Functional Terrain Assessment

Many of the chronic diseases afflicting our population today are functional in nature meaning that conventional testing is often unable to observe laboratory abnormalities. In addition, certain chronic degenerative trends within an individual can lead to various disease states, and resolution of these trends can lead to significant clinical  improvements. The functional terrain assessments performed at Marsden Centre are useful in elucidating the common degenerative trends at work in an individual patient. With this information we can develop comprehensive treatment protocols that address these trends.

BE-TA (Biological Terrain Analysis)

Bioelectronics of Vincent Terrain Analysis or BE-TA is a method of assessment developed by the French hydrologist Claude Vincent. This device enables the doctor to discover degenerative tendencies, possible areas of stress and infection, and assess detoxification within the patient. Professor Vincent theorized that all living systems could be described by a set of electronic variables.These variables are pH, rH2 and r.

pH is a measurement of acidity and alkalinity. The lower the pH value of a sample the more acidic it is and the higher the pH the more alkaline it is.

rH2 or redox potential is a measurement of oxidation within a sample. Oxidation is a measurement of the ability of our body to do work.

The more oxidized an individual is the less able their body is to carry out normal metabolism. To get a good idea of this phenomenon imagine a car. A car that becomes oxidized gets rusty. As more and more rust develops, the car cannot run. In this same way, increased oxidation impedes the maximal work of the body.

r or resistivity is a measurement of ion concentration in a sample. By measuring resistivity in various body fluids a physician can assess mineralization, toxic burden, detoxification capabilities and much more.

At the Marsden Centre of Naturopathic Excellence, Naturopathic Doctors measure blood, urine and saliva using the BEV. This gives a detailed picture of the patient’s terrain (state of the tissue).

The BEV is considered an experimental device valid for research purposes only. Marsden Centre makes no claims of diagnosis or treatment of illness with this device.

Click for more Information on Darkfield Microscopes

The darkfield microscope is unique because of its special optics and light condenser. A darkfield microscope redirects light by its mirrors so that it shines obliquely on the specimen. This is what gives the dark image of shadows seen through the eyepiece. Light field microscopy requires staining of the sample before viewing in order to visualize the slide. This causes cell death. Darkfield microscopy however can provide physicians with live cells for viewing which has significant assessment applications.

The darkfield microscope is considered an experimental device valid for research purposes only. Marsden Centre makes no claims of diagnosis or treatment with this device.

Urinary Indican Test (Obermeyer Test)

The essential amino acid tryptophan is converted to indole by intestinal bacteria (tryptophan is a common component of protein in the diet). Following absorption, indole is converted to indoxyl or indican in the liver. The indican is then transported to the kidney where it is excreted. By using the Obermeyer reagent one can measure the amount of indican present in the urine. High amounts of indican can indicate overgrowth of bacterial organisms in the intestines.

Koenisberg Test (Urinary Adrenal Stress Test)

“The urinary adrenal stress test” measures the amount of chloride displaced into the urine. Increased or decreased levels of chloride in the urine are a reliable measurement of adrenal stress or fatigue, kidney stress, mineral loss from the body and acid-alkaline imbalance.