Functional Testing
My Attitude Towards Testing
Whether I use pathology testing, and to what degree, depends entirely on the person in front of me. In many cases, I issue a referral letter for them to take to their GP, suggesting the blood tests I believe would be most helpful for us to best support the client.
On other occasions, I work with Nutripath, RN Labs and Interclinical Laboratories to access testing that simply isn’t available to the public medical system.
Testing can be pricey, so I only recommend the most important tests and those that will have a direct impact on the treatment plan I put together.
Some of the Private Testing Methods I Work With:
DUTCH Testing
Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones
This method of testing is non-invasive and gives us some great information on both sex hormones and adrenal hormones, as well as their metabolites. This testing can be ideal for people suffering hormonal imbalances, reflected in problems such as menopausal symptoms, fatigue, premenstrual symptoms, mood swings, depression, or weight gain.
GI360
The GI360 is an extremely comprehensive stool analysis, using evidence-based DNA mapping technology alongside growth-based culture and ID. This is one the ultimate diagnostic tools to detect and assess pathogens, viruses, parasites and bacteria that may be contributing to gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.
The microbiome analysis also measures the abundance and the diversity of key bacterial populations of the gastrointestinal microbiome.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
Hair tissue mineral analysis measures the mineral
composition of hair tissue, giving insight both into levels of nutritive minerals, and toxic minerals. When certain more toxic minerals are present in the body in significant amounts, or even when nutritive minerals are present in inappropriate ratios, there can be significant impact on mental health, nervous system, liver and kidney stress, diabetes and insulin resistance, energy levels and fatigue, cardiovascular health (such as cholesterol and blood pressure), and adrenal and thyroid function. Migraines and hyperactivity can also
present.
Genetic testing
Whilst so much of health can be influenced by our lifestyle choices, allowing us to take so much control of our gene expression, gene testing can still be very useful. Genetic testing shows us genetic variances that can influence key processes in the body such as methylation, detoxication can oxidation, that can have far-reaching impacts on disease processes.
Aside from the more universal genetic variances, we also have access to ones specifically pertinent to mental health, sports performance, skin and ageing, oestrogen metabolism, and weight loss (such as lipolysis and fat absorption
SIBO breath testing
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth is considered to be the leading pathology driving IBS symptoms (constipation, diarrhoea or alternating constipation and diarrhea). Symptoms of SIBO can be as varied though as abdominal cramping, bloating, flatulence, burping, reflux, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin rash, respiratory
symptoms such as asthma, and even iron and B12 deficiency.
Whilst many people believe that to fix SIBO, an animal protein-rich diet is required, I am experienced in assisting people to treat SIBO whilst following a vegan diet. Suffering with SIBO I believe is one of the main reasons why people struggle with a vegan diet, and I’m very passionate at assisting people to rectify this problem so that they may enjoy a varied plant-based diet, minus the symptoms.
Methylation profile
Methylation is a process critical to cardiovascular disease, cancer risk, detoxification impairment, immune dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases, nutritional deficiencies, psychiatric disorders and oxidative stress and inflammation.
A methylation profile gives us insight into dysfunction within the methylation process and allows us to correct this with appropriate nutraceutical treatment.
If you believe that these forms of testing would be beneficial to help you better understand what’s going on in your body, I recommend booking in for a naturopathy consultation package, so I can support you on this journey.
