FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TESTING

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FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE TESTS

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ADRENAL FUNCTION TESTING

 

Our adrenal glands function as our body's battery.  When their function is impaired or 'low' your energy, vitality, and health will suffer. 

 

This testing can identify whether your fatigue is stemming from an adrenal function problem.  The range of tests includes saliva and serum cortisol, DHEA, other adrenal metabolites, and electrolyte markers.

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ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION TESTING

 

There can be biochemical causes of anxiety or depression that require specialized testing to be identified. Once these factors are identified, lasting relief is possible.

 

Anxiety and/or depression testing may include neurotransmitter markers, vitamin and mineral levels, inflammation markers, evaluation of the gut-brain axis, comprehensive thyroid assessment, and heavy metal assessment. 

 

Mold toxicity can be a major cause of long-standing medication-resistant anxiety and depression.  Urine mycotoxin testing can assess whether mold is a problem for you.  I have found a mold problem affecting many patients even when their homes test as 'mold-free.' 

 

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE TESTING

 

An in-depth investigation of autoimmune inflammatory markers and the different factors that may be triggering autoimmune inflammation. 

 

This testing goes above and beyond ANA testing to identify where the inflammation may be present and why it's there.

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There are always identifiable factors that can be assessed and treated which greatly decreases the inflammation and helps to restore balance to the immune system.

 

AUTOIMMUNE INFLAMMATION & NEUROLOGICAL TESTING

 

Identifies potential inflammation affecting the nervous system and its contributing factors to target effective treatment. 

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ADVANCED HEART DISEASE RISK ASSESSMENT

 

A common lipid panel is not accurate in determining the true risk of a heart attack or stroke.  Our testing is more complete than a standard cholesterol panel as we test 4 factors to determine your heart health. 

 

1. Complete Lipid Assessment:  In addition to the standard cholesterol markers, we evaluate lipoproteins and apolipoproteins - markers 3x more accurate than traditional biomarkers. 

2. Inflammation: Plaque and heart disease begin with inflammation.  Detecting cardiovascular-specific inflammation is vital for the prevention and management of heart conditions. 

3. Oxidation: Oxidation in combination with inflammation is damaging to your heart.  High cholesterol is usually only a major problem when oxidation and inflammation levels are elevated.   

4. Heart Stress: Heart-specific stress markers.

 

ADVANCED METABOLIC TESTING

 

We can evaluate your ability to metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates for energy.  We can also test for insulin resistance which is a major problem in diabetes, an inability to easily lose weight, dementia, PCOS, hormone imbalances, and can play a role in anxiety and depression. 

 

This is also useful for those with fatigue and who suffer from other metabolic problems.

 

COMPREHENSIVE THYROID PANEL

 

A full thyroid evaluation is used for a better understanding of how your thyroid is functioning as well as for the treatment of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and other thyroid conditions.

 

A comprehensive panel includes - thyroid antibodies, free T3, free T4, TSH, reverse T3, and total T3 and T4. Evaluating iodine levels can also be helpful.

 

COMPREHENSIVE STOOL ANALYSIS & MICROBIOME TESTING

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The health of your microbiome and the function of your digestive system impacts every aspect of your well-being.  

 

Through this test we can assess your digestion, your ability to absorb nutrients, your gut bacteria balance, detect hidden infections, measure seven different types of gut inflammation, test for leaky gut and gluten intolerance, and evaluate your probiotic levels as well as how strong and healthy they actually are. 

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CROHN'S AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS FUNCTIONAL TESTING

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• Gut-Specific Inflammation Markers

• Underlying Gut Flora Imbalance including subclinical infections and intestinal lining health

• Stomach Acid Levels - whether you can adequately digest your food

• Functional Liver Testing - anyone with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) has an underlying liver problem that must be identified and properly addressed

• Stress Markers - determine whether stress has a direct impact on your gut health

• Mold Toxin Test - I have treated cases of IBD where the underlying cause was undiagnosed mold exposure and once that was properly addressed their IBD was able to resolve fully. 

 

CHRONIC PAIN TESTING - FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION

 

The cause of your chronic pain can be identified through functional medicine testing that goes above and beyond baseline diagnostics. 

 

Functional chronic pain testing may include inflammatory markers, nutrient deficiency evaluation, serotonin levels, and dopamine assessment for neurological pain disorders, biological toxin assessment, gut-inflammation connection testing, food sensitivity testing, and hormone evaluation. 

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DUTCH TESTING

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The DUTCH Complete is an advanced hormone test by Precision Analytical, offering an extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones and melatonin, along with their metabolites, to identify hormonal imbalances.

 

Kits are sent to your home where you can collect your own samples and then send them to a lab. I can interpret and implement findings as part of a functional medicine consultation. 

 

The results include:

As per the Precision Analytical website. (Current testing parameters may differ slightly) 

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• Analysis of 35 different hormones: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol along with their metabolites

• Daily free cortisol patterns to provide insight into adrenal insufficiency or symptoms of chronic stress

• Graphical representation of results and embedded video tutorials to assist in the hormone assessment to share with your medical provider

• DUTCH OATs: Oxidative stress marker – 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), melatonin (6-OHMS), and six organic acid tests (OATs) including markers for vitamin B12 (methylmalonate), vitamin B6 (xanthurenate), kynurenate, glutathione (pyroglutamate), dopamine (homovanillate), norepinephrine/epinephrine (vanilmandelate).

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GENETIC TESTING  

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Comprehensive Genetic Testing including: 

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• Comprehensive Methylation Analysis 

• Detoxification Gene Analysis 

• Neurotransmitter Gene Analysis 

• Vitamin and Mineral Genetic Predisposition Analysis

 

HORMONE TESTING

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Depending on your health status and needs we can test your hormones via blood, saliva, or urine. Each method has its advantages for specific situations.

 

For example, for someone with a family history of estrogen-related cancers - a urine test would be the best option because it measures whether the body is processing estrogen into pro-carcinogenic compounds that greatly increase cancer risk.

When addressing hormonal imbalance, we evaluate your hormone levels (thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones) their balance, and their activity in the body.  

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HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS

A hair analysis can reveal a longstanding stress pattern, mineral levels, and the presence of toxic minerals.  Unlike other kinds of testing, a properly interpreted hair analysis can evaluate the accumulative effects of stress over a period of years.  

 

Using this information we can significantly improve your energy and health.  A Hair Mineral Analysis is the best method of detecting copper overload or toxicity, a common and often undiagnosed condition. Copper toxicity can contribute to everything from hormone imbalance to anxiety. 

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MICRONUTRIENT TESTING

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MIGRAINE & HEADACHE TESTING

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Diet and lifestyle changes can greatly reduce and often eliminate symptoms in migraine and headache sufferers. 

 

Migraine and headache testing may include food sensitivity assessment, vitamin and mineral markers, nerve inflammation markers, heavy metal evaluation, adrenal function/stress evaluation, mold toxicity testing, and gut health assessment. 

 

NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING

Neurotransmitter imbalances can cause the brain to be over or under-stimulated, producing neurological and psychological symptoms. 

 

When your brain chemicals are balanced, your brain and body can communicate effectively.

 

By evaluating your neurotransmitters, we can determine which therapies would be best suited to you, cutting down on the process of trial and error. 

 

An underlying neurotransmitter issue can be a factor in:

 

• Brain fog

• Anxiety & Depression 

• Chronic Fatigue 

• Impulsivity 

• Insomnia

• PMS or PMDD

• Other neurological symptoms 

 

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD) TESTING

 

Toxic metals and chemicals can be passed generationally from mother to child. In many cases of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) there is an accumulated load of toxic heavy metals from the mother and additional exposure from the environment - but each case is different and needs to be individually evaluated. 

 

Heavy metal testing, neurotransmitter evaluation, and gut health assessment must be considered for those with OCD.

 

PARKINSON'S DISEASE TESTING

 

A comprehensive stool analysis, Neural Zoomer (which is a test that assesses neurological inflammation, blood-brain barrier integrity, infections that can cause neurological inflammation, and more), vitamin mineral testing, and neurotransmitter testing can be extremely valuable in forming a treatment plan.  

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SMALL INTESTINE BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH (SIBO) TESTING

 

Targeted testing to identify bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO) and for a specific classification of SIBO diagnoses.

 

SKIN ASSESSMENT - FUNCTIONAL TESTING

 

For conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne, rashes, or unexplained (idiopathic) skin conditions - functional testing is well-suited for identifying the cause. 

 

Testing may include gut health assessment - microbiome status, heavy metal testing, micronutrient testing, histamine markers, systemic inflammatory markers, and testing for latent infections.
 

TOXICITY ASSESSMENT - CHEMICAL 

 

'Toxic Burden’ is an increasingly relevant testing tool; the term refers to the accumulation of chemicals that we have acquired during our life through our environment, food, air, water, and other sources.

 

Low-dose accumulation of chemical toxins is associated with autoimmune and neurological disease, cancer, diabetes, and metabolic problems.

 

These pervasive toxic chemicals can disrupt our immune, nervous, and endocrine systems.  Testing is crucial in confirming a diagnosis and determining a treatment approach.

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TOXICITY ASSESSMENT - HEAVY METALS 

 

Heavy metal toxicity is often underdiagnosed.  Many chronic symptoms can be attributed in part to a toxic burden of heavy metals within the body.

 

Toxic metals accumulated in the brain or nervous system may play a role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Heavy metal accumulations throughout the body may also be contributing factors to autoimmune disease or other chronic conditions.  

 

Toxic metals can accumulate over time from the environment. The most destructive heavy metals include mercury, cadmium, lead, aluminum, copper, and arsenic.  

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VITAMIN AND MINERAL TESTING: MICRONUTRIENTS 

 

We can target your micronutrient levels to achieve maximum benefits.  Optimizing vitamin and mineral levels is critical if you are recovering from an illness, have a chronic condition, or have unexplained symptoms.