Hi David, as a follow up to some of these allergy testing questions....You mentioned practitioner bias in muscle testing... and the problems with allergy testing....and you don't recommend elimination diets....so how would you pinpoint a food sensitivity opposed to an allergy? I went to a nutritionist who did muscle testing on me and said I shouldn't eat wheat, dairy, citrus, or anything in the Solanaceae...how else could you determine this in someone? Also, have you noticed anyone with sensitivity to Solanaceae reacting negatively to Ashwagandha and if so, in what way? Thank you, Jessa

I do use elimination diets on occasion, muscle testing is in my opinion (and I was trained in this practice many decades ago) is totally bogus. Food allergies and food sensitivities are really quite different. Food allergies cause allergic reactions hives, itching, mouth and throat swelling, and in serious cases anaphylaxis. Food sensitivities on the other hand cause non-allergic symptoms such as headaches/migraines, “arthritic pain”, excess mucus production, etc. By the way nightshade sensitivities are actually quite rare and the compound that people read to to Solasodine, is not found in Ashwaganbdha. Personally I can usually determine if someone has food allergies or sensitivities by looking at what they eat and what symptoms they have. If I am not sure I may asl someone to eliminate all gluten or dairy for 6-8 weeks (one at a time) to see if symptoms improve.