The
Endocardiograph was developed in 1937 by Dr. Royal Lee, founder of Standard
Process Laboratories, a pioneering and unequalled manufacturer and grower of
nutritional products. It was modernized with transistors to become the ACG. One
of the most powerful tools used in integrative and nutritional therapy is the
ACG recording.
The
ACG records the vibrations of the heart as the blood moves through the various
chambers, valves, and large vessels, hence the name Acoustic CardioGraph. The
ACG records these vibrations at four locations of the heart and provides a
"graph signature." While the opening and closing of the heart valves
contributes to the graph, so does the contraction and strength of the heart muscle. As a result a dynamic picture is presented of the
heart in motion. If the heart is efficient and without
stress, the graph is smooth and clear. If the heart is inefficient,
there are definite patterns associated each type of contributing dysfunction.
The
ACG is not the same as an EKG, which is a common diagnostic test. The
electrocardiograph (EKG) records only surface the electrical impulses as it
moves through the nerves of the heart tissue. The EKG primarily indicates if
the nervous tissue network of the heart is affected by any trauma, damage (for
example from a prior heart attack or infection), severe nutritional imbalances,
stress from excessive pressure. Only the effect on the
nervous system is detected. It will not tell how well the muscle or valves are
functioning, etc. In addition, the EKG is primarily used to diagnose a disease.
The
ACG not only looks at electrical function but also looks at heart muscle
function, which serves as a window of the metabolism of the entire nervous
system and the muscles. Using the heart allows a "real-time" look at
the nerves and muscles working together. As a result of this interface, unique
and objective insights into health of the heart and the entire person can
better be seen. There are few other studies available that give this kind of
information.
Royal
Lee was well aware of the value of the ACG since he proclaimed, "The
heart is the most reflective muscle of balanced nutrition or
malnutrition…" In other words, the ACG report enables the doctor to
"hear" by "seeing" heart function on the graph. In this way
the heart sounds (technically the vibrations) serve as a reflection of the
balanced body chemistry, nutrition, and overall function of your body's
systems. The ACG thus changes the focus from detecting disease to prevention
and nutritional support not just of the heart but of the heart and the patient.
While
we are careful not to discuss using the ACG to make a "diagnosis",
the ACG "signature graphs" can suggest:
- Whether your muscle function is optimal.
- Your heart rate and rhythm.
- If your body's chemistry is balanced.
- Are there nutritional imbalances or deficiencies?
1.
Vitamin
B need
2.
Vitamin
E need
3.
Tendency
toward poor oxygenation
4.
Electrolyte
deficiency
5.
Need
for fatty acids
6.
Calcium
utilization
7.
Adrenal
function
8.
Pulmonary
pressure
9.
Is
your blood pressure (even if "normal") straining your heart?
10. Liver and gallbladder function
By
monitoring the ACG over time, the effectiveness of your nutritional and
lifestyle program can be assessed. The ACG is an excellent discriminator of the
quality of a nutritional supplement. For example, if the pattern suggesting a
need for a specific fraction of B vitamins is seen, chewing a few tablets of
the proper nutritional product will improve or normalize the graph. This is
part of the way that Royal Lee created the Standard Process products using
whole food concentrates. The ACG usually will not show that a synthetic B
vitamin will help nourish the heart and normalize the graph. In fact, they may
make it worse. This is one of the compelling objective reasons why food based
nutrition is superior to the synthetic vitamins sold in most pharmacies, health
food stores, etc.
Each
type of imbalance, deficiency or dysfunction has a characteristic "graph
signature". The ACG helps detect such dysfunctions and deficiencies, and
the supportive treatment should take these observations into account.
