even if it wasn’t 110% AK.
I appreciate your comment. Thank you for taking the time to correct me. I am certainly not an expert in AK; although, I am a fan of the practice.
Very nice article. Josh is right, on the body vial testing is not utilized in applied kinesiology, only oral testing. However, testing with the vials is much faster, and just as accurate. Most people who utilize kinesiology methods use vial testing. I utilized oral only testing in my office for a few months and it just about drove me crazy. I got the same results and wasted enormous amounts of time. Not to mention needing to keep buying food to keep the test kit stocked.
We need to embrace both the neurological and energetic aspects of what kinesiology brings to the table. After all, we’re just made of energy anyway.
Thanks again.
I had broken my ribs. They never seemed to heal right. I saw an AK doctor who used the vials and a device on his belt that he rubbed (I can’t remember what it was called). He gave me calcium-magnesium citramate. After a couple of days, the pain was gone. I could even tie my shoes which I had not done in a couple of years. It may look like hocus pocus, but it works.
Karen,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am a believer myself.
Lara
I usually don’t leave comments!!! Trust me! But I liked your Applied Kinesiology | Texas Homesteader blog…especially this post! Would you mind terribly if I put up a backlink from my site to your site?
Of course, you can link to it. Thank you for leaving a comment. I appreciate it.
Lara
Josh~~I am a firm believer in AK. My son will enter chiropratic school in a year or so. He will likely attend Parker in the Dallas area. He is interested in AK. How or where did you get your AK training?