Posted by bleauberry on March 19, 2010, at 20:35:14
In reply to Amino acid testing, posted by janejane on March 18, 2010, at 18:20:49
I don't know, I guess it could be useful and maybe not. You wouldn't know until you did it.
For example, if XYZ amino acid was extremely low, and you supplemented with it to get it back up, and it did either nothing or made you feel worse, then was the test helpful?
How do we know that if your amino acid deviates from the so-called "norm" that there is anything wrong? Is the norm we are supposing to be perfectly accurate actually so? Does the test tells us why something is deviant? How do we know our own genetic profile purposefully has that amino acid low or high for a good reason?
There is just too much we don't know. The test is helpful in giving some ideas for experimental trials and errors of various supplements.
Let's assume an amino acid profile is really screwed up. Ok. Next question, why is it so screwed up? The test does nothing to tell us that.
I would think more basic straightforward tests and guesses would increase the odds of finding something substantially useful.
For example, a Diflucan challenge test to probe for hidden yeast in the gut, system, or brain.
A Doxycyline challenge test to probe for hidden infections including Lyme.
For either of the above, if med sensitive or if wanting to avoid meds, potent natural herbs can do the same thing.
Western Blot test for Borellia, Bartonella, and Babesia.
If any history of amalgam fillings, look no further. Some work is needed here.
Blood type test to give the blood-type diet a challenge trial.
Gluten intolernace test.
If a holistic doctor totally overlooks the extremely common issues of yeast, mercury, and diet types, and instead wants to embark on trendy but weak platforms such as amino acids or neurotransmitters, then I would find a doctor who will rule out the basics before going any further with the exotic trendy stuff.
And in any case, a strict anti-inflammatory anti-allergic diet must be the foundation on which your entire healing will be built. Face it, when illness of any kind is involved, food choices become critical. We can no longer put in our mouths whatever the heck we want.
Just my opinion. I had a holistic MD for a while. He had me spend hundreds of dollars on all kinds of exotic testing of amino acids, neurotransmitters, fatty acids, and other stuff I didn't understand. None of it was useful. It all showed that stuff was screwed up, but no answer as to WHY. And no answer as to WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. Simple supplementation of the things that were supposedly deficient did one of two things: 1.Made me much worse; 2.Did nothing. In no case did any of the apparently "needed" supplements prove of any worth.
It was with a different doctor I discovered yeast was a huge issue with me, probably the thing screwing up everything else, and that the yeast probably came from the earlier history of amalgams, and my previous diet heavy on pizzas and donuts and sodas, and that Lyme was a likely player in it all as well. I've improved a great deal by attacking things from those angles.
poster:bleauberry
thread:939977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20091202/msgs/940111.html