M.E.A.D. FAQs

The exam itself is brief and comfortable.  You will need to remove your shoes and socks, and sit comfortably during the exam.  A metal ground probe will be placed on your hand, and your Dr. Sweeney will touch a 2nd “Q-tip”-type probe lightly to your skin in various spots on your hands and feet. During the exam, you will hear the computer produce tones that mean the exam is progressing properly.  The entire exam takes about 5 minutes.

The MEAD system uses a tiny electric current to test the conductivity of each of your acupuncture meridians.  This electrical current is extremely safe for infants, children, adults and the elderly alike. In fact, the only safety concern at all is when there is a pacemaker or other implanted medical device present. In that case, the MEAD exam is not performed.

Yes. The tip of the probe will be moist, so you will feel the moisture where the probe touches your skin. But it’s very unlikely you’ll feel the electric current. It’s far too small to be felt in most cases.

The MEAD exam will show you the balance of energy in your acupuncture meridians.  This balance, or lack of balance, is an important key to understanding the state of your health and potential health issues. Dr. Sweeney will help you understand the exam results in the context of your current condition.

Not necessarily.  It only means there is an imbalance.  According to acupuncture theory, energy imbalances in your meridians, left untreated, may lead to health problems.  That’s why it’s important to locate and correct imbalances—before they become severe.

In general, you’ll start with your first exam to establish a baseline, and than have at least one follow-up exam to track your progress.  Most likely you will have several MEAD exams over the course of several weeks.

Once your initial imbalances are corrected, it’s a good idea to follow up occasionally—so you can catch problems before they grow.  Dr. Sweeney will recommend how often you should be checked.