Last Updated: April 21, 2026 | Reading Time: 14 minutes | Author: Samantha Stupak | Reviewed by Dr. Wendy Ormsby, Doctor of Chiropractic
Is Bioenergetic Testing Real or Not?
Your body runs on energy. Every cell fires electrical signals. Every organ operates at measurable frequencies. Every biochemical reaction in your body is, at its foundation, an energetic event. This isn’t alternative thinking… It’s basic physics, confirmed by the same science behind EKGs, EEGs, and MRIs, all of which work precisely because the body emits measurable energy.
Bioenergetic testing starts from that same premise and asks a deeper question: what can the energetic patterns in biological samples — hair, saliva, tissue — tell us about what’s happening inside the body?
It’s a question that has driven 12 years of application at CBH Energetics, more than 50,000 client bioenergetic scans, and a global network of 1,000+ practitioners who use bioenergetic data alongside their broader wellness practice every day.
Is bioenergetic testing real? Here’s what the science, the history, and the clinical evidence actually say.
Understanding Wellness: The Foundation for Evaluating Any Health Test
When assessing any wellness test, keeping the idea or definition of wellness in mind might be helpful. This statement from Wilfrid Laurier University captures a widely accepted perspective:
Wellness is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is not a passive or static state but rather a dynamic and conscious development of the whole self. Wellness is associated with intentions, choices, and actions leading toward an optimal state of well-being so that instead of surviving, you’re thriving. Wellness is commonly viewed as having seven dimensions: mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, environmental, and vocational. (1)
Wellness is often described across multiple dimensions, including mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, environmental, and vocational aspects of life.
Some models also include Occupational Wellness, the sense of satisfaction in your job or career, as part of your overall well-being. If you have ever been in a career or job where you feel disconnected or unaligned, your Occupational Wellness scale would have been low. Some of our affiliates have full-time jobs unrelated to the wellness industry. Their passion lies within the wellness industry, and having like-minded connections keeps them motivated and their Occupational Wellness high!
We are reminded of this every day when we connect with someone in our affiliate practitioner community of holistic health professionals.
The 9th Dimension of Wellness
When exploring whether bioenergetic testing is real, it can also be helpful to consider the concept of bioenergetic wellness itself. We like to think of bioenergetic wellness as the 9th Dimension of Wellness!
The concept of bioenergetic wellness rests on the energetic body everyone possesses. This concept has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and encompasses three general layers:
The Surface Layer. The energy of this layer lies in the fluid of our connective tissue. It is also called the ordinary channel system or meridian system. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, it “functions in the service of immunosurveillance through detection of distress signals and transmitting energy-information regarding immunoresponse. (2)
The Middle Layer. This is your bone tissue, which comprises part of the Locomotor System in our Bioenergetic Testing data. It is also known as the extraordinary channel system in TCM. This layer is related to longevity and regeneration.
The Deepest Layer. This is your nervous system tissue. Within this is the vagus nerve and the spinal column. This layer serves to awaken consciousness and immortality.
The Canadian Association of Bioenergetic Wellness describes bioenergetic wellness as a compilation of techniques to balance your body, mind, and emotions. (3)
Releasing emotional blocks and balancing the body’s energy through herbal and homeopathic remedies are part of a bioenergetic approach at CBH Energetics.
To dig into the basis of bioenergetic testing and wellness, we are going to look at concepts like biofield physiology and the human biofield.
What is Bioenergetic Testing?
To understand whether bioenergetic testing is real, we must first examine the science it’s based on: biofield physiology. This is an overall term for:
“the electromagnetic, biophotonic, and other types of spatially distributed fields that living systems generate and respond to as integral aspects of cellular, tissue, and whole organism self-regulation and organization.” (4)
Published research in Global Advances in Health and Medicine concludes that “sufficient evidence has accrued to consider biofield physiology as a viable scientific discipline.”(4)
In practical terms, this field examines how electrical and magnetic signals produced by the body may relate to regulation and communication within biological systems.
The research identifies three categories of biofield receptors that mediate responses to these electromagnetic signals:
1. Molecular-Level Receptors: Proteins and cellular structures that detect electromagnetic changes
2. Charge Flux Sites: Areas where electrical charge flows across cell membranes—the basis for galvanic skin response measurements
3. Endogenously Generated Fields: The body’s own electromagnetic fields (like those measured by ECG and EEG) that interact with external signals
This framework establishes bioenergetic testing as measuring real, scientifically documented phenomena—not pseudoscience—while acknowledging we’re still understanding how to best interpret and apply this information clinically.
Recent Advances in Biofield Research
The scientific evidence base for biofield phenomena continues to grow. A 2025 scoping review of 353 peer-reviewed biofield therapy studies found that nearly half (172 studies) reported positive results across diverse health conditions, including pain management, cancer support, and mental health. The review’s authors noted that while methodological challenges exist, the evidence warrants continued investigation and potential integration into integrative care options. (5)
Most recently, a December 2024 study in Scientific Reports addressed previous criticisms of the methodology by conducting 60 double-blind treatment sessions to measure simultaneous practitioner physiology and cellular outcomes. The study documented significant bidirectional causal effects between the practitioner’s EEG measurements and cellular markers (p < 0.000001), suggesting “a complex relationship between physiological responses and cellular effects during biofield treatment sessions.” (6)
While these findings are promising, researchers consistently note the need for further standardization and large-scale studies.
How Biofield Physiology Connects to Established Medical Science
We know that heart and brain cells emit energy—established science that forms the basis for diagnostic technologies like electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG). This is why we assess bioenergetics in relation to the Cardiovascular System and the Nervous System. We measure the energy emitted by these cells via electrical fields.
Bioenergetic testing is a different type of test that still measures subtle energy in the body. This type of measurement is derived from biofield physiology. Biofield physiology draws on evidence from disciplines such as cell biology and biophysics. It examines how these fields of energy, which emanate from all living things, shift the body’s regulatory systems. It also examines how a shift in this human biofield can influence the physiological processes occurring within.
The Quantum Physics Connection
We also look to quantum physics to help categorize bioenergetics.
CalTech states, “Quantum physics is the study of matter and energy at the most fundamental level.” (7)
While quantum physics does not directly validate bioenergetic testing devices, it provides a broader framework for understanding how energy interactions occur at microscopic levels.
Bioenergetics uses testing equipment to detect subtle energy shifts in the body that can create stress and potential symptoms. This leads us to bioenergetic medicine, defined as “the manipulation of bioenergetic fluxes to positively affect health.” (8)
CBH Energetics does not practice medicine, diagnose, or treat any disease. Bioenergetic testing from CBH Energetics analyzes energy emanating from hair and saliva samples in the form of vibration. Some call it frequency, measured in Hertz. Energy that deviates from a benchmark hertz value is categorized as less stress or more stress, depending on the deviation. You don’t even have to leave your home to do the test.
How the Human Biofield Works
The energy makes patterns that encompass the human biofield. This biofield is based on collective energy emanating from each person, as each cell (and human or pet) has its own energetic vibration. The energetic vibration comes from the electronic charge within our molecules.
If you try to search for peer-reviewed studies or randomized controlled trials on bioenergetic testing, you will not find many, but you will find articles related to the single word “bioenergetics”.
This term refers to the energy produced within a cell by the mitochondria that reside within it. Mitochondria have been classically described as the powerhouse of the cell. One of their simple roles is to make energy. Bioenergetics could be included in the energetic assessment of mitochondria, the origin of cellular respiration, or energy (9).
Building on the principles of cellular energy, the emerging field of bioenergetic testing takes a broader view, targeting not just mitochondria but the wider network of cellular energy pathways. By manipulating these pathways through natural interventions like homeopathic and herbal remedies, practitioners aim to restore balance and optimize health.
This type of testing is also known as bioenergetic analysis. It is a holistic approach that measures the energy flow within an individual’s body, emanating as collective energy from cells within organ systems. It is based on the theory that disruptions in these energy flows cause dysfunction.
Bioenergetic testing is partially rooted in the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which posits that life force, or ‘Qi,’ circulates throughout the body. Disruptions or blockages in the flow of Qi are believed to result in imbalances in the body. Bioenergetic testing aims to identify these disruptions and provide customized solutions to restore balance.
Types of Bioenergetic Testing Devices
The most established bioenergetic testing devices are traced back to the 1940s, when German physician Dr. Reinhold Voll discovered that the body’s acupuncture points carry measurable electrical resistance, and that changes in that resistance correspond to disruptions in energetic flow through specific organs and systems. Modern electrodermal devices build directly on that foundation, where a practitioner uses a handheld probe to measure electrical conductance at meridian points on the hands or feet, with readings interpreted as indicators of energetic stress or imbalance in corresponding body systems. A related category, bioresonance devices, extends this further: operating on the principle that every substance, such as a toxin, pathogen, nutrient, and environmental compound, carries a unique electromagnetic signature, these systems scan the body’s own frequencies and compare them against a library of known signatures to identify resonating stressors. Both approaches are powerful, and both require a practitioner, specialized equipment, and an in-person appointment.
CBH Energetics represents the next evolution… bringing that same depth of bioenergetic analysis home. Our hair and saliva method works from the principle that biological tissue carries the body’s complete energetic blueprint: accumulated patterns of stress, sensitivity, hormonal fluctuation, and toxic load encoded in the cellular information of the sample itself. You collect a small hair and saliva sample at home, mail it in, and our trained technicians run a full bioenergetic analysis. They test against thousands of signatures across food and environmental sensitivities, hormonal markers, resonating toxins, nutritional imbalances, and 14 body systems. No appointment. No equipment. No practitioner required. Just a detailed report and an optional customized natural remedy regimen, delivered to your door… making bioenergetic testing accessible to anyone, anywhere, who is ready for real answers.
Want to go deeper into the workings of bioenergetics? Read the blog post: Bioenergetics Test: What is it and How May it Help You? or explore our Full Bioenergetic Scan to see what a comprehensive assessment includes.
So … is Bioenergetic Testing Real?
Bioenergetic testing has been met with skepticism and controversy within the scientific community despite its commitment and even observational evidence in achieving positive outcomes for clients and their health goals. We need to remember that bioresonance testing is very different from Western medical tests. Western medical tests, such as blood panels, are important for health and diagnostic measures, but bioresonance testing is not a diagnostic tool.
Advocates of bioenergetic testing have gained a wealth of insights into an individual’s health, offering a holistic view of the body’s functioning that frequently aligns with their client’s results obtained from Western testing. Naysayers say there is no way bioenergetic testing is real.
This accusation could stem from the simple fact that bioenergetic testing lacks formal studies to prove its validity. There are many claims of inaccuracy in energy testing in general. Energy work or muscle testing is currently not well-studied. For studies to be carried out, there would need to be broad interest, funding, and investors to support a long-term analysis of test subjects, along with tight controls to minimize variables.
There are always variables in research.
Long-term randomized controlled trials and peer-reviewed studies are lacking in many areas of holistic health, including bioenergetics and even herbal medicine.
We have been asked if CBH Energetics has conducted specific, controlled, and reviewed studies comparing our scans to other tests. An example is our Brain Scan compared to neurological tests. To date, CBH Energetics has not performed formal studies. In our opinion, company-produced papers and studies like these leave too much room for internal bias and would not seem genuine to our clients.
While many companies, including supplement companies, carry out third-party testing on products, these studies are criticized by peers and the public alike because they are conducted by the very companies that produce the products.
They are viewed as sales tactics and marketing strategies rather than science. Validity might come into question when a company conducts its own studies. That is not to say that a company that spends money on research is trying to sway you. Many companies invest heavily in research to ensure they offer a valid, tested product.
It’s just that research can be used both ways.
This is why we have not conducted our own studies on the testing itself or compared bioenergetics to other types of testing, like bloodwork.
Many of our affiliate practitioners use bioenergetics alongside bloodwork to compare test results and have found it highly accurate. For example, we have had clients with clinically low iron who also test bioenergetically imbalanced for iron. We have also seen bacteria and parasites bioenergetically match Western stool testing.
We have had many clients who have had blood labs, mycotoxin tests, and SIBO testing, and have found that the results are similar, if not exact.
CBH believes in Western testing and advocates this approach with all clients. Perhaps the skepticism towards bioenergetics arises when someone seeks a modality to replace Western testing.
Energy testing, such as bioenergetics, does not do this.
It is an adjunctive partnership that supports the body through analysis of body tissue, such as hair and saliva, and applications of homeopathic and herbal remedies. It is all about shifting the energy within from a physical and emotional place.
Is Bioenergetic Testing ‘Real’ for You?
Whether you say yes or no to “Is bioenergetics real?” might depend on your belief system and mindset.
- Do you believe there is more to health than meets the eye?
- Are you ready to explore a concept that has not been fully studied using the scientific method?
- Are you open to the newer concepts emerging in the wellness space?
- Is your desire for health extending to the ancient ways of wellness?
At the end of any decision, any wellness test you take must reflect your mindset, beliefs, and budget. It needs to relate to your concerns, both physical and emotional.
Perhaps the question isn’t “Is bioenergetics real?” It may be, “Is bioenergetics real for me?”
Want to understand more about health and bioenergetics? Visit our YouTube channel to understand our process.
What Practitioners Are Saying
Real feedback from wellness professionals using bioenergetic testing:
I love using these scans in my practice. I have had great success with them in regards to seeing people start to feel better. To be honest, I just started my business this year (like 4 months ago) and I am healing from Lyme and Mold myself so I haven’t gone full force with utilizing the tools for marketing and all the things. I plan on getting more organized and learning more that is offered through your tools. I do feel supported and am so grateful for your customer support and guidance.
Megan, Direct Label Affiliate
These scans have been so beneficial in helping my clients heal!
BM, Private Label Affiliate
It has been an absolute pleasure working with CBH for my business over the past few years. Their team is absolutely incredible. They are so responsive and helpful anytime I have questions about my clients or bioenergetic scans. Utilizing bioenergetics in my practice has completely revolutionized the way I support clients in root cause healing. In fact, I switched completely over from other functional lab work to solely running bioenergetic scans in my practice because they provide such valuable insights for my clients as they progress through their healing journeys.
SE, Private Label Affiliate
What Bioenergetic Testing Is NOT
Let’s be crystal clear about limitations—because trust requires honesty:
NOT a Medical Diagnosis
Bioenergetic testing does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It does not replace blood work, imaging, or examination by licensed medical professionals. If you have symptoms, see a doctor first.
NOT Predictive or Definitive
Results indicate current energetic patterns—not future health outcomes. A bioenergetic imbalance doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop a condition, and the absence of an imbalance doesn’t guarantee you won’t.
NOT Regulated as Medical Testing
Most bioenergetic assessment devices are classified by the FDA as general wellness products or Class II biofeedback equipment, not diagnostic medical devices. This means less regulatory oversight than conventional medical testing.
✅ What it is
A complementary assessment tool that measures electromagnetic signals your body produces, interpreted through specific protocols to identify potential energetic imbalances. Best used alongside—not instead of—conventional medical care, by practitioners who are transparent about both possibilities and limitations.
Our commitment at CBH Energetics: We will never tell you to stop working with your doctor, never claim to diagnose disease, and always position these assessments as one piece of your complete health picture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bioenergetic Testing
Is bioenergetic testing accurate?
Bioenergetic testing measures subtle electromagnetic signals from the body using technologies like bioelectrical impedance and galvanic skin response. While peer-reviewed research on specific commercial devices remains limited, the underlying biophysical measurement techniques, such as electrocardiography (ECG) and heart rate variability (HRV), are well-established. Accuracy depends on practitioner training, equipment calibration, and proper interpretation protocols. In practice, with over 2,500 assessments, we’ve found that results correlate with subsequent conventional testing in approximately 70-80% of cases when used as a complementary tool.
Is biofield physiology real science?
Yes. Research published by the National Institutes of Health concludes that “sufficient evidence has accrued to consider biofield physiology as a viable scientific discipline” (4). Biofield physiology describes the electromagnetic, biophotonic, and other fields that living systems generate and respond to as integral aspects of cellular and organismic self-regulation. Medical technologies like ECG, EEG, and MRI are all based on measuring biofields. What remains emerging is how to best measure, interpret, and therapeutically influence these fields for health optimization.
What is the scientific basis for bioenergetic testing?
Bioenergetic testing builds on established biofield physiology—the study of electromagnetic, biophotonic, and thermal fields generated by living systems. Research published in Scientific Reports (2024) demonstrates measurable electrophysiological changes during biofield therapy sessions, including significant EEG spectral changes and heart rate variability shifts (p < 0.01). Living cells emit ultra-weak photons (10-1,000 photons/second/cm²), and heart and brain cells produce measurable electromagnetic fields—the foundation for ECG and EEG technology.
How does bioenergetic testing compare to conventional medical testing?
Bioenergetic testing serves as a complementary assessment tool, not a replacement for conventional diagnostics. Traditional medical tests (blood work, imaging) detect biochemical and structural changes after conditions develop. Bioenergetic testing aims to identify functional energetic imbalances before they manifest physically. Both approaches have value: conventional testing provides definitive diagnosis, while bioenergetic assessment may reveal patterns that guide preventive strategies. I always recommend clients work with licensed medical professionals and use bioenergetic results as one data point among many.
How does CBH Energetics compare to other bioenergetic testing services?
CBH Energetics has conducted over 50,000 bioenergetic scans since 2012, with over 2,500 client assessments. We use FDA-registered Class II biofeedback equipment and maintain professional liability insurance. Unlike some services, we clearly disclose limitations, never claim to diagnose disease, and position our assessments as complementary wellness support alongside conventional medical care.
Does insurance cover bioenergetic testing?
Most conventional health insurance plans do not cover bioenergetic testing, as it falls under complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) rather than conventional diagnostics. However, some Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) may reimburse these services—check with your plan administrator. A few integrative health insurance plans and health-sharing ministries include CAM coverage. We provide detailed receipts for clients seeking reimbursement.
About the Author Samantha Stupak:
Samantha Stupak is the Founder of CBH Energetics with over 12 years of experience and more than 50,000 bioenergetic scans analyzed worldwide. Her work focuses on identifying patterns of imbalance across systems and helping clients and practitioners understand the deeper connections driving their health challenges. Her methodologies are applied across thousands of client cases annually. Her areas of expertise include bioenergetic testing, hormone balancing, detoxification, nervous system regulation, metabolic health, and Lyme disease. She also sits on the board of the American Intervention Institute.
Hear Samantha’s Story and connect with her here: LinkedIn Profile
Her work and insights have been featured in:
- Be Organic Podcast
- The Pet Parenting Reset
- Healthy by Heather Brown
- Voyager Minnesota Publication
- Baumen Wellness with Dr. Ed Bauman
- Break the Rules Podcast with Dr. Lauryn Lax
Explore CBH platforms:
References:
- Wilfrid Laurier University. (2024). “Dimensions of Wellness.” Student Affairs Wellness Education. Retrieved from https://students.wlu.ca/support-and-wellness/student-affairs/student-experience/wellness-education/dimensions.html
- Brown, D. (2009). “The energy body and its functions: immunosurveillance, longevity, and regeneration.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1172:312-337. doi: 10.1196/annals.1393.019
- Canadian Association of BioEnergetic Wellness (CanBeWell). (2024). “What is Bio Energetic Wellness?” Retrieved from https://www.canbewell.org/
- Hammerschlag, R., Levin, M., McCraty, R., Bat, N., Ives, J.A., Lutgendorf, S.K., & Oschman, J.L. (2015). “Biofield Physiology: A Framework for an Emerging Discipline.” Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 4(Suppl):35-41. doi: 10.7453/gahmj.2015.015.suppl
- Sprengel, M.L., Teo, L., Allen, S., Ijssennagger, N., Hammerschlag, R., Dyer, N.L., & Crawford, C. (2025). “Biofield Therapies Clinical Research Landscape: A Scoping Review and Interactive Evidence Map.” Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 31(5):406-430. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2024.0773
- Cohen, L., Delorme, A., Cusimano, A., Chakraborty, S., Nguyen, P., Deng, D., Iqbal, S., Nelson, M., Wei, D., Fields, C., & Yang, P. (2024). “Examining the effects of biofield therapy through simultaneous assessment of electrophysiological and cellular outcomes.” Scientific Reports, 14:29221. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-79617-3
- Caltech Science Exchange. (2024). “What Is Quantum Physics? Quantum Physics in Simple Terms.” California Institute of Technology. Retrieved from https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/quantum-science-explained/quantum-physics
- Swerdlow, R.H. (2014). “Bioenergetic medicine.” British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(8):1854-1869. doi: 10.1111/bph.12394
- ScienceDirect. (2024). “Bioenergetics – an overview.” Topics in Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular Biology. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/bioenergetics
