Positive Association Technique (PAT)
Interested in PAT as a treatment but are looking for more information, we will break down the science and what you can expect from a typical session.
Although it has only recently found its footing as a natural allergy treatment, its protocols are rooted in therapies that span three thousand years. Time-tested techniques, combined with modern equipment that supports the testing and treatment component, PAT has emerged as a powerful alternative to traditional treatments.
What is PAT (Positive Association Technique)?
PAT is a non-invasive, natural allergy treatment performed by qualified Naturopaths at Health & Wellness Australia and Auckland. PAT is based on a form of positive conditioning, utilizing kinesiology and acupressure techniques to help re-train your body to reduce your reactions to food, airborne and chemical substances.
PAT has been performed in Australia since 2003, and New Zealand since 2007, on more than 25,000 clients suffering from allergy symptoms and helps everyday people who are affected by anything from seasonal allergies, nasal congestion, food reactions and more.
The treatment evolved from over 20 years of collaborative research from health care professionals in the fields of acupuncture, kinesiology, naturopathy and acupressure. The holistic blend coupled with modern technology has led to a non-invasive, painless treatment which can be administered to clients of any age.
What typical symptoms are see regularly at our clinics?
We are proud to have used PAT to successfully help our clients manage with the below symptoms;
Digestive symptoms;
- Bloating
- Cramping
- Reflux
- Heartburn
- Gas
- Diarrhea
Nasal and respiratory symptoms;
- runny nose
- Sneezing
- Congestion
- Post-nasal drip
- Itchy watery eyes
- Coughs
- Wheezing
- Red scaly or itchy rashes
- Stuffy nose (blocked nasal passage)
- Shortness of breath
Skin symptoms;
- Hives
- Itchy skin
- Eczema
- Dermatitis
Mood and behavioural symptoms;
- Hyperactivity
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- And many other symptoms and combination of symptoms
How does PAT work?
PAT is all about re-training the body – just like a psychologist might work with a client to condition their mind and help them overcome an overreaction to a traumatic situation;
i.e. maybe as a child someone was scratched by a cat and now as an adult is always afraid of cats even through their now large adult size should issue such an attack by a cat unrealistic.
In the same way PAT is all about working with the body’s reaction to a substance.
A real allergy and a reaction may result in the same symptoms for a client. PAT does not aim to cure allergies or sensitivities, but to change the relationship between the major organs of the body and their reactions to what are actually harmless substances.
Reactions to the substance can manifest in different symptoms for different people. One person may react to soybean by getting rashes, while another reacts with sinus congestion, heartburn, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The symptoms in each case are indicative of a different organ system being triggered.
The body exhibits symptoms like those caused by a true allergy, without the immune system even getting involved. Fortunately, even in the case of a true allergy, when reactive organs are addressed, symptoms have a chance of being reduced or resolved.
Kinesiology and acupuncture in PAT Treatments
Scientific research and study has discovered that each organ has its own nervous system and ‘internal-brain’.
Kinesiology and acupuncture principles say that stimulation on specific points on the body, which directly accesses each organ’s nervous system can optimise its state.
In a PAT session, these points are gently stimulated along the spine and correspond with the location of the Sympathetic chain, which deals with “fight or flight” responses. By treating reactive organ systems via these points the original defensive state may be lowered, allowing for a healthier, less reactive, response.
Acupuncture principles but without the needles!
People are happy to learn that we do not use needles, but instead a precision-based acupressure technique to address the organ systems. This is highly effective against ‘defensive physiology’, which alters the state of the organ’s systems.
What to Expect from a PAT Consultation at Health And Wellness Australia & Auckland
Your first visit will include a discussion with our Naturopath who will work to identify which substances your body may be reacting to. They will do this by taking your patient history and using a non-invasive form of testing called muscle testing (or kinesiology).
After they get a better idea of what may be causing your symptoms, you will be given your first treatment for one substance group (e.g. salicylates or dust). The treatment involves gentle acupressure massage using a chiropractic tool known as an AcuStim to gently stimulate pressure points down either side of the spine while you are holding onto a sample of the trigger substance.
This stimulates the meridian pathways, which corresponds to the organ systems in the body, creating a positive conditioning effect. The aim is to reduce the negative reaction your body has towards the treatment substance.
Break down of a PAT session
A session is broken down to accomplish the identification of your trigger and then treatment to change your body’s reaction
1. BEGIN WITH YOUR STORY
We take the time to understand your symptom history, and how your symptoms affect your quality of life.
2. MUSCLE TESTING
We use muscle testing to assess your reactions to a wide range of foods, food components, airborne and chemical substances
3. TREATMENT
We do your first PAT treatment for one substance group (e.g. dust or dairy). Most clients only need one session per substance group.
4. SUPPORT YOU WITH PLANNING
You’ll receive a full list of the substances you’re reacting to, as well as treatment plan entailing your course of treatments.
During your Initial Consultation, your Naturopath will take a detailed history of your symptoms, perform a form of muscle testing for a wide range of food, airborne and chemical substances (depending on your symptoms), as well as a PAT treatment for one substance group.
For the muscle testing (kinesiology) component, you’ll lie on a treatment table and be asked to press your whole arm into the table, while your practitioner resists your pressure. You then hold on to different sample vials of each substance (e.g. dust mites, dairy, etc) and a change in your muscle pressure indicates a reaction to that substance.
Once the testing has been completed and it has been decided which substance to address first, the treatment involves holding onto the sample vial of the substance while the practitioner stimulates acupressure points down your spine using a chiropractic tool called an “Acustim”. This stimulation creates a positive conditioning effect, which aims to re-train your body to no longer react to the substance, and reduce your symptoms.
At the end of your Initial Consultation, you will receive a list of results for all the substances we tested, as well as a treatment plan. At each follow-up consultation your practitioner will re-check that your last treatment has “held” and then move on to the next substance group.
Why people choose PAT over traditional treatment to allergies and sensitivities
Why people love PAT’s non-invasive nature;
- No needles
- No herbal remedies
- No supplements
- No avoidance (in fact, you’ll be holding a vial of the substance in your hand).
PAT complements well with small lifestyle changes, so you can take PAT as a stand-alone treatment or a way to give yourself an extra boost in working with a complex condition.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- How many sessions will I need?
About 80-85% of clients only need one session per substance group, so the number of treatments usually just depends on how many substances are triggering your symptoms. - How long do the results last?
The treatments can last anywhere from a few months to 10 years, depending on the person. - Can PAT be performed on children? Yes, we see many children in the clinic, who often respond well to PAT. The
only difference when seeing a child under 10 years old is we use one of the parents as a “surrogate” tester for the muscle testing component, whereas the PAT component is exactly the same.
Pricing
Initial PAT Consultation (1 hour) – $185 AUD/NZD
**for new and returning clients who haven’t attended the clinic in 5+ years
Follow-Up PAT Consultation (30 mins) – $105 AUD/NZD
**for current clients only
Extended PAT Consultation (45 mins) – $155 AUD/NZD
**for returning clients who haven’t attended the clinic for 2-5 years
How can we help?
Positive Association Technique (PAT) can assist in the management of a wide range of allergy-related conditions.
PAT Practitioners
Meet our team of highly qualified Naturopaths, who perform Positive Association Technique (PAT).
Clinic Locations
We have clinic locations all over Australia, as well as in Auckland, New Zealand. Find a clinic near you.
How can PAT help you?
Get your free PAT Information E-PACK straight to your email inbox