Many residents in Stratford and the surrounding towns in Connecticut, rely on Joseph Downer, LAc, of Stratford Acupuncture & Nutritional Wellness Center, for this powerful analytical tool. The end result is a customized health-improvement plan that can truly change the course of your life.

What is nutrition response testing?

Nutrition Response Testing is used to identify areas of imbalance within your body. It’s an approach founded on the belief that the human body is an interconnected whole and not simply an accumulation of distinct organs and systems.

During normal function, your nervous system communicates messages between your body and brain. These communications occur even when you’re asleep and enable every aspect of how your various organs, systems, and tissues perform. When those messages are slowed down or interrupted, your body’s ability to function properly is also slowed.

Nutrition Response Testing is a means of identifying areas where your body is not performing at peak levels. That allows Joe Downer, LAc, to develop a customized health improvement plan to address your specific needs.

How does nutrition response testing work?

The process might seem simple, but the ability to properly perform Nutrition Response Testing and accurately interpret the results is something that takes years of specialized training. Joe has used this powerful tool to improve the lives of hundreds of men and women, and that expertise can help you make the most of your own health and wellness.

The process works by performing a series of simple neurological tests to look for areas where biochemical imbalances or energy flow blockages might be present. One way to think about NRT is to envision how your body responds to hypothermia.

If you’re exposed to cold temperatures, your body will assess its current condition and make adjustments to keep you alive as long as possible. Your brain will direct blood and oxygen to your core organs, leaving your hands and feet with reduced blood flow. That’s because maintaining organ function is more important for survival than the health of your hands and feet.

Your neurological system works the same way even when you aren’t facing a life-or-death scenario. If there is dysfunction or underlying stress in one area of your body, your muscle reflexes will suffer. Through a process called muscle response testing, or MRT, Joe identifies areas where improvements can be made.

What happens during nutrition response testing?

During NRT, you recline comfortably throughout the testing procedure. Joe gently holds your arm in an elevated position while he delivers a small amount of pressure to various acupuncture points. Each of the points tested corresponds to a particular function, organ, or tissue type.

If there is a condition affecting the targeted reflex, your muscle response will change. Joe assesses how the muscles in your arm respond as he activates different acupuncture points. The process is painless and requires no anesthesia, needles, imaging, or recovery time.

Once your assessment is complete, Joe uses the data gathered to create your customized treatment program. When you’re ready to begin, schedule an appointment online or by phone.