NAET
Encyclopedia
Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) is a non-invasive, drug free, alternative therapy
intended as a treatment for allergies and chemical sensitivities. Founded in 1983 by Devi Nambudripad, a California based acupuncturist, NAET draws on ideas from acupuncture
, applied kinesiology
, and allergy
medicine. Devi Nambudripad claims that NAET is practised over 8500 licensed medical practitioners all over the world.
Various reviews of the scientific literature on NAET have empasised that there is no reliable evidence for its efficacy, concluding that the claims of NAET are "unsubstantiated" and unsupported. The theoretical basis for the technique and the related techniques of applied kinesiology
have been criticised.
NAET is promoted by Nambudripad’s Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) who also publish a journal called The Journal of NAET, Energetics & Complementary Medicine. Such a close relationship between the developer and promoter of a medical treatment and a the journal intended to research it presents a conflict of interest
.
to compare the strength of a muscle before and during contact with a potential allergen. NAET practitioners will then aim to remove energy blockages by having the patient hold a glass bottle containing the allergen whilst acupressure or acupuncture techniques are employed. After treatment, patients rest 20 minutes while continuing to hold the jar containing the allergen, after which time the patient will again be tested for an allergic reaction using the muscle strength test. If the NAET practitioner determines the allergy has cleared, the patient is advised to avoid the allergic substance for the following 25 hours. Patients are instructed to return for retesting with NAET between 25 hours and 7 days after the treatment.
NAET treatment itself does not have documented side effects, but its effectiveness in the treatment of mild, moderate or severe allergies is not scientifically proven. Effective methods for dealing with the symptoms of an allergy include avoiding the allergen, and pharmacological and immunological interventions.
, double-blind controlled studies have been performed on NAET. Studies performed on applied kinesiology
, a main component of NAET practice, have shown the technique to be an unreliable method for diagnosis.
One published case study
of a single individual has suggested that 4 weeks of NAET treatment may have relieved eczema
in a child that was caused by certain food allergies. A case study is not, however, strong evidence for effectiveness; on the basis of their case study, the authors recommend the carrying out of randomized, double-blind controlled studies.
The Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique is not grounded in physiology, and current evidence indicates that it is not effective for any condition.
One recent review of complementary allergy tests writes that "NAET has to be the most unsubstantiated allergy treatment proposed to date." Another concludes that "there have been no studies supporting the use of these techniques, and several have refuted their utility."
Stephen Barrett
(of Quackwatch
and related health fraud websites), after an examination of the technique and Nambudripad’s credentials, writes that:
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
intended as a treatment for allergies and chemical sensitivities. Founded in 1983 by Devi Nambudripad, a California based acupuncturist, NAET draws on ideas from acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
, applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology is an alternative medicine method used for diagnosis and determination of therapy. According to practitioners using Applied Kinesiology techniques, it provides feedback on the functional status of the body. AK is a practice within the realm of alternative medicine and is...
, and allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
medicine. Devi Nambudripad claims that NAET is practised over 8500 licensed medical practitioners all over the world.
Various reviews of the scientific literature on NAET have empasised that there is no reliable evidence for its efficacy, concluding that the claims of NAET are "unsubstantiated" and unsupported. The theoretical basis for the technique and the related techniques of applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology is an alternative medicine method used for diagnosis and determination of therapy. According to practitioners using Applied Kinesiology techniques, it provides feedback on the functional status of the body. AK is a practice within the realm of alternative medicine and is...
have been criticised.
Background
Devi Nambudripad was a licensed chiropractor and student acupuncturist at the time she developed NAET. Whilst experiencing a reaction to eating carrot she attempted to overcome the reaction through a self-administered acupuncture treatment. After the treatment the reaction to eating carrot did not return. At the time of the acupuncture treatment, a remnant of carrot was on her skin, and Nambudripad concluded from this that the presence of a minute quantity of carrot during the acupuncture treatment was the key to the treatment. She then proceeded to develop the theory of NAET on the principle that contact with a small amount of an allergen during an acupuncture or acupressure session can remove reactions to food and other substances.NAET is promoted by Nambudripad’s Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) who also publish a journal called The Journal of NAET, Energetics & Complementary Medicine. Such a close relationship between the developer and promoter of a medical treatment and a the journal intended to research it presents a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
.
Technique
The theory of NAET suggests that allergies develop due to energy blockages, and that allergies can be eliminated by addressing these energy blockages through the use of acupuncture or acupressure. NAET practitioners use a form of Applied kinesiologyApplied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology is an alternative medicine method used for diagnosis and determination of therapy. According to practitioners using Applied Kinesiology techniques, it provides feedback on the functional status of the body. AK is a practice within the realm of alternative medicine and is...
to compare the strength of a muscle before and during contact with a potential allergen. NAET practitioners will then aim to remove energy blockages by having the patient hold a glass bottle containing the allergen whilst acupressure or acupuncture techniques are employed. After treatment, patients rest 20 minutes while continuing to hold the jar containing the allergen, after which time the patient will again be tested for an allergic reaction using the muscle strength test. If the NAET practitioner determines the allergy has cleared, the patient is advised to avoid the allergic substance for the following 25 hours. Patients are instructed to return for retesting with NAET between 25 hours and 7 days after the treatment.
NAET treatment itself does not have documented side effects, but its effectiveness in the treatment of mild, moderate or severe allergies is not scientifically proven. Effective methods for dealing with the symptoms of an allergy include avoiding the allergen, and pharmacological and immunological interventions.
Scientific investigations
To date, no randomizedRandomized controlled trial
A randomized controlled trial is a type of scientific experiment - a form of clinical trial - most commonly used in testing the safety and efficacy or effectiveness of healthcare services or health technologies A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a type of scientific experiment - a form of...
, double-blind controlled studies have been performed on NAET. Studies performed on applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology
Applied kinesiology is an alternative medicine method used for diagnosis and determination of therapy. According to practitioners using Applied Kinesiology techniques, it provides feedback on the functional status of the body. AK is a practice within the realm of alternative medicine and is...
, a main component of NAET practice, have shown the technique to be an unreliable method for diagnosis.
One published case study
Case study
A case study is an intensive analysis of an individual unit stressing developmental factors in relation to context. The case study is common in social sciences and life sciences. Case studies may be descriptive or explanatory. The latter type is used to explore causation in order to find...
of a single individual has suggested that 4 weeks of NAET treatment may have relieved eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
in a child that was caused by certain food allergies. A case study is not, however, strong evidence for effectiveness; on the basis of their case study, the authors recommend the carrying out of randomized, double-blind controlled studies.
The Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique is not grounded in physiology, and current evidence indicates that it is not effective for any condition.
One recent review of complementary allergy tests writes that "NAET has to be the most unsubstantiated allergy treatment proposed to date." Another concludes that "there have been no studies supporting the use of these techniques, and several have refuted their utility."
Stephen Barrett
Stephen Barrett
Stephen Joel Barrett is a retired American psychiatrist, author, co-founder of the National Council Against Health Fraud , and the webmaster of Quackwatch. He runs a number of websites dealing with quackery and health fraud. He focuses on consumer protection, medical ethics, and scientific...
(of Quackwatch
Quackwatch
Quackwatch is an American non-profit organization founded by Stephen Barrett with the stated aim being to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and with a primary focus on providing "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere."...
and related health fraud websites), after an examination of the technique and Nambudripad’s credentials, writes that: