Also, most importantly, liquids drunk on a daily basis will be closely examined. In addition to diet, nutritional supplements are likely to be recommended. It is not always possible to get all the nutrients one requires from food and in the case of an illness such as ME, certain nutrient requirements may be higher than even the best diet can provide. Assessment methods vary practitioner to practitioner. In most cases, the first session will involve taking a detailed case history.
Some practitioners also require clients to keep a diary of their typical diet.
Nowadays, many NT practitioners are also using laboratory testing to assess physiological function. These tests do not diagnose illness, but rather provide detailed information about how a particular body system is functioning. These are becoming more commonly used and can be valuable. Other highly sophisticated computerised tools are also being employed, though less commonly. These include the Listen System, which uses acupuncture points to monitor variations in the energy resistance of the body and selects appropriate homoeopathic remedies, supplements or other medications according to acute and chronic imbalances, and BodyScan which is a similar assessment and prescriptive tool to the Listen System.