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Is VEGA testing in any way useful?

sianrecovery

Senior Member
Messages
828
Location
Manchester UK
I've just been Vega tested on the recommendation of my new dentist, and among other things, the guy said I was positive for Lyme pathogens. Can anyone share any experience on whether or not they have had helpful or unhelpful experiences with vega testing?

Thanks
 
Messages
13,774
From a quick google, it looks like it could be a scam.

Also, there are a lot of dodgy lyme tests about, so I'd be cautious there too.
 

L'engle

moogle
Messages
3,197
Location
Canada
Apparently, It's used more in Europe than here. I had it accurately predict some allergies. for something as big as Lyme, you'd want to have the other tests as well to corroborate, I'd think.
 

Snow Leopard

Hibernating
Messages
5,902
Location
South Australia
Vega testing has never been correlated (higher than chance in a blinded study) with skin prick testing, patch testing or antibody testing. So I'd say it is not worthwhile.
 

JAH

Senior Member
Messages
497
Location
Northern California
I had it a few times, and so much stuff came up that is was not useful. I don't think it is a scam, but highly variable, depending on the tester. In my experience, not worth it.

good luck,

JAH
 

ramakentesh

Senior Member
Messages
534
I would think the tea leaves would be more accurate. Its quite sad what certain people have done to and for CFS patients - desperate patients desperate for an answer and some of the snakeoil that has been flogged our way is almost as bad as the Wessely brigade denying its physical basis.
 
Messages
180
I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I had this test done, only because my father is a believer in this kind of nonsense and I went along with it to please him. Being a scientific sceptic I found the experience very amusing, when I asked the woman if she could explain how the device worked she could not answer directly and said something about a doctor had come in and instructed them on how to use it.

It's a complete sham device, I'm sure the people who use them believe they work, just like homeopaths believe their sugar pills help people, but anyway here is some useful information: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/electro.html

The devices described in this article are used to diagnose nonexistent health problems, select inappropriate treatment, and defraud insurance companies. The practitioners who use them are either delusional, dishonest, or both. These devices should be confiscated and the practitioners who use them should be prosecuted. If you encounter any such device, please report it to the state attorney general, any relevant licensing board, the FDA, the FTC, the FBI, the Better Business Bureau, and any insurance company to which the practitioner submits claims that involve use of the device.

P.S. just read your post more thoroughly and if a DENTIST of all people is using one of these devices my advice to you would be to part company with this dentist immediately, especially if he is diagnosing you with lyme disease which requires a multitude of quite complex modern scientific tests to determine accurately. God forbid if this person starts saying you need teeth removed etc. based on the random and meaningless results this device provides
 
Messages
180
I would think the tea leaves would be more accurate. Its quite sad what certain people have done to and for CFS patients - desperate patients desperate for an answer and some of the snakeoil that has been flogged our way is almost as bad as the Wessely brigade denying its physical basis.

Indeed, it's a sad state of affairs. I've tried informing people about the dangers of resorting to pseudo-science simply because medical science has not yet provided the answers to our disease, but it is a message often met with derision and even censorship.

This kind of stuff is not a laughing matter, people die every year due to these charlatans. In fact just earlier I read about a woman who died due to participating in some alternative medicine cult: http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1601-when-pseudoscience-kills.html
 

ramakentesh

Senior Member
Messages
534
Yes totally agree!

What I think has happened is that for years there was no answers, no interest and no real research. People seem so desperate for an answer that they simply had to subscribe to some pretty out there things for that answer.

But what amazes me is many of these people now have completely rigid views about the etiology of CFS and will either try and twist any new research in any way they can to somehow support their preconceived opinion or the etiological basis for the condition or they just outright argue against it any new directions.

The major difference being that some of the older etiological theories were poorly formulated, suggest limited understanding of some physiological mechanisms and most certainly have not been subjected to peer review. Some were even conceived and argued by actual patients who are unable to validify any of their statements through randomised clinical research. Whereas the most recent research is appearing in reputable peer reviewed medical journals, is subject to proper clinical research standards and is peer reviewed by other doctors involved in CFS research.

The future is bright but people have to be open to it.
 

zoe.a.m.

Senior Member
Messages
368
Location
Olympic Peninsula, Washington
My view is that VEGA is as good as the practitioner. It's the type of thing that makes me roll my eyes, but I have had some interesting results. One thing I will say for the technology/w/an excellent practitioner, is that there are things noted (that seemed of absolutely no consequence) close to 10 years ago that have only become clear years later. This has happened several times, and it's far more specific than "you will have GI problems" or something like that. My reaction after the appointments is always to basically discount what I've just heard, because it's too far out (and it's usually once every 2 years), but I'm learning to bite my (mental) tongue with my judgments as far as VEGA is concerned. For me, whether this is something worth trying should be entirely rooted in how you feel about the specialist...
 
Messages
180
My view is that VEGA is as good as the practitioner. It's the type of thing that makes me roll my eyes, but I have had some interesting results. One thing I will say for the technology/w/an excellent practitioner, is that there are things noted (that seemed of absolutely no consequence) close to 10 years ago that have only become clear years later. This has happened several times, and it's far more specific than "you will have GI problems" or something like that. My reaction after the appointments is always to basically discount what I've just heard, because it's too far out (and it's usually once every 2 years), but I'm learning to bite my (mental) tongue with my judgments as far as VEGA is concerned. For me, whether this is something worth trying should be entirely rooted in how you feel about the specialist...

Read up on the Texas sharpshooter fallacy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_sharpshooter_fallacy

This is a good example of where people can have a test or reading and 99% of what they are told is wrong but when one thing happens to be right they assign special significance to this event as though it were evidence of the test's overall accuracy.

Also read the link I posted on the previous page, there is no way VEGA can be "as good as the practitioner". VEGA is useless, period.
 

ramakentesh

Senior Member
Messages
534
I think its good that people believe in these things. It allows people to pay their mortgages off and gives me ideas for if I ever lose my job :)
 

Starlight

Senior Member
Messages
152
Tried this long before I ever heard of ME CFS for my daughter .the guy had a good reputation .he told me she was very ill ,thought she could remain ill .and was very concerned.treatments didnot work .another vega practitioner told me the same ,said he would do free treatments if we wanted but was not hopeful .she has been severely affected. And still is .this was over 20 years ago .they both said she was on about 10 percent of her energy.we have tried alternative meds to no avail and I'm not a believer for the really ill but I think those machines must have something .the can be useful for detecting allergies but sadly that's not the answer .
 

LSLJ

Lara
Messages
28
Location
Uk
I was bedridden, thinking my life was over. In constant body pain and unable to even stand long enough to make a cup of tea.
A friend of mine said they knew a doctor locally I Sussex, England where I live that they'd heard had 'cured' patients with ME/CFS and as my GP and many others had said there is no known cure - I was very optimistic.
But as I was desperate I went along, my first consultation was £75 and any follow ups are only £25 (which for a private doctor, GP turned homeopath is very cheap as I saw some specialist on Harley street in London and they cost me £400 + per visit and wanted to do many follow ups that I just couldn't afford once I stopped working and earning).

So I went along very sceptical, but also desperate for anything that would help.
He diagnosed me with the machine officially with having ME -Myalgic encyphalimitis and Dysbiosis which is a gut related issue like leaky gut. It tests the whole body bones, glands , organs the lot! Which explained why my almost obsessively healthy diet still felt like I wasn't getting any minerals or nutrients , as that's what was actually happening, as I was unable to absorb them properly through digestion.

I was put on German Homepathics and other natural medicine. It was a slowly increased dose to take until my body stopped needing it. I didn't know how this would work - but basically I started to get better, within 2 weeks I has enough energy to do household chores again, and it quite quickly increased till I could go out and see friends. My eyes got brighter, I looked like I had life in my face again which was amazing as no matter how much I spent on beauty treatments or products I just looked dull and pale and lifeless (even with fake tan) I just looked so unwell all the time.
This seemed like a miracle!

Then after about 5-6 months I started to feel crap again, I didn't know why and got depressed as I started to lose energy and felt so achy and tired. I called the doctor and he said that's it, that's your body telling you it's used what it needs from the medicine and to stop taking it!
As with natural medicine it helps fix the problem, unlike conventional Medicine that usually just masks the symptoms.

So I went off it for 2 weeks and I perked right back again. I started a hobby of collecting and painting furniture - I had energy again. Not an abundance but enough to have an enjoyable day and get out and about. I still have to watch it though and not overdo it as my doctor says our energy is like a credit card - use it and you have to pay it back with fees. So regular rests are a MUST! Not lying on bed on my phone, or watching Tv or reading. But proper eyes closed, meditative relaxation rests. They teach us about that in the CFS/ME self management group.

I am also on some strong acidophilus medicine for my gut issues and it helps so much that my doctor prescribed. I can digest my food and have much less of an issue. I went plant based vegan as well to get as many minerals and nutrients from my fresh food and that's helped, as long as I eat plenty of cooked starchy vegetables and bananas.

If anyone has any questions or wants the contacts of my doctor let me know. He's basically retired and works now out of his house, but he's been doing Vega testing for 32 years and is a pro at diagnosis and prescribing the correct medicine.

So... my experience of VEGA TESTING has been life changing, however as it's the medicine that's made the difference I believe having a very knowledgeable doctor doing the test makes all the difference as just knowing the results is one thing, but having the correct cure is another!

Doctors don't use the words 'Don't worry I'm very sure we can cure you' very often with ME so I was shocked when my doctor said that. I do believe it's possible now though as he said so many people come to him with a multitude of issues and mostly hoping they do have ME as they want to explain how they're so tired. Yet apparently majority of them don't actually have it. So having an official test to know what is wrong with me is what made it the most important. He has cured more people than he can count and they've gone on to lead normal lives. Nothing worse than not knowing. Then I was able to get acceptance and start to heal. Physically but also mentally. As it's a hard journey as anyone that's been through it knows.

Best of luck. Xx
 
Last edited:
Messages
47
I was bedridden, thinking my life was over. In constant body pain and unable to even stand long enough to make a cup of tea.
A friend of mine said they knew a doctor locally I Sussex, England where I live that they'd heard had 'cured' patients with ME/CFS and as my GP and many others had said there is no known cure - I was very optimistic.
But as I was desperate I went along, my first consultation was £75 and any follow ups are only £25 (which for a private doctor, GP turned homeopath is very cheap as I saw some specialist on Harley street in London and they cost me £400 + per visit and wanted to do many follow ups that I just couldn't afford once I stopped working and earning).

So I went along very sceptical, but also desperate for anything that would help.
He diagnosed me with the machine officially with having ME -Myalgic encyphalimitis and Dysbiosis which is a gut related issue like leaky gut. It tests the whole body bones, glands , organs the lot! Which explained why my almost obsessively healthy diet still felt like I wasn't getting any minerals or nutrients , as that's what was actually happening, as I was unable to absorb them properly through digestion.

I was put on German Homepathics and other natural medicine. It was a slowly increased dose to take until my body stopped needing it. I didn't know how this would work - but basically I started to get better, within 2 weeks I has enough energy to do household chores again, and it quite quickly increased till I could go out and see friends. My eyes got brighter, I looked like I had life in my face again which was amazing as no matter how much I spent on beauty treatments or products I just looked dull and pale and lifeless (even with fake tan) I just looked so unwell all the time.
This seemed like a miracle!

Then after about 5-6 months I started to feel crap again, I didn't know why and got depressed as I started to lose energy and felt so achy and tired. I called the doctor and he said that's it, that's your body telling you it's used what it needs from the medicine and to stop taking it!
As with natural medicine it helps fix the problem, unlike conventional Medicine that usually just masks the symptoms.

So I went off it for 2 weeks and I perked right back again. I started a hobby of collecting and painting furniture - I had energy again. Not an abundance but enough to have an enjoyable day and get out and about. I still have to watch it though and not overdo it as my doctor says our energy is like a credit card - use it and you have to pay it back with fees. So regular rests are a MUST! Not lying on bed on my phone, or watching Tv or reading. But proper eyes closed, meditative relaxation rests. They teach us about that in the CFS/ME self management group.

I am also on some strong acidophilus medicine for my gut issues and it helps so much that my doctor prescribed. I can digest my food and have much less of an issue. I went plant based vegan as well to get as many minerals and nutrients from my fresh food and that's helped, as long as I eat plenty of cooked starchy vegetables and bananas.

If anyone has any questions or wants the contacts of my doctor let me know. He's basically retired and works now out of his house, but he's been doing Vega testing for 32 years and is a pro at diagnosis and prescribing the correct medicine.

So... my experience of VEGA TESTING has been life changing, however as it's the medicine that's made the difference I believe having a very knowledgeable doctor doing the test makes all the difference as just knowing the results is one thing, but having the correct cure is another!

Doctors don't use the words 'Don't worry I'm very sure we can cure you' very often with ME so I was shocked when my doctor said that. I do believe it's possible now though as he said so many people come to him with a multitude of issues and mostly hoping they do have ME as they want to explain how they're so tired. Yet apparently majority of them don't actually have it. So having an official test to know what is wrong with me is what made it the most important. He has cured more people than he can count and they've gone on to lead normal lives. Nothing worse than not knowing. Then I was able to get acceptance and start to heal. Physically but also mentally. As it's a hard journey as anyone that's been through it knows.

Best of luck. Xx

Hi, thanks for this VEGA machine post.

I'm in a situation where I've probably "beaten" Early Stage Lyme/co-infections (Bartonella most important here) but I'm only using Japanese Knotweed and Liquid Stevia to prevent any recurrance, or a "fall" into Chronic Lyme.

Any suggestions? VEGA is an old name. Are there other brands, or a "generic" name for this kind of electronic testing?

How can I tell if the clinic knows what they're doing with electronic testing?

Cheers!