Holistic Health What Is Electrodermal Screening? By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Meredith Bull, ND on March 28, 2020 facebook linkedin Meredith Bull, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Los Angeles. She helped co-author the first integrative geriatrics textbook, "Integrative Geriatric Medicine." Learn about our Medical Review Board Meredith Bull, ND on March 28, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents History How It Works Research An Ineffective Tool A Word From Verywell Electrodermal screening (EDS) is a diagnostic method used in alternative medicine. By measuring the skin's electrical resistance, electrodermal screening is said to detect energy imbalances along meridians (invisible lines of energy flow in traditional Chinese medicine). PeopleImages / Getty Images According to proponents, electrodermal screening may help to detect and treat illnesses such as allergies, organ weakness, food intolerances, nutritional deficiencies, and more. However, the research on EDS is limited and inconclusive and the procedure is not considered effective. History EDS was developed in Europe in the 1950s based on the theory that there is a connection between the skin’s electrical characteristic and the health of internal organs and measuring electrical signals on the skin can be used to diagnose health conditions. EDS combines the philosophical roots of classical Chinese acupuncture along with the principle of galvanometric skin differentials. The technology was developed by German physician Reinhard Voll as a way to bring the practice of acupuncture into the future by providing objective measures to select acupuncture points. Today, EDS goes by many names including Bioelectric Functions Diagnosis (BFD), Bio Resonance Therapy (BRT), Bioenergy Regulatory Technique (BER), Biocybernetic Medicine (BM), Computerized Electrodermal Screening (CEDS), electrodiagnosis, and point testing. EDS, sometimes called EAV or Electroacupuncture according to Voll, is typically performed by alternative health practitioners and chiropractors. In some cases, EDS is used by people selling nutritional supplements or essential oils to guide customer purchasing decision. There are no widely recognized standards for training or certification for practicing EDS. In the United States, EDS devices are sold as biofeedback tools and providers may not make health claims or diagnose the disease based on scan results. Dozens of EDS devices are available, including AcuGraph, Bio-Tron, Biomeridian, BioScan, Diacom, Meridian Energy Analysis Device (MEAD), Oberon, Orion System, SpectraVision, and ZYTO. How It Works During the screening, a person typically holds a probe in one hand, while a second probe touches another part of the body. A tiny electrical current (which cannot be detected by the person being tested) is sent through the circuit and a reading is made on a galvanometer between 0 and 100. Readings are taken at different places on the skin, corresponding with acupuncture points, to determine if there is an imbalance in a person's energy which may signal illness. In addition, a potentially allergenic substance may be placed in a holder on the circuit—a higher reading on the galvanometer suggests a greater sensitivity to the substance, according to proponents. Some EDS machinery uses a hand cradle instead of multiple probes, such as a ZYTO scan. Modern EDS tools can also be connected to a computer that uses a special program to read results. Testing can take as little as 3 minutes and can be performed in an office or in your home. To prepare for a scan, it is recommended that you do not use any lotion on your skin prior to the appointment. You should also drink plenty of water before the test to ensure adequate hydration. Research There is currently a lack of scientific evidence to support the use of electrodermal therapy for any health purpose. The most promising study of EDS was published in the South African Medical Journal in 2004. Researchers used organ electrodermal diagnostics to assess 200 hospital patients with previously confirmed illnesses of the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, kidneys, urinary bladder, or prostate. The tool successfully detected illness in 88 percent of scans. A 2017 study in the Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies suggests EDS can be useful in determining the health of asthma patients. The study measured Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) along with scans using the Acugraph 4 machine in 50 subjects with asthma and 50 healthy control subjects and found meridian conductances were lower for the asthma group with significant differences noted at the lung and right bladder meridians. EDS has also been studied for the detection of mental health issues, including depression. According to a 2018 systematic review of 77 studies, monitoring electrodermal activity may help to differentiate the phases of mood disorders and determine whether depressed patients are at increased risk of suicide. The research, published in BMC Psychiatry, also found electrodermal activity may be affected by antidepressant treatment. An Ineffective Tool For the few promising studies available on EDS, there is even more research that debunks its use. Research published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 compared electrodermal testing to skin probe testing, a conventional method for detecting allergies. The study included 30 participants, 15 with confirmed allergies to dust mites or cat dander and 15 without known allergies. Investigators were unable to correctly identify individuals with predetermined allergies using EDS. A 2017 study published in the journal Missouri Medicine assessed the effectiveness of Zyto scans. The research involved one subject, who was tested 10 times a day over 43 days and found the results varied widely. The study authors concluded the Zyto scan's "assessments and recommendations were preposterous and potentially dangerous" and advocate for the banning the sale and clinical use of EDS devices. A Word From Verywell Given the lack of scientific support for electrodermal screening, it cannot currently be recommended for the diagnosis or treatment of any condition. If you're interested in trying it, make sure to consult your physician first. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying a conventional medical diagnosis and standard care can have serious consequences. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Szopinski JZ, Pantanowitz D, Lochner GP. Estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of organ electrodermal diagnostics. S Afr Med J. 2004;94(7):547-51. Ghosh K, Hankey A, Srinivasan TM. Electrodermal Screening of Asthmatics with AcuGraph 4. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2017;10(2):125-130. doi:10.1016/j.jams.2016.11.003 Lewith GT, Kenyon JN, Broomfield J, Prescott P, Goddard J, Holgate ST. Is electrodermal testing as effective as skin prick tests for diagnosing allergies? A double blind, randomised block design study. BMJ. 2001;322(7279):131-4. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7279.131 Barrett S. Close Examination of a ZYTO Electrodermal Screening System. Mo Med. 2017;114(4):238-244. Additional Reading Sarchiapone M, Gramaglia C, Iosue M, et al. The association between electrodermal activity (EDA), depression and suicidal behaviour: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMC Psychiatry. 2018 Jan 25;18(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12888-017-1551-4.