Dr. Helmut Schimmel

 

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VEGATEST-Method

and FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

Occidental Institute members first met Helmut W. Schimmel, MD, DMD in March 1982 in Bad-Boll, Germany during our GEA Tour #2. In July 1983 Dr. Schimmel came to California and presented a special introductory seminar/workshop on his VEGATEST-Method (see separate information attached). Interest in this rapid patient evaluation and medication testing method was exploding in Europe, and to keep our members informed of these developments in December 1984 Dr. Walter Sturm sent a letter to everyone on the O.I.C.S. Alumni Association mailing list. The following comments, background and history are excerpted (revised May 2001) from that members' informational release.

"For the benefit of traditional acupuncturists on the list who may not yet be aware of the field known as "German Electro-Acupuncture" (G.E.A.), permit me a few sentences. This involves using modern electronic instruments to measure acupuncture points, and from those measurements draw diagnostic conclusions about related organs, tissue systems and bodily functions. Points found to be abnormal (and thus reflecting bodily disturbances) can be brought back to 'norm' by treatment with micro-electronic currents generated by most such instruments. However, as you know from needle acupuncture, purely external stimulation very often is not sufficient to bring back lasting balance to the meridians. The reason for this is twofold, in that often the actual cause of the problem was not completely determined, or, the underlying pathology is so great that internal intervention is needed, such as the administration of well-indicated herbs or other remedies. The proper dispensing of medications also enables effective therapy to be continued between treatments.

The key concept from the last paragraph is that of being able to measure acupuncture points. Taking all this a step further, it was found that specific points change their measurement readings when substances (such as vitamins, supplements, herbs, homeopathics, or even allopathics) are introduced into the measurement circuit. By placing samples of various substances a practitioner works with, one-by-one into a special holder [honeycomb] connected to the diagnostic instrument, the practitioner can evaluate which of the remedies will be most effective for the patient - before their administration, and before the patient leaves the office. Singularly or in combination, medications can be tested not only for effectiveness, but also for tolerance, to eliminate adverse side effects. This is termed medication testing. The ability to test the biocompatibility of remedies prior to taking them, plus its potential in food and allergy testing is, as one can well imagine, what has primarily stirred up so much interest in German Electro-Acupuncture techniques.

Today in Germany, there are three major schools of thought in the field (and numerous minor variations). The original and best known is "Electro-Acupuncture according to Voll" (EAV). Dr. Voll's technique started it all back in 1953, and we owe him and his co-workers a great debt. But, it is a very complex, time-consuming procedure involving hundreds of acupuncture points, thousands of homeopathic test medications and expensive instrumentation, resulting in a large investment for the practitioner. Therefore, for some time the trend in Germany has been towards more simplified or practical variations of the "Voll" system, such as those used by Drs. Kramer, Langreder, Maschke and Morell, as well as Dr. Walter D. Sturm (the director of OIRF who teaches multi-level workshops in the United States for this Institute). EAV is the most widely used and best known approach in North America and, given the availability of less expensive German equipment plus the introduction of less time-consuming variations, is likely to remain quite popular.

Because of dissatisfaction with the "Voll" organization, a number of top German physicians and dentists resigned, and over the years developed the second major German system, which is now known as "Bioelectronic Functions Diagnosis & Therapy" (BFD). They managed to reduce the quantity of acupuncture measurement points needed in clinical practice, as well as reduce the quantity of homeopathic remedies required in medication testing. BFD today continues to be a viable, less expensive alternative for practitioners interested in electronic diagnosis and substance testing; the German association is quite active, but does not appear to be attracting the new or younger practitioners.

In 1978, Dr. Helmut Schimmel of West Germany originated the third major system that was called the "VEGATEST-Method" or VRT (Vegetative Reflex Test). Dr. Schimmel (widely known as the formulator of the 'Pascoe Nosode Complexes') after working eight years within the limitations of BFD had the ideal combination of qualifications for this task, being both a medical and dental physician, as well as a true clinician-researcher. As you know, BFD arose out of dissatisfaction with EAV, and so one could say that the VEGATEST-Method is the culmination of some thirty years of German Electro-Acupuncture development. Besides Germany itself, the VEGATEST-Method has already caught on like wildfire in England and Australia, and is now well established right here in North America."

We first brought the VEGATEST-Method to the attention of those on the Alumni Association's mailing list in May of 1983 by announcing a seminar/workshop on it by Dr. Helmut Schimmel. This was held that year in San Francisco during the July Fourth holiday and over one hundred attended it. Since then the Institute has sponsored many on-going seminars, workshops and symposiums featuring several staff instructors and, of course, Dr. Schimmel, for advanced practitioners. Some who had been to Germany with us on our annual "G.E.A. Tours" knew about the VEGATEST-Method as early as March of 1982, when we first met Dr. Schimmel there. Now, with that experience with the method, let me tell you the solid facts.

In Dr. Schimmel's method you are not dealing with several hundred acupuncture points (EAV) or even sixty (BFD), but rather with only a few points since his system is based on measuring against organ and special test ampules rather than organ-linked acupuncture points themselves. Unlike the two other major systems the VEGATEST-Method uses a unique biological filter approach in testing as well as 'amplifier ampules' and the like, making highly accurate causal diagnosis possible. The "filtering" concept offers tremendous advantages in speed and accuracy of viewing complex interrelationships in the body, which point measurement alone simply cannot provide. Medication test and diagnostic readings as a result of the VEGATEST technique are virtually a 'yes and no' proposition. Even the number of test ampules required has been kept to an absolute minimum, and test sets of these can still be obtained.

Just like any of the German diagnostic and med-testing systems, it takes concerted effort on the part of the practitioner to learn the special measuring technique involved. In VEGATESTing, the crux of the matter is a manual acupuncture point measurement procedure called the 'disorder control'. Here one sets an artificially high initial point reading and tries to obtain a significantly lowered reading in repeat measurement with a toxic substance (disorder agent) in the circuit. A few are able to achieve this vital controlling measurement immediately. With varying degrees of patience and practice most eventually get a reliable disorder control, especially after having attended a workshop on the method. Unfortunately, some simply seem unable to manage that fundamental procedure, likely being those who have trouble with any subjective manual operation or who "just don't get along with machines".

I'm not going to try to tell you anything technical about the VEGATEST-Method since a nice little book is available that does it for me ["Short Manual of the VEGATEST-Method" - contact OIRF for interim copies!]. All I will say is that his method fits the "American way of thinking" as I see it - versus the Teutonic mentality needed for EAV or BFD - and that's good for you!

This is the future, quite likely the future of medicine itself, and it is here for you today. You should know by now that it takes an exceptional product before I'll promote it or endorse it in any way, much less go all out for it, like I'm doing here. I very highly recommend this method to those of you who are dissatisfied with the present systems, but especially for beginners who have not yet made major investments along those lines."

                                                                         s/Walter D. Sturm, Ph.D., M.Acu.,
                                                                         Chairman of the Board & C.E.O.

Unfortunately in the intervening years, of the three main German Electro-Acupuncture systems, the VEGATEST-Method has become one of the more expensive methods for the practitioner to get started in. Why? Because of the business philosophy and ethics of the equipment manufacturer. The VEGA firm abandoned all existing North American practitioners and broke twelve years of agreements with the Institute in February, 1995. For a summary of those events, please click here to see copies of the releases sent to OIRF Affiliates. To date VEGA continues with their campaign of slander against the Institute, and have done little to reestablish support for existing VEGA practitioners in North America. Fortunately alternative instrumentation is available that meets all the industry standards, AND is less expensive!