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Lab Testing

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The Importance of Lab Testing

Whether it's to determine imbalances in the body via the blood, saliva, or hair, laboratory testing is a very important tool in determining the underlying cause of a patients health problem.

In our office, I take a holistic approach, in other words, I look at the body as a group of interconnected systems, each of which affects the other. Therefore, the tests I request are very comprehensive and gather information from each of these organ systems.

Once the underlying causes of a patients health issues are discovered, I develop a personalized health protocol and work with my patient to help restore the body's own innate healing mechanisms.

But it doesn't end there.

Follow up testing is performed, after 90 to 120 days, to insure that all of the indicators that were utilized to determine whether the cause of the health problem have improved according to plan.

The patient knows whether or not they feel better. Follow up testing helps us confirm it's not just a placebo.

At Beyond the Symptom, we utilize lab testing in our health protocols in order to be precise and ensure your treatment is effective. We don't say, "here, take this and wait for it to get better". No, we utilize the certainty of science to determine exactly what is going on, and we follow-up to ensure we're on the right track in helping you achieve your health goals.

You may not be aware of the different types of lab testing available. We're all familiar with the dreaded blood test, but did you know we also employ Saliva testing, Hair analysis, and Food Sensitivity testing? These tests can help us pinpoint the root cause of the problem, target it, and do follow-up testing to monitor changes. This strategy has been highly effective in helping our patients reach their health goals, and we think it can help you, too.

Continue reading for additional information on the testing we do, and why we do it.

Why are blood tests important, and why are your blood tests different?

Blood tests are a crucial part of determining the underlying cause of a person's health problem, which is why it’s a basic requirement for our functional health protocols.

The problem with the standard blood test ordered by the average physician is that only the components of one or two systems in the body are tested.

My Comprehensive Blood Test, on the other hand, is just that I test all of the interconnected systems in a person's body. This is the best way to find out where a problem originates, and why my Blood Test is more extensive and a bit more expensive than a standard test. The labs require the extra fees for the more extensive test measurements, and reporting. I need the more extensive test and reporting in order to fully understand what is going on in the body.

The parameters on a standard blood test are very wide because you’re being compared to the sickest people that go into the lab. Have you ever been told that “everything is within normal limits”, but you don’t feel good? That’s why.

Let me give you a couple of examples: Say a person’s blood test shows that they have elevated cholesterol, the first palace I look on the test are the Liver enzymes, and not just the two enzymes that are commonly checked, but all four enzymes. The Liver is responsible for regulating cholesterol, and if the four Liver enzymes are elevated, I address the Liver. Correct the Liver and the cholesterol stabilizes.

Another common problem area is the Thyroid. Once again, a physician usually only checks TSH, or maybe T3 and T4 if you’re lucky. However, there are five indicators that must be checked to get an accurate picture of what may be going on with the Thyroid. On my Comprehensive Blood Test, I’m checking TSH, Free T3, Free T4 Thyroid Antibodies, and Reverse T3. It’s the only way to get to the bottom of a Thyroid problem.

Testing for Food Sensitivities

A food sensitivity, or hypersensitivity, is an abnormal immune response to a food. It’s what happens when the body's immune system reacts to a food that it sees as something foreign or an invader in the body.

A food sensitivity often leads to inflammation, and a breakdown of the lining of the digestive tract, which then can cause a whole host of health problems, including autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Psoriasis or even arthritis.

Food sensitivity testing can show whether certain foods are stressful to a patients immune system, or a contributing factor to a health issue they may be experiencing.

The Food Sensitivity Test I prescribe measures 96 foods and will help pinpoint specific foods which may be causing your symptoms.

Once your problem food(s) have been identified, we will design a diet plan specifically for you, so that you can begin to eliminate those things that have been causing your
health issues.

Common Symptoms of a

Food Sensitivity

Diarrhea or Soft Stool
Constipation
Gas or Bloating
Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
Hives, rashes, Psoriasis or Eczema
Joint Pain or Inflammation
Headaches or Migraines
Fatigue, Constant Tiredness
Inability to Fall or Stay Asleep (Insomnia)

Most patients notice that their digestive issues and symptoms improve rapidly once we identify and remove the problem food from their diet.

Saliva Testing for Hormones

Non-Invasive
• No blood draw is needed, no risk to the patient
Convenient
• Specimens can be easily collected at home or at work at any time of the day
Precise
• Saliva measures the biologically active (free) form of hormones at the tissuelevel. These (free) hormones are the hormones actually working and causing changes in the body.
• Since hormone levels may vary during the day or during the month, multiple specimens can be collected for precise measurement.
• Samples are stable for several weeks.

At a glance

The hormones that influence many of the cycles in our lives can be viewed as markers to determine if our body is in a healthy state from a standpoint of chronobiology. For example, outpatient saliva testing allows a clinician to monitor the hormone regulation of a woman over her ENTIRE monthly cycle.

This information can have profound diagnostic significance and can lead to therapeutic strategies overlooked by one sample testing of her hormones.

Laboratory analysis of a person's saliva is the Gold Standard when it comes to accurately determining the clinically applicable levels of hormones in the body.

What Can Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Reveal?

Why test for minerals?

Minerals are the "spark plugs" of life. They are involved in almost all enzyme reactions within the body. Without enzyme activity, life ceases to exist. A tissue mineral analysis is preventive as well as being useful as a screening tool.

What is hair tissue mineral analysis?

Tissue Mineral Analysis is a test which measures the mineral content of your hair. The mineral content of the hair reflects the mineral content of the body's tissues. If a mineral deficiency or excess exists in the hair, it usually indicates a
mineral deficiency or excess within the body, or it reveals the inability of the body to utilize that mineral, also called "bio-unavailability".

Various mineral imbalances, as revealed by hair analysis, frequently lead to metabolic dysfunctions before any symptoms manifest.

Conditions which may result or become aggravated by a mineral imbalance:

ADD/ADHD
Allergies
Anemia
Arthritis
Cardiovascular Disease
Depression
Diabetes
Digestive Regularity
Emotional Health

Headaches
Hypertension
Hypoglycemia
Menstrual Complication
Prostrate
Skin Rash
Thyroid
Weight Control

Lab Testing Fee Schedule

For more information on the cost of our protocols, and what to expect, see our page on functional health

Comprehensive Blood Test - $450
Saliva Test - Standard - $425
Saliva Test - Expanded Cycling Female Panel - $650
Saliva Test - Expanded Male Hormone Panel - $350.
Hair Mineral Analysis (Heavy Metals Test) - $350

Report of Findings (Analysis of Test Results and 1 hour Phone Consultation to discuss Results) - $200

Medical Disclaimer

This document contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. The medical information in this document is provided without any representations or warranties, express or implied. You must not rely on the information in this document as an alternative to medical advice from your primary care physician or other professional healthcare provider. As required by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the information on this document has not been evaluated by the FDA, and the products referred to here have not been approved by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These formulas are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. †These benefits represent a compilation of results of many patient cases and the reader may not experience the same results. Protocols are a series of naturopathic techniques that you can use to enhance your health and vitality.