Holistic Health Practices/Part 39
| By: Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon; ©2009 |
| Touch for Health is the evaluation of a patient’s condition by testing the alleged strength or weakness of muscles. It’s a popularized presentation of George Goodhart’s applied kinesiology. |
Contents
What is Touch for Health?
Touch for Health is the evaluation of a patient’s condition by testing the alleged strength or weakness of muscles. It’s a popularized presentation of George Goodhart’s applied kinesiology.
Developed by chiropractor John Thie, the practice claims that body organs and systems are related to particular muscles through the alleged meridian system. The muscles that test “weak” indicate a blockage of “life energy” (chi) to the corresponding organ. By acupressure (finger pressure on acupuncture points), hand passes (tracing meridian lines over the body), or other methods, the flow of chi is allegedly restored, muscles restrengthened, and body organs and systems reinvigorated.
However, muscles are not related to organ systems in the manner that Touch for Health claims, making such diagnosis and treatment useless. Further, this practice can potentially become a form of psychic diagnosis and healing. Touch for Health may not only involve one in occultic influences, but a patient may draw false conclusions concerning the state of his/her overall health, as in alleged food allergies or other medical conditions supposedly determined to exist.
