What is Functional Health Testing?
Functional health testing can be particularly useful for complex cases, such as autoimmune health conditions, long standing infections, chronic candida, autism, chronic/interstitial cystitis, infertility, and stubborn digestive problems.
Tests available include stool tests, testing for mold and Candida, hormonal testing and food intolerance testing.
Identifying exactly what is going on inside the body can be a vital key to unlock healing.
TESTS & THEIR USES
There are many examples of how the tests can be applied, below are just a few examples:
DIGESTIVE ISSUES
Typically a stool test could be done in a case of someone with chronic and stubborn IBS, which can reveal specific bacteria or mold causing this, which can then be addressed with targeted antimicrobials and natural treatment. In addition, a stool test is useful in many of cases – with the gut being so important for immune health and our health in general.
HORMONAL ISSUES
In cases of perimenopause, menopause and fertility a detailed hormone panel can be very useful. Hormones can be tested through blood tests, often done at GP surgeries, saliva or urine. My preference is for the urine test, which gives a full picture of what is going on with your sex hormones, sleep hormones and adrenal hormones. I prefer to use a urine test over blood because by taking 4-5 samples over 24 hours you are getting a far more accurate picture than one blood sample which is just a snapshot at a single point in time. Hormones fluctuate through the course of the day significantly, so testing several times is more informative. In addition to this, urine testing for sex hormone, instead of blood or saliva, shows the metabolites of the major hormones. This is just as important as metabolites often have the biggest effect on your symptoms.
FOOD INTOLERANCES
Food intolerances can be very difficult to isolate, and in some cases they can have a profound impact on your quality of life and well being. I am offering IGG food intolerance tests, which is a type of antibody (immune response) which can be formed when you react to foods. This simple test is now considered mainstream as many choose to use this approach as a starting point for an elimination diet.
AUTISM
Another example might be in the case of autism. There is a biomedical component whereby underlying medical issues often cause or contribute to autistic behaviour. Common problems include overgrowth of Candida and Clostridia, inability to detoxify environmental toxins, and development of food intolerances and/or allergies. This in turn restricts the nutrients available to the brain and body, resulting in damage to cellular, metabolic, and central nervous system functionality. The OAT test will detect these issues, paving the way for a targeted natural program to help correct these underlying issues.
IRIDOLOGY
I continue to offer Iridology testing, which I often do in a routine consultation. Iridology is the science and study of pathological and functional disturbances in the human body, which are indicated by abnormal markings and color changes in the iris. It reveals inflammation, where it is located and the stage of manifestation. Bodily conditions as they relate to inherent weaknesses, levels of health can be diagnosed through Iridology. It is a diagnostic tool started by German Doctors in the last century, and has become a popular tool used by Naturopathic practitioners to help identify the location of inflammation, weaknesses, and toxicity in the body.
