In some cases specialised detective work is necessary to gain further insight into where your underlying imbalances are originating. I have access to an extensive range of Functional Pathology Testing. These tests can be added to any of the packages or pay as you go sessions and are sometimes recommended by me to help investigate the cause of your signs and symptoms.
To further assist in our investigations, I often incorporate into a session, some hands-on reflex and muscle testing, tongue, nail, iris and pulse analysis, which enables me to quickly and accurately gather and verify information to help guide a treatment plan.
So how do these tests differ from the laboratory tests your doctor orders?
Your doctor’s interpretation of the conventional laboratory tests is based on reference ranges that are used only to identify the presence of any diagnosable disease states. The problem is, 95% of people fall within these normal reference ranges. This is leaving a gap in healthcare where people who aren’t feeling well but don’t have an identifiable disease are left wondering how they can get better.
Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis considers what the optimal ranges of blood chemistry should be and looks at the relationship between certain blood markers and patterns that are occurring to gain insight into how the body is functioning. Standard blood tests from your Doctor can be utilised for a functional analysis or alternatively we can order direct through a QML laboratory.
Specialised Functional Pathology Tests can further detect and provide in-depth insight into specific metabolites of the body including:- detoxification, hormonal, genetic, nutritional, mental health and digestive panels. For example it can help identify how well your body is producing your adrenal hormones (aka stress hormones). When we are under constant stress, our adrenals can become depleted and fatigued causing a wide range of symptoms including, fatigue, lowered immunity, salt cravings and allergies.
Prevention is Key
Functional Testing allows us to be preventative and pro-active, detecting metabolic dysfunction long before there is an identifiable disease. We view the body as a dynamic, complex and interconnected whole system. It recognises the body’s blood chemistry for the profound network of checks and balances that are constantly taking place, and can identify where compensatory mechanisms are at work when there is a system out of balance.
Health and wellness is a journey, with ebbs and flows. Doctors can sometimes be of the view that good health is considered merely by the absence of disease. But it can feel pretty darn scary, when a doctor tells you, that you are going to be on a medication for the rest of your life, as it is implied that there is no chance of ever being in good health again.
A functional approach allows for the opportunity of intervention and improvement along any stage of the illness-wellness spectrum, by identifying systems with dysfunction and restoring balance. Your body has an innate intelligence to want to function optimally. We just need to provide and ensure that there are enough of the right nutrients, which are given in a favourable environment so they can be fully utilised by the body.
Take for example how we grow a plant. First we need to ensure the soil (environment) in which it is going to grow, is ideal for the plant. We don’t want it to be too sandy which will allow all the nutrients to seep through too quickly, but we don’t want the soil to dense either, which will clog everything up. We also want to make sure it is teaming with beneficial microorganisms. Once it is planted we need to continue to feed the plant with water and nutrients in order for it to thrive and grow into its ultimate potential.
Functional Pathology profiles can include:
- Extensive Thyroid Assessment – including TSH, T4, T3, Reverse T3 and Thyroid antibodies
- Vitamin/Mineral Levels – e.g. Vitamin D, iron studies, Vit B12, essential fatty acids and amino acids, zinc, copper
- Hormonal Assessments – Male, Female, Adrenal/Stress, Sleep
- IgG Food Intolerance – tests vary between 40-200 types of foods
- Cardiovascular markers – Homocysteine, triglycerides, cholesterol
- Genetic polymorphisms – MTHFR
- Inflammatory and autoimmune markers
- Gut Health Assessments – Parasites, SIBO, Intestinal Permeability
- Pyrroles/Pyrroluria – zinc/copper imbalance
- Liver function, Toxin and Detoxification markers
- Urinary organic acids
- Neurotransmitters for mental health
- Viral pathogenic profiles – Epstein Barr, H.pylori, C. difficile
- Mould and Gluten Sensitivities
If you are ready and willing to do some deep diving into what is at the root cause of your symptoms, book a free discovery call with me today.