Functional Labs
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, a paradigm shift towards a more holistic and patient-centered approach has been gaining momentum. As a result, the integration of functional lab testing has emerged as a powerful tool in the realms of holistic health and functional medicine. Unlike conventional diagnostic tests that primarily focus on identifying disease pathology, functional lab testing takes a broader perspective, aiming to uncover the underlying root causes of health issues and optimize overall well-being.
Functional lab testing is a comprehensive approach that assesses the intricate interplay of various bodily systems, encompassing not only physical but also emotional, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This method recognizes that our health is a reflection of the complex synergy between genetics, nutrition, stress, and the environment we inhabit. By delving deeper into these aspects, functional lab testing empowers healthcare practitioners to offer personalized and tailored solutions, addressing the unique needs of each patient.
Functional lab testing facilitates a deeper understanding of individual health, going beyond mere symptom management.
By identifying underlying imbalances, I can create comprehensive treatment plans that target the root causes of health problems, leading to more effective and sustainable results.
The DUTCH Test
This hormone panel gives us some fantastic insight into the health of your adrenals, your sex and stress hormones and so much more. I love the wide array of data that we can get from a single piece of lab testing.
The DUTCH is a urine test that you take at home, from the privacy of your own bathroom. It’s super easy. You’ll pee on a little strip of lab paper at 5 pm, 10 pm, in the middle of the night if you wake up, at 6 am, and 8am. Then you slap some stamps on an envelope and send that puppy in! It takes about 10 business days for me to get your lab results back, and then we will discuss in our client session.
Things we can screen for on the DUTCH:
Why you’re depressed
Why you’re anxious
Why you can’t fall asleep
Why you can’t stay asleep
Why you have PMS
Why you have blood clots
Why your boobs hurt
Why you’re stressed constantly
We can look at estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, DHEA, adrenaline, DNA stress, B vitamin status, and more. I’ve learned a lot of things about a lot of clients based off of this lab alone.
GI Map
The GI-MAP® is a comprehensive stool analysis that measures gastrointestinal microbiota DNA from a single stool sample. Using state-of-the-art, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology, the GI-MAP evaluates gut pathogens, bacterial infections, yeast overgrowth, viruses, and parasites. Antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors are also included on the test for unparalleled insight into H. pylori. The kit is shipped to your house and completed at home. Once complete, you ship it back in the box provided and wait for the results. Once the results are in, I will do a in-depth analysis using your results and all the information from other tests and questionnaires to create your personalized protocol.
The GI Map is a second very telling piece of information. This is the functional lab you wish your provider ran on you when you went in with the following symptoms:
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Distension
Possible SIBO
Cramps and pain
Weight loss resistance
Gastroparesis
Acid reflux
HTMA
Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA), is an analytical test which measures the mineral content of the hair. It can provide insights into conditions such as nutrient deficiencies, adrenal function, thyroid health, and heavy metal toxicity. The sampled hair, obtained by cutting the first inch and one-half of growth closest to the scalp at the nape of the neck, is prepared in a licensed clinical laboratory through a series of chemical and high temperature digestive procedures. Testing is then performed using highly sophisticated detection equipment and methods to achieve the most accurate and precise results.
Why use the hair? Why not use the blood?
Hair is ideal tissue for sampling and testing. First, it can be cut easily and painlessly and can be sent to the lab without special handling requirements. Second, clinical results have shown that a properly obtained sample can give an indication of mineral status and toxic metal accumulation following long term or even acute exposure.
A HTMA reveals a unique metabolic world: intracellular activity, which cannot be seen through most other tests. This provides a blueprint of the biochemistry occurring during the period of hair growth and development.
Examples:
Thirty to 40 days following an acute exposure, elevated serum levels of lead may be undetectable. This is due to the body removing the lead from the serum as a protective measure and depositing the metal into such tissues as the liver, bones, teeth and hair.
Nutrient loss from the body can become so advanced that severe health conditions can develop without any appreciable changes noted in those same nutrient levels in a blood test.
Symptoms of elemental deficiency can be present long before low levels can be detected in the serum.
Excess sodium is associated with hypertension, but adequate amounts are required for normal health.
Hair is used as one of the tissues of choice by the Environmental Protection Agency in determining toxic metal exposure. A 1980 report from the E.P.A. stated that human hair can be effectively used for biological monitoring of the highest priority toxic metals. This report confirmed the findings of other studies in the U.S. and abroad, which concluded that human hair may be a more appropriate tissue than blood or urine for studying community exposure to some trace elements
Food Allergies and Sensitivities
According to Food Allergy Research & Education, 200,000 people in the United States require emergency medical treatment for allergies to food each year, with about 32 million people having identified food allergies.
Food allergies are IgE immune system-mediated, causing histamines and chemicals to be released, resulting in an allergic reaction which can sometimes be fatal. Symptoms experienced include swelling and itching skin, digestive symptoms, and anaphylaxis. Some of the most common allergy-causing foods include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.
Food sensitivities are triggered by the digestive system and often mediated by IgG, leading to bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, and nausea. Additional symptoms similar to a mild allergic reaction may also occur such as confusion, fatigue, itching, joint/muscle pain, headaches, sneezing, and nasal congestion.
Some causes of food sensitivities include:
Not having the right enzymes for digesting certain foods
Reacting to food preservatives or additives
Reacting to chemicals or caffeine
Reacting to the sugars produced in certain foods
Imbalance of gastrointestinal bacteria
Food allergies and sensitivities tests help identify harmful triggers, support treatment plans, and diet changes.
You may often ask yourself – should I avoid certain foods? Or maybe you have tried cutting out foods before and it did nothing. Most likely it’s not just 1 thing or 1 food that is the problem. It’s almost always a combination of things and my job is to keep asking WHY.
Why do you feel this way, why are you having a reaction to food, why are you not absorbing the nutrients you are eating? We keep asking why …
Ready to figure out the WHAT? What is contributing to my symptoms?
Organic Acids Test (OAT)
The Organic Acids test (OAT) provides a comprehensive metabolic analysis of a patient’s overall health, including intestinal yeast and bacteria, vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and oxalates.
People with chronic illnesses and neurological disorders usually excrete several abnormal organic acids in their urine. Several causes can drive these high levels, including oral antibiotic use, immune deficiencies, high sugar diets, infections, and genetic factors.
Metabolic processes in the body produce organic acids from the digestion of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. These acids generate cellular energy and provide many fundamental pieces necessary for cell function.
Organic acids are, therefore, chemical compounds products of metabolism excreted in the urine.
The measurement of organic acids provides a way for the physician to perform a functional assessment of the patient's nutrient status. A high accumulation of organic acids in urine can suggest a metabolic inhibition or block due to an inherited enzyme deficit, a nutrient deficiency, toxic build-up, or the consequence of a drug effect.
Vitamins and minerals are required for the correct functioning of the enzymes responsible for metabolizing organic acids. Thus, an increase in organic acids in the urine can reflect a functional need for these nutrients on a cellular and biochemical level, even when a serum analysis reflects normal results.