Vega machine explained

Vega machine
Claims:The diagnosis of allergies and other diseases.
Topics:Electroacupuncture
Orig Year:1970s
Orig Prop:Helmut Schimmel, Reinholdt Voll in 1950s)

Vega machines are a type of electroacupuncture device used in pseudoscientific Vega testing, which proponents claim can diagnose allergies and other illnesses. The forerunner to the Vega test was electroacupuncture according to Voll developed by Reinholdt Voll in the 1950s. Helmut Schimmel modified the technique in the 1970s and presented it under the name Vega test.

Several medical associations have advised against their use, including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence,[1] [2] the Australian College of Allergy,[3] the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy,[4] the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology[5] and the Allergy Society of South Africa.[6] In 1990 a medical practitioner was censured by the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Committee in New Zealand for using a Vega machine.[7] Another practitioner was censured by the Discipline Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in 1999 for having "failed to meet the standard of practice"[8] in his use of the Vega machine in diagnosis.[9]

Reviews of the available evidence in the medical literature indicate that electrodermal testing, such as that performed with a Vega machine, is ineffective at diagnosing allergies and recommend that it not be used.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NICE warns against the use of alternative testing for food allergy in children. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 23 February 2011. 7 February 2012.
  2. News: Bowcott. Owen. NHS warns against complementary therapies for children's food allergies. 7 February 2012. The Guardian. 23 February 2011.
  3. Katelaris. CH. Weiner. JM. Heddle. RJ. Stuckey. MS. Yan. KW. Vega testing in the diagnosis of allergic conditions. The Medical Journal of Australia. July 1991. 155. 2. 113–114. 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb142141.x. 1857287. 34135200. https://web.archive.org/web/19980630171124/http://www.mja.com.au/public/guides/vega/vega.html. 30 June 1998.
  4. Web site: Unorthodox techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of allergy, asthma and immune disorders. November 2007. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. 26 August 2017.
  5. Bernstein. IL. Allergy diagnostic testing: an updated practice parameter. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. March 2008. 100. 3, Supplement 3. S1–148. 18431959. 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60305-5. etal.
  6. Motala. C. Hawarden, D . Guideline: Diagnostic testing in allergy. South African Medical Journal. July 2009. 99. 7. 531–535.
  7. Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Committee: professional misconduct findings against Dr D W Steeper. New Zealand Medical Journal. April 1990. 103. 888. 194–195. 2330174.
  8. Web site: The Discipline Committee Of The College Of Physicians And Surgeons Of Ontario: Dr. Jozef Krop. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 8 February 2012.
  9. Gray. C. Huge court fight may be in offing as Ontario college considers penalty for maverick MD. Canadian Medical Association Journal. March 1999. 160. 6. 877–879. 1230180. 10189439.
  10. Niggemann. B.. Gruber, C. . Unproven diagnostic procedures in IgE-mediated allergic diseases. Allergy. August 2004. 59. 8. 806–808. 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00495.x. 15230811. free.
  11. Gerez. IF . Shek, LP . Chng, HH . Lee, BW. Diagnostic tests for food allergy. Singapore Medical Journal. January 2010. 51. 1. 4–9. 20200768.
  12. Waserman. Susan. Watson, Wade . Food allergy. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. January 2011. 7. Suppl 1. S7. 10.1186/1710-1492-7-S1-S7. 22166142. 3245440 . free .
  13. Wüthrich. B. Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis. Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology. 2005. 15. 2. 86–90. 16047707.
  14. Beyer. K. Teuber, SS . Food allergy diagnostics: scientific and unproven procedures. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. June 2005. 5. 3. 261–6. 15864086. 10.1097/01.all.0000168792.27948.f9. 72156088.
  15. Sicherer. S. H.. Wood, R. A.. Allergy Testing in Childhood: Using Allergen-Specific IgE Tests. Pediatrics. December 2011. 129. 1. 193–197. 10.1542/peds.2011-2382. 22201146. free.
  16. Patriarca. G. Schiavino D . Pecora V . Food allergy and food intolerance: diagnosis and treatment. Internal and Emergency Medicine. February 2009. 4. 1. 11–24. 10.1007/s11739-008-0183-6. 18709496. 126773. etal.

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