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Biological Terrain Assessment

Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Biological Terrain Assessment (BTA) is a computerized analysis of blood, urine and saliva specimens used to recommend nutritional programs, vitamin and mineral supplements, homeopathic products, and/or herbs. Proponents claim that BTA gives evidence of disease at cellular level which enables one to detect and correct any imbalance before a condition becomes pathological and requires more invasive medical procedures. The Grieshaber Group, of Schiltach, Germany, which markets the BTA system, states that it is useful for diagnosing immune-system diseases; allergies and auto-immune diseases; metabolic diseases; environmental/toxicological diseases; heart/circulatory diseases; nervous-system diseases (CFS, MS); chronic diseases and chronic/toxic diseases of the digestive organs; degenerative diseases of the skeletal system; and viral and bacterial infectious inflammatory diseases. Proponents attribute BTA's present status to Robert Greenberg, D.C., of Payson, Arizona, who is said to have extended the work of Professor Janos Kameney of Budapest and French hydrologist Professor Claude Vincent.

Biological Technologies International of Manchester, Massachusetts, a company founded by Greenberg, markets the BTA S-2000 and sponsors seminars for chiropractors and other offbeat practitioners. The company promises to "provide the most advanced instruments and technologies in the world to support predictive and preventative healthcare." [1] The list price of the device is $13,129, with various lease options available. Company literature states that Greenberg designed the device in 1994 [2]. and that the average practitioner using it charges $150 per test and does 20 to 25 tests per week, thus generating $153,000 to $192,000 per year for the tests alone [3]. According to Greenberg:

• Biological Terrain practitioners clinically monitor the entire internal biochemical environment of the body. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the in-depth elements within the patients chemistry and prescribe the exact forms of treatment to help the patients regain and maintain a healthy internal biochemical environment. Doing so at a chemical level can then, in time, translate vitality and health to every cell, tissue, organ and gland within the patients body.
• The specimens of blood, urine, and saliva are analyzed by a device called a BTA S-2000, which determines the pH, resistivity, and redox values of each of these fluids.
• These factors are the indicators of the nature and processes of the individual's unique biochemistry, including the current status and activities of its enzymes, amino acids and other vital building blocks of life.
• The pH of these fluids can indicate whether the patient's system is too acidic or too alkaline, whether enzymatic activity in the body is occurring properly and if digestion and absorption of vitamins, minerals and nutrients are occurring adequately. It can also alert the health-care provider of the presence of damaging environmental or industrial contaminants, substances that can prove very damaging to the body's delicate chemistry.
• The oxidation-reduction values indicate the state of oxygen in the individual's system. Because of the effects of stress, poor air and food quality, and the lack of aerobic exercise typical of most Americans, these values are generally much lower than they should be to sustain a healthy body. If these values remain low for extended periods of time, the body becomes more susceptible to illness, disease, degeneration and premature aging.
• The three redox values that are obtained and studied give the practitioner important information about the electron potential and movement within the body. Such information alerts the health provider of the degree of oxidative damage as well as the potential of vital and life-sustaining chemical reactions.
• The nine values are then analyzed and plotted by the instrument's computer software onto a report that contains graphs and charts. The data are then assessed by the practitioner and used as a teaching guide to share with the patient.
• Although the testing procedure does not diagnose any specific pathology or disease states, it does serve as an analytical guide post that tremendously aids in the overall evaluation of the patient.
• Most Biological Terrain practitioners also incorporate many other forms of objective and subjective examinations and evaluations that, coupled with BTA S-2000 data, provide a deeper understanding of the biochemistry that is being affected or compromised.
• This, in turn, enables the practitioner to formulate a very accurate diagnosis and precise treatment protocol.

I believe that the above rationale is nonsensical and that Biological Terrain Analysis has no legitimate diagnostic value.

Reference

1. Biological Technologies Industries. Promotional folder distributed in 1998.

2. Biological Technologies Industries. The 10 most frequently asked questions about Biological Terrain Assessment and the BTA S-2000. Undates flyer, distributed in 1998.

3. Biological Technologies Industries. If you seek meaningful results for your patient and a revenue generator for you practice consider the benefits of owning the BTA S-2000 for only $249.95 per month. Undated flyer, distributed in 1998.

 

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