Autonomic Response Testing (A.R.T.
®), as we know it today, was developed and refined to its current iteration thanks to the contributions of key figures such as Louisa Williams, Dietrich Klinghardt and Daniela Deiosso. However, its origins are not the result of a single, isolated idea, but the outcome of a long journey built up over time[cut] thanks to the insights of sages, doctors and scientists who have each, in their own way, contributed to our understanding of its foundations.
From ancient knowledge of the body–mind–energy connection to the most modern discoveries in the fields of biophysics and neuroscience, A.R.T.
® is founded on a range of interdisciplinary contributions that have made its development possible.
Even today, A.R.T.
® continues to undergo constant evolution: it is growing thanks to the experience of those who practise it daily and is continually enriched by the most advanced research carried out by scientists and researchers, who are adding new pieces to our understanding of the autonomic nervous system and the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms.
(2nd century BC) Patanjali
Around the 2nd century BC, the sage Patanjali codified the union of body, mind and spirit and the control of prana in the Yoga Sutras, laying the philosophical foundations for recognising the body’s energetic responses to subtle stimuli: from this wisdom stems the idea that the autonomic nervous system reveals imbalances through muscular responses, inspiring the holistic principles of A.R.T.
(1964) George Goodheart
In 1964, the chiropractor George Goodheart discovered by chance that testing muscle strength could reveal functional imbalances in the body, giving rise to Applied Kinesiology: this innovative muscular approach became the technical foundation from which A.R.T. emerged, transforming a simple manual test into a diagnostic tool for the autonomic nervous system.
(1974) Fritz-Albert Popp
In the 1970s, the German biophysicist Fritz-Albert Popp discovered the emission of biophotons (ultra-weak coherent light) by all living organisms, demonstrating that cells communicate via organised light fields. This scientific discovery provided the quantum basis for understanding how imbalances in the coherence of biological light are indicative of deep-seated dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system: Klinghardt integrated these principles into A.R.T., using polarising filters to detect biophotonic interference (toxins, infections, geopathic stress) that blocks autonomic regulation.
(1977) Yoshiaki Omura (MD)
In the 1980s, the Japanese researcher Yoshiaki Omura developed the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (BDORT), a precise method for detecting energetic resonances and interferences in the body using finger pressure: this refined bioenergetic testing technique was integrated into A.R.T. to increase accuracy in detecting toxins, infections and autonomic blockages invisible to conventional methods.
(1993) Louisa Williams (DC, ND)
Naturopath and chiropractor Louisa Williams refined muscle testing by developing advanced assessments of the sympathetic/parasympathetic state, blocked regulation and interferences in the autonomic nervous system. Her work was instrumental in shaping A.R.T. into a highly sensitive and reproducible holistic method, capable of precisely identifying the root causes of dysfunction.
(1996) Dietrich Klinghardt (MD, PhD)
The German doctor Dietrich Klinghardt synthesised decades of research – including Popp’s biophotonic principles, Pollack’s structured water, Goodheart’s Applied Kinesiology, Omura’s BDORT and Williams’ techniques – into Autonomic Response Testing (A.R.T.), a sophisticated system that uses biofeedback from the autonomic nervous system to identify toxicity, chronic infections, scar tissue and geopathic stress: thanks to his integrative approach, A.R.T. has become a revolutionary tool for overcoming blockages and guiding the body’s self-healing process.
(2006) Gerald Pollack
Since the 2000s, the American biophysicist Gerald Pollack (known as Jerry) has revolutionised our understanding of biological water by discovering the fourth phase of water (EZ water), a negatively charged gel-like structure that surrounds proteins and cell membranes, essential for muscle contraction, nerve transmission and cellular vitality. This research provides a mechanical explanation for why the muscle test in A.R.T. can detect autonomic energy imbalances: structured water influences muscle strength and response as biofeedback, linking cellular hydration, vital energy and nervous system regulation – a scientific bridge between holistic tradition and modern diagnostics.
He discovered the fourth phase of water (structured EZ water), providing a mechanical explanation of the muscular response and cellular vitality as biofeedback for testing autonomic imbalances in A.R.T.
(2010) Daniela Deiosso (MSc)
With a background in neuroscience, Daniela Deiosso has brought clarity and modern rigour to the teaching of A.R.T., developing structured online courses, demonstration videos and practical sessions with Klinghardt: her work has made the method accessible and teachable worldwide, establishing A.R.T. as a precise and reliable diagnostic practice for the new generation of holistic therapists.
Read Daniela Deiosso’s CV