A.R.T. and its Practitioners

[sptcmom]

Just wanted to post some info on this topic I feel folks need to know. Some may already know.

 

ART is a muscle testing tool developed by Dr Klinghardt. The practitioners range from MDs, acupuncturists, OTs, PTs,DO's Chiros, NDs, DAN, docs, dentists etc.

The EAST COAST has some of the finest and most knowledgeable, genuine Klinghardt practitioners who follow the Klinghardt protocols to the T. These guys I know keep themselves current as Dr K's research is always non stop and he updates his methods almost annually with a few good tweaks.

BIG questions always is insurance/financial- All licensed practitioners kind enough to risk helping children with controversial diagnoses like PANDAS, chronic lyme, LIA etc are able to give invoices. Some are even in network providers.

Infact if any OT, PT, Chiro, Acpunc. is also an ILADS member then insurance, even out of network is a breeze to handle. As these disciplines are typically recognized by insurance carriers as needing 30 or more visits a year anyways as most are one to thrice per week with a Lyme diagnosis. In fact many good insurance plans will consider a highly uniquely qualified OT/PT/Chiro provider as a specialist not available within a 50 mile radius and will reimburse families on an in network basis. I've heard of in network approvals for upto 60 visits a year for parents. Some practitioners take credit cards and using FSA/HSA cards is also a plus to get a tax break for supplements which are otherwise not covered anyways.

A lot of savvy parents have discovered this and are able to keep travel local and spend the time saved adding adjunct modalities recommended by Dr Klinghardt AND get it all covered by insurance 60 to 80%. Also to keep in mind - ART practitioners fees are NOwhere nearly as high as some LLMDs.

 

This enables the child to receive weekly or more care which is needed sometimes if a parent lives close enough and is able to follow the REAL Klinghardt methodolgy of biocurrent, neural therapy, MFT, sound therapy, immune entrainment etc which is extremely important as adjunct. Especially more so for parents trying to switch to only herbal abx after longterm high doses of conventional abx. Herbal abx needs to be in conjunction with gut, detox, metal, neuro toxin etc protocols and biofeedback.

 

Several GREAT ART docs who can also prescribe are in NYC, Florida, NY State, Connecticut just I personally know of.The best way is to call Debbie Flyod, Dr K's manager in NJ www.klinghardtacademy.com and ask for a referral based on your area of problem. She is a wonderful lady, personally having dealt with Lyme and Co in her child and family and just a great person overall. She has all the latest info on ART practitioners who are current, up to date in their certifications etc.She is trying to compile a list of all global ART docs who are current with their certifications.Also is organizing certification testing for those who are ancient and out of touch.

 

Dr K doesn't ever say Lyme and Co can be eradicated. I've never read a word in any of his numerous talks, seminars, phone conf, papers etc. If any ART practitioner assures you of eradication just because its not testing positive that day during ART is to be taken with a huge pinch of salt in my personal opinion/experience. Dr K's philosophy is also amply reflected in his clinic in Kirkland, WA where all staff try to make one understand, there is no "cure" just learning how to stay ahead of the game. Just like cold sores and Herpes. Its always there, peeps out and manifests under stress and then goes dormant again.Dr K always talks of traeting not curing lyme in my experience.

 

Several other discipline ART docs work in collaboration with LLMDs for the conventional abx thing. But if one is thinking ART and looking for ART based care, one assumes we want to get our child away from harsh conventional abx and go with natural anyways so the need for regular abx is minimal in people seeking true Klinghardt methods.

 

Just a matter of research, addressing all 5 levels of healing ad learning to live a healthy productive normal life with our immune system and bioenergetic field in charge not any microbes. Eradication is next to impossible as per my research. As Dr. K says- "these microbes have been with us for centuries without being as deadly as now. The Earth has changed, our bodies are more toxic......" These microbes actually ingrain themselves into our DNA itself.

 

ART testing is very reliable and great inter-user reliability and validity. It is however Energetic testing and will depend on/vary with numerous factors. Results can also be different at different times of the day, the body's fatigue level, current internal biochemistry, level of happiness, level of EMFs in docs office, level of positive energy in doc's office, using the tools- signal enhancer and testing devices in appropriate amount of ambient light where needed, where not, keeping the tools and testing vials as far away from patient as possible etc. All these matter.

The quality of the ART practitioner, the quality of the office space, the internal attitudes of docs, machines active in the environment, geopathic stress etc all matter.

 

These are some tidbits of info I have gathered from personal experience and attending several NY, NJ, PA Lyme support group meetings. Several parents have been down this road and reaping the benefits of local care for chronic lyme/Pandas, LIA etc. Most parents do caution against or feel very uncomfortable going to practitioners who are not doctors of any discipline. Homeopathy is wonderful but is not Licensed and regulated in USA like it is in Canada and Europe and India. So a four year diploma in homeopathy without any adjunct medical MD or PHD in health sciences would be concern to me too and most parents I've spoken to have cautioned me or said they would feel comfortable obtaining remedies for medical illnesses. oh well.Same goes for general herbalists without actual medical background of some sort. I've found a few homeopaths and herbalists who do these 2 to 4 year diplomas straight after high school and practise right away. That gives me the creeps.Im ok with Doctorates, DMDs, Chiros etc.

 

Also heard that several multidisciplinary ART docs, LLMDs (atleast 2), one DAN doc, two attorney lyme moms, a few LIA moms in hospitality industry, local KPU lab, local compounding pharmacy, are trying to create a fully green oasis shelter for families dealing with multi chronic infections. A place to stay, get treated and heal, meet up with other parents. Since Dr K's manager is in NJ, a few visits cannot be discounted is the hope. Just a one stop shop for families is being considered in NJ. Also a mini camp type scenario where we could send our kids for a day or two at the most and get the best care from personally experienced parents who may volunteer on a rotating basis. Lofty goals but not impossible.

 

Anyways, again just info from my personal and professional experience meant to taken in that spirit. Hopefully a little bit helpful of sorts.

Please excuse numerous typos. My carpal tunnel is on today.

Jodie

Edited July 2, 2011 by sptcmom

[MichaelTampa]

Good information there. I have seen for myself how useful it can be to tweak my treatments on a weekly basis ... well, some weeks a tweak and occasionally a bigger change in direction. This disease is complex, and successful treatment is going to be complex and need some updating/changing like that. ART or similar energetic testing is really the only practical and effective way to do it, there is no question about that.

 

I had actually contacted the Klinghardt office in WA several months ago (6 or more) looking for a local referral, and they did not do that at the time. I did meet Debbie, who works in a NJ office, at the conference in May, and agree with what you say about her, I think in May she said they were working on being able to give referrals for Klinghardt trained physicians. Do you have current info that they are able to do that now?

[tpotter]

Thank you so much Jodi. This really, really helps as I contemplate the route you are taking. I definitely think that abx has it's place. There's no question that my DS15 is benefitting from IV abx right now, but starting to have some problems with that, too. DS18 has c-diff, and LLMD has said we probably need to go the herbal route, too. We've done virtually everything else, and I think we're starting to get control (I hope I'm not speaking too soon.)

 

We already see a phenomenal holistic chiropractor in Rockland County, NY every month for now. He does applied kinesiology, plus, just has a completely natural feel for what he's doing (I don't believe any amount of "training" could get a person to where he just naturally knows what he's doing. Yes, supplements and his visits are really expensive, but I know that I, for one, am definitely feeling better since we started targeting the gut and the immune system. But, that being said, it would be nice to have someone local, and I am definitely considering ART. PhilaMom has already given me her docs name, and that's only 1/2 an hour from me.

[sptcmom]

well, the latest is that Dr K is in his London office currently or was 2 weeks ago when he joined us via Skype for our practitioner conf call. I know she's trying to work it out with him as to organizing testing, both written and practical for ART practitioners who wish call themselves that and be included on the ref data base. So things are underway. They have established a few guidelines already like how many hrs of cont ed will be needed etc. debbie has very little help so she's trying at superspeed to get this up and running.

Best part is I believe other than the very few ART greats/instructor types, all other health care practitioners who use ART and wish to use it legally will not be grandfathered in I believe. Everybody has to be up to date and certified at this point.

So parents/people have to stay informed about their respective ART practitioners. As Micheal mentions, there is so much new to learn about these chronic infctious diseases and practitioners do need to be current, well read, hopefully also well published and in the know how to be able to help their patients.

Edited July 2, 2011 by sptcmom

[philamom]

Thank you so much Jodi. This really, really helps as I contemplate the route you are taking. I definitely think that abx has it's place. There's no question that my DS15 is benefitting from IV abx right now, but starting to have some problems with that, too. DS18 has c-diff, and LLMD has said we probably need to go the herbal route, too. We've done virtually everything else, and I think we're starting to get control (I hope I'm not speaking too soon.)

 

We already see a phenomenal holistic chiropractor in Rockland County, NY every month for now. He does applied kinesiology, plus, just has a completely natural feel for what he's doing (I don't believe any amount of "training" could get a person to where he just naturally knows what he's doing. Yes, supplements and his visits are really expensive, but I know that I, for one, am definitely feeling better since we started targeting the gut and the immune system. But, that being said, it would be nice to have someone local, and I am definitely considering ART. PhilaMom has already given me her docs name, and that's only 1/2 an hour from me.

tpotter- I like the practitioner that I see for ART. He spends a good amount of quality time with you and is very thorough. I think Jodie has met him before. He is not treating my daughter though. I was originally told my office visits would be covered, but found out at my first appt. that my insurance does not cover any chiropracter care. So unfortunately, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to continue. His price per visit (after the initial consult) is only $75, but along with the supplements - it adds up. He did spend over an hour with me last visit (second appt) and it included a small massage with a therapist (if you choose) which felt really nice. So it was well worth the $75. And I do feel good! If only my insurance covered chiropractor . Anyway, if you decide you may want to book an appt. with him, there is a waiting list for the initial consult (does them on certain days) and then it is easy to schedule follow-up visits.

Edited July 2, 2011 by philamom

[sptcmom]

Do remember to check for pediatric experience in an ART practitioner if its for a child. The reads are unique during peds test, the energy field that children can exhibit is unique, needs peds experience to channel that accurately into muscle testing and I find using moms (sorry dads, I did try)as the extension cord (go between/surrogate) works very well with kids rather than using the standard assistant. Again its a matter of experience and preference.

 

Another aspect is the office set up. Peds practitioners have peds distractions/games available. The patients that I see have multi neuro problems- ASD, Aspergers, PANDAS, Lyme etc and sometimes many in one child. Frequent breaks have to be factored in when doing peds ART and tons of peds experience is needed to drop the flow and pick it back up aganin from where left off. Once again practitioner skill comes in with avoiding misreads of energy bursts in kids. Kids with OCD and ADHD , I find will need triple recheck of major concerns just to confirm the energy read and then one final check for Yin or Yang states to be sure. Usually ART is a one shot deal procedure for adults if they can do it.

 

Older kids may have a more mature session sometimes.

Peds practitioners also have a better knack of being able to establish a rapport with a special needs child and to encourage thm at their own level without expecting them to comprehend and/or follow ART directions.

 

Philamom- your insurance not covering Chiro? Usually its chiro or PT/OT but not both. I haven't had any trouble with out of netwrok coverage for my patients so far thank God.Infact as I mentioned before due to unique skill set about 11 families are being reimbursed as if it was an in network deal. Maybe you should approach chiro like that. I know Marc was a PT (I think). Don't know if he still has an active license.Maybe he was an exercise physio, Im not sure. But if its PT then maybe he would be willing to help you go that route with invoices etc. I find PT and OT is essential anyways for Lymies and its been getting covered so far in my clinic since we include therapy evals which insurance companies ask for sometimes and which are needed for school 504 plans and incorporate Holistic into that. Several insurance companies still consider Sensory Integration as Holistic, experimental as we know inspite of Jean Ayers methods being around for several decades. Who knows when ART will be covered!.But Chiro not being covered is a shame.

[philamom]

sptcmom- I asked them if there was any other avenue they could bill it under, but they said no. They were suprised my insurance (Aetna) didn't cover chiropractor, but it's the plan that my husband gets through work. I think most with Aetna have some sort of coverage. I will inquire again...thanks for the suggestions.

[MichaelTampa]

I have aetna and they have covered chiropractors on more than one occasion. But, it could be the plan is different based on what the employer has set up with aetna.

[philamom]

Michael- yes, it's because of the way it was set up with my husband's employer. But, it is funny how my CD57 is not covered with Aetna and you have no problem.

 

Jodie- I think it's exercise physiology - not PT, but I'll ask again. I will be stopping in on Tuesday to pick up something. thx