Traditional lab tests are intended to diagnose a disease state while functional medicine testing helps identify imbalances that may be causing you to feel unwell. NaturoMedica physicians work closely with you to determine the root cause of symptoms that can initiate a disease process.
Functional medicine tests can be very helpful when investigating digestive issues, hormonal symptoms, fatigue, brain fog, mood disorders, immune dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, and skin conditions. These tests are a valuable tool when the focus is on preventive medicine. Your functional medicine test results serve as a roadmap as you move toward optimal health.
NaturoMedica offers advanced cardiovascular and genetic testing that can provide a more complete picture of your individual risk for heart disease. Given that 50% of heart attack victims and over 80% of those with coronary artery disease have normal cholesterol, it is apparent that a simple cholesterol test does not tell the entire story.
We use a set of specialized blood tests to measure your heart disease risk. The tests are broken down into four categories: lipids, inflammation markers, metabolic markers, and genetics.
In addition to the usual lipid testing which looks at total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, we perform advanced lipoprotein testing that assesses the size and weight of your lipoproteins. These metrics can be a more accurate predictor of heart disease risk.
Cardiovascular inflammation markers accurately predict where you are in terms of progression towards heart disease. If your inflammation markers are elevated, then your risk for cardiovascular disease is also elevated.
Metabolic testing is important to identify your diabetes risk and blood vessel health. If your body is not properly utilizing sugar, it can lead to inflammation and scarring on the inside of the blood vessel, contributing to elevations in blood pressure, atherosclerosis (plaque in the arteries), and other cardiovascular risks.
Genetic tests for APOE and MTHFR are also helpful in assessing cardiovascular risk. APOE testing determines if you are at risk for Alzheimer's or heart disease while MTHFR testing looks for two relatively common mutations which are associated with a higher risk for coronary artery disease and blood clot formation.
Through our advanced testing, we find that many of our patients with "normal" cholesterol levels actually have a number of risk factors for heart disease that have not been previously identified.
NaturoMedica physicians will make customized recommendations to improve your cardiovascular health based upon your family history, genetic testing, and personal lab results. Treatment recommendations may include diet and lifestyle changes, supplements, and medications.
The Boston Heart comprehensive panel assesses inflammation markers, a wide range of lipid metrics, nutrient levels, homocysteine, CBC, direct bilirubin, and TSH with TPO antibodies. Also included in this panel are Boston Heart's HDL Map, Fatty Acid Balance, and Cholesterol Balance tests. HDL Map quantifies the number of the larger, protective HDL particles and the smaller, less protective HDL particles. Fatty Acid Balance measures all the major fatty acids and includes the Omega3-Omega6 Ratio Index. Cholesterol Balance determines if you are a high producer and/or absorber of cholesterol.
Test results of the Boston Heart Comprehensive Panel come in a personalized booklet which includes diet, lifestyle, supplement, and medication recommendations.
This option adds genetic testing to the Boston Heart Comprehensive Panel. Includes APOE, MTHFR, Factor V, Factor II, and SLCO1b1.
Test results of the Boston Heart Comprehensive Panel + Genetics come in a personalized booklet which includes diet, lifestyle, supplement, and medication recommendations.
The Cleveland Heart Genetic tests for APOE and MTHFR are helpful at assessing cardiovascular risk. APOE testing determines if you are at risk for Alzheimer's or heart disease while MTHFR testing looks for two relatively common mutations which are associated with a higher risk for coronary artery disease and blood clot formation.
This test measures the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. A high ratio of omega-6 compared to omega-3s is associated with high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and increased cardiovascular disease risk.
If you have ongoing fatigue, digestive complaints, weight gain, mood disorders, or other chronic conditions, organic acid testing may provide additional insight into the cause of your health challenges.
Organic acid testing serves as a snapshot of your overall metabolic and digestive health. This functional test detects possible neurotransmitter imbalances, microbiome imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies.
Organic acids are the by-products of metabolism, the chemical reactions in your body's cells that change food into energy. These chemical reactions are organized in pathways where chemicals are transformed into other ones with the help of nutrients and enzymes, releasing organic acids in the process.
Sometimes these metabolic pathways get compromised due to deficiencies in nutrients and enzymes. When this happens, extra organic acids are created and excreted in the urine. Impaired metabolic pathways can lead to a variety of chronic health conditions.
Organic acids are also produced in the gut by yeast and bacteria. When an imbalance in the gut microbiome occurs as a result in the overgrowth of yeast and bacteria, levels of organic acids rise and are eliminated via the urinary system. Disturbances in the gut can trigger immune responses and initiate the development of many chronic diseases.
NaturoMedica physicians use organic acid testing to find possible disruptions in your metabolic pathway or imbalances in your gut microbiome. Test results guide treatment recommendations to restore balance and optimal functioning to your metabolic and digestive health.
The organic acid test includes markers for Krebs Cycle abnormalities, neurotransmitter levels, nutritional and antioxidant deficiencies, fungal and yeast overgrowths, fatty acid metabolism, and oxalate levels.
A healthy gut microbiome plays an important role in our immune, digestive, metabolic, and mental health. When less healthy bacteria, yeast, and parasites take over and thrive in our intestines, our health can take a turn for the worse. Fortunately, NaturoMedica physicians have various functional medicine tests which can help measure the health of your gut microbiome and digestive tract.
An imbalance in the gut microbiome, or gut dysbiosis, can be caused by a high carbohydrate diet, antibiotic use, chronic stress, contraceptive pill use, chemical exposure, and/or diabetes. Gut dysbiosis may lead to the overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which can permeate the digestive track and contribute to food sensitivities, as well as to other inflammatory processes in the body.
The many symptoms of Candida overgrowth include chronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, recurring yeast infections, oral thrush, sinus infections, food sensitivities, fungal infections on the skin and nails, a weak immune system, joint pain, and low mood.
Identifying a Candida overgrowth can be an important step in regaining your gut and overall health. NaturoMedica physicians use test results to help create an individualized treatment plan designed to help establish a healthy gut and robust microbiome, an essential step for establishing long lasting health and vitality.
Includes Candida profile, Candida immune complex and Candida immunoglobulin's IgG, IgA, IgM.
Digestive complaints are some of the most common that we see. At NaturoMedica, we use functional medicine tests to assess the health of your gut microbiome and to identify the imbalances which are at the root of your digestive symptoms.
Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) is present when the bacteria in the colon spread into the small intestine and multiply. SIBO is a chronic infection that can lead to poor nutrient absorption and produce symptoms such as bloating, gas, burping, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain, and reflux.
SIBO can occur when the transit of the food and bacteria from the small intestine to the colon is compromised due to muscular and neurological disorders, obstructions, diverticulitis, or an imbalanced gut microbiome. SIBO is linked to health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, fatigue, and fibromyalgia.
Carbohydrate digestion takes place in the small intestine in the absence of the bacteria normally found in the colon. However, when the bacteria from the colon is present in the small intestine, bacterial fermentation will result and lead to the production of hydrogen and/or methane gas. At NaturoMedica, we use a non-invasive breath test that looks for these by-products of carbohydrate fermentation to identify the presence of SIBO.
Our physicians use test results to develop a treatment plan tailored to improve your digestive and overall health. SIBO treatment generally includes dietary changes, supplements and sometimes a course of antibiotics.
The digestion of carbohydrates takes place in the small intestine in the absence of the bacteria normally found in the colon. However, when the bacteria from the colon is present in the small intestine, bacterial fermentation will occur, resulting in the production of hydrogen and/or methane. SIBO is detected through the use of an at-home breath test which looks for these by-products of carbohydrate fermentation in the small intestine.
Our health can suffer when less healthy bacteria, yeast, and parasites take over and thrive in our intestines, leading to an imbalance in our gut microbiome. These imbalances can lead to unpleasant digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, reflux, and bad breath.
Disturbances in the gut can also trigger an immune response that is thought to worsen inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and colitis, as well as autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. As if this isn't bad enough, imbalances in the gut microbiome can also have more systemic effects such as weight gain, chronic infections, anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
For many of us, an unhealthy digestive system plays a role in chronic conditions. Fortunately, more advanced testing is available to evaluate the health of the digestive tract in its entirety. Identifying and treating the imbalance of bad bugs, following a therapeutic diet, and taking a pharmaceutical grade probiotic for a period of time can help establish a healthy gut and robust microbiome.
This test can be especially helpful for the symptoms associated with IBS like chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and alternating constipation and diarrhea. The gastrointestinal tract keeps a delicate balance between good and bad bacteria. When that balance is altered, a patient can experience a variety of symptoms, including those of IBS. Many IBS patients benefit from high dose probiotics (supplements that promote "good" bacteria). Stool testing helps determine what type of probiotics will be helpful or if other types of supplements or medications are needed to change the intestinal landscape.
This test can help uncover problems with the digestion and absorption of food, potential inflammation, and the vital balance of the gut bacteria that can affect everey system in the body.
The GI Microbial Assay Plus (MAP) is a comprehensive DNA stool test which assesses the patient's microbiome from a single stool sample. This comprehensive testing can detect bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasites that cause disease or upset the gut microbiome. The GI Map can even detect specific bacteria known to be potential autoimmune triggers.
The add-on test for Zonulin, a protein that regulates intestinal permeability, provides further insight into your gut health. When found in large amounts in the stool, Zonulin can indicate the presence of leaky gut that may increase your risk for autoimmune conditions and other chronic conditions.
Leaky gut, or Intestinal permeability, occurs when the gut allows undigested food particles and molecules to cross the gut barrier, which is just one cell thick. When this happens, the undigested food particles are identified by the immune system as invaders, and they trigger an immune reaction, causing inflammation.
Zonulin is a protein which regulates the tight junctions between the cells which make up the gut barrier. When elevated, Zonulin can indicate the presence of leaky gut and raise your risk for autoimmune conditions and other chronic conditions.
H. pylori, a bacterial infection known to cause ulcers, is another cause of inflamed GI tissues. H. pylori bacteria can settle into the lining of your upper digestive tract and cause chronic heartburn. Eventually this bacteria can damage the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines and cause bleeding ulcers. Fortunately, H pylori infections are treatable, but they should be addressed promptly.
Shifting hormone levels can produce symptoms like brain fog, anxiety and depression, changes in libido and sexual function, sleep disorders, skin changes, and hot flashes. Comprehensive hormone testing can help identify the root cause of many health complaints.
At NaturoMedica, we use comprehensive hormone testing to identify imbalances and to guide decisions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). NaturoMedica physicians are well-versed on bioidentical HRT as well as non-hormonal treatments that influence hormone levels.
Many of our patients realize cascading health benefits after re-establishing healthy hormone levels.
The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) is a functional medicine test which profiles sex and adrenal hormones and their metabolites. It also includes the daily, free cortisol pattern, organic acids, melatonin (6-OHMS), and 8-OHdG.
The Comprehensive Hormone Profile assesses hormonal status and endocrine function. It profiles estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and AM, PM, and noon cortisol.
The Basic Hormone Profile assesses hormonal status and endocrine function. It profiles estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and AM cortisol.
The adrenals produce a variety of hormones including cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, all of which have a stimulating effect on the body. When you are under stress, your adrenal glands raise your cortisol levels. This is a normal and healthy response to occasional stress. However, problems arise when the adrenal glands are constantly being stimulated to release stress hormones. Eventually, fatigue sets in, and the overused adrenals can't keep up with this high demand. This leads to you feeling exhausted and makes it difficult for you to cope with daily stress.
Adrenal fatigue can produce a variety of symptoms, including high levels of fatigue, trouble rising in the morning, and challenges falling asleep at night. You may crave energy from sweets, salt, and caffeine to substitute for the missing hormones. Without them, you might struggle with brain fog, be unable to concentrate, or just feel burned out. It's easy to gain weight and you may constantly feel cold.
At NaturoMedica, we offer functional adrenal testing which may help to identify adrenal dysfunction. Results of this test may provide insight into adrenal stress pathways and recommendations for supporting and/or boosting your adrenal glands. While a certain amount of daily stress is inevitable, we look forward to helping you establish healthy coping strategies and minimize the systemic influences of stress on your body.
The Adrenal Stress Index is a comprehensive panel that provides information about your body's response to stress. Using five saliva samples collected over 24 hours, this functional medicine test assesses cortisol and five other hormones to provide a better understanding of your adrenal stress pathways.
We all know that the food we eat can affect how we feel. We try to follow the recommended dietary guidelines, yet, despite our best efforts, we still don't feel well. We attribute our dry skin, achy joints, brain fog, digestive issues, and other symptoms to the effects of aging without realizing that the "healthy" foods we eat may be negatively impacting our health.
Food allergies and food sensitivities involve two different types of reactions by our immune system. Food allergies involve a very specific, immediate reaction by the immune system. In contrast, a food sensitivity involves a delayed reaction.
While not life threatening, food sensitivities can lead to inflammation and a variety of health issues including weight gain, digestive disorders, asthma, fatigue, brain fog, headaches, depression, anxiety, and skin conditions.
It can be very difficult to identify food sensitivities without testing because the foods we eat contain multiple ingredients and the adverse reactions are often delayed and cumulative. Fortunately, food sensitivity and allergy testing can help identify which foods may be spurring your immune system to set up a cascade of inflammatory responses.
This functional medicine test provides a detailed report that identifies your food sensitivities as well as the severity of each food sensitivity.
Using this information, NaturoMedica physicians will recommend a treatment plan that eliminates the offending foods from your diet, heals your digestive tract, decreases overall inflammation, and promotes the growth of healthy bacteria to strengthen your immune system. The goal is that you will eventually be able to reintroduce these foods.
Food sensitivity testing is recommended for those with chronic medical conditions such as fatigue, asthma, digestive ailments, failure to thrive, obesity, recurring ear or sinus infections, skin conditions, headaches, behavioral issues, learning disorders, ADD/ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Looks for reactions to 96 commonly eaten foods associated with delayed immune responses.
Measures antibodies to 190 common foods, including a wide range of foods, herbs, and spices common in the Western, Asian, and Mediterranean diets.
IgG food sensitives provide a useful guide for elimination diets with clinical impact for various diseases. People may continue to eat offending foods, unware of their potential adverse effects because symptoms associated with food sensitivies may occur hours or days after the offending food was eaten.
Measures individual responses to foods and other substances at the cellular level and may reveal the underlying trigger of certain symptoms.
Food and chemical sensitivities have been linked to migraines, aching joints, fatigue, gatrointestinal disorders, and other symptoms related to chronic activation of the immune system.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that send messages throughout the brain and body. Our "feel good" neurotransmitters are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Along with other transmitters, these function to regulate mood, focus and emotion, as well as pain response and energy levels. When they are out of balance, they can cause mental and emotional illnesses, some of which are classified as depression, anxiety, and pain.
The rate at which the body creates and breaks down neurotransmitters is a direct result of your DNA. If you are experiencing conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, attention deficit, irritability, or prolonged anger, you may benefit from understanding more about how your genes are affecting your neurotransmitter levels.
NaturoMedica offers tests which measure neurotransmitter levels and identifies imbalances. Our physicians use these tests to help tailor individualized treatment plans designed to restore balance to neurotransmitter levels and improve overall feelings of wellbeing.
The Neurotransmitter Basic Profile offers insight into the possible causes of your unique symptoms. This test measures serotonin, GABA, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glutamate, glycine, histamine, and phenethylamine.
The NeuroHormone Complete Profile can be useful in evaluating hormonal status, adrenal function, and neurotransmitter balance. This test measures estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol in addition to serotonin, GABA, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glutamate, glycine, histamine, and phenethylamine.
If you are struggling with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, or bipolar disorder, finding effective medications can be an arduous process.
Psychiatric medications can often take several weeks of use before it is known if they are effective for the patient or if there are any negative side effects. To make the issue more challenging, individuals have different responses to medications due to genetic variability. As a result, those that struggle with their mental health often must endure a lengthy trial and error period to find a medication that is successful in relieving their symptoms.
Pharmacogenetics combines the science of how drugs work with the science of human genetics. Pharmacogenetic testing can help patients and their physicians shorten the process of finding a suitable medication by identifying which ones may be more likely to work with or against the patient's genetic makeup. This innovative technology is a great benefit to individuals that suffer from mental health challenges, particularly those with treatment-resistant conditions.
While pharmacogenetic testing cannot specifically identify which medication may work best for you based upon your genetics, this testing can narrow the field of options for your health care provider when used in conjunction with a complete patient assessment.
The Genomind Full Mental Health Report looks at 24 genes to inform treatment decisions for a range of mental health condition and brain disorders. This testing examines both pharmacodynamic genes (which can guide drug selection) and pharmacokinetic genes (which can guide drug dosage). The full report includes a gene drug interaction summary, a diagnosis specific summary, and the Genomind Professional PGx Rx MetaType card.
Many of us are familiar with the old saying "eat the rainbow", the fun reminder that colorful fruits and vegetables are packed with the nutrients that our body needs to function at its best. Unfortunately, as our soils become less replete with nutrients, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain proper levels of critical nutrients within our bodies. For some of us, genetics can be a factor, as some variants can prevent our bodies from optimally absorbing and utilizing the nutrients we eat.
Micronutrients are involved in virtually every process in the body, and deficiencies in key micronutrients can lead to many chronic health conditions. Identifying functional deficiencies at the cellular level can be an important step in uncovering why you may be feeling unwell.
At NaturoMedica, we offer SpectraCell micronutrient testing which analyzes white blood cells to give the most accurate analysis of your body's nutrient deficiencies. Serving as a long-term assessment of your body's ability to optimally use nutrients, the test allows your NaturoMedica physician to take an individualized approach to optimizing your health.
Tests for insufficiences in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as amino acids, and other nutrients within immune cells. This is a reflection of long-term nutrient status and not just a "snapshot" as seen in serum nutrient tests.
MTHFR stands for "methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase", which is definitely a mouthful. MTHFR is an enzyme that helps process vitamin B9, which is also called folic acid or folate. Folate helps the body breakdown, utilize, and produce new proteins.
A change or mutation in the MTHFR gene can cause the MTHFR enzyme to not work properly and thus lead to a reduction in certain proteins. Over 50% of the population has one or more of the MTHFR genetic variants that may impair their ability to process folate. These mutations can have significant health implications.
Health conditions which may result from an inability to process folate and be associated with a MTHFR gene mutation include cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral neuropathy, mental disorders, dementia, migraines, IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, Parkinson's, cancer, autism spectrum disorders, and pregnancy and birth complications.
Another important function of MTHFR is to convert a chemical in the blood called homocysteine into methionine, another amino acid (a building block of protein). When this function is impaired due to mutations in the MTHFR gene, elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood can result.
Elevated levels of homocysteine may be associated with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, blood clots, Alzheimer's disease, renal disease, hypothyroidism, and psoriasis.
Luckily, in the case of MTHFR mutations, knowledge is power! Genetic testing easily identifies mutations in the MTHFR enzyme and guides treatments that may be helpful for minimizing your health risk.
Personalized recommendations for amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, digestive support, and othter nutrients are provided. Testing can also reveal toxic exposures and measure your body's ability to neutralize those toxins.
The environment in which we live is toxic and becoming more so with each passing year. Luckily, our bodies are amazing at detoxifying themselves, and we can use that innate ability to rid ourselves of man-made toxicants such as heavy metals and chemicals. As a result, acute metal poisoning is rare.
Over time, however, low-level exposure to toxic metals can lead to an accumulation in the body which damages our mitochondria and leads to a variety of adverse health effects and chronic disease, including Alzheimer's.
We use heavy metal testing to uncover environmental neurotoxins such as heavy metals (mercury, lead, aluminum, silver, excess iron) and pesticides/petroleum products which many theorize contribute to the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
At NaturoMedica, we offer a wide array of options to address environmental toxic exposures including diets, lifestyle changes, and supplement protocols.
Urine element analysis can be helpful in evaluating your health risks from heavy metal accumulation. This test screens for and measures the presence of 20 toxic metals, including aluminum, lead, and mercury.
Hair analysis offers insight into your exposure to potentially toxic elements. This test identifies your exposure to 39 elements, including aluminum, lead, iron, silver, and mercury.
Present in our air, food, water, and household goods, environmental pollutants are very difficult, if not impossible, to avoid. These pollutants wreak havoc on our immune systems and may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as fatigue, cancer, ADHD, autoimmune disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and Alzheimer's.
Clearly, caution and protection should be used when exposed to these substances. Many of our patients are proactive about disease prevention, and it is no wonder they are reaching out asking what they should do to help protect themselves from these environmental toxins.
At NaturoMedica, we offer advanced testing which can assess your exposure to common environmental toxins such as dioxins, phthalates, benzine, organophosphates, and mold. Our functional tests provide a detailed report of the toxins you have been exposed to as well as the level of exposure. Using these results, our physicians will recommend a treatment plan designed to remove these toxins from your body and make suggestions on how to reduce your risk of additional exposure.
Produced by mold, mycotoxins are some of the most common toxins in the environment. Mycotoxin exposure can lead to asthma, cancer, memory loss, fatigue, skin issues, mood disorders, and many other conditions. The MycoTOX Profile screens for 11 different mycotoxins from 40 species of mold.
If you are concerned about the widespread use of glyphosate, you are not alone. Classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization in 2015, glyphosate is the world's most commonly used herbicide.
Developed for use with genetically modified crops, glyphosate is sprayed on nearly all conventionally grown soybean and corn. Sugar beets, canola, cotton, and alfalfa are other genetically modified crops sprayed with glyphosate in North America. In addition, glyphosate is often used as a drying agent on crops such as wheat and oats prior to harvest or sprayed on fields to control weeds before non-genetically modified crops are planted.
In addition to cancer, excess exposure to glyphosate can lead to the development of neurological diseases, autism spectrum disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, kidney disease, and many other conditions.
At NaturoMedica, we recommend that you eat organic foods whenever possible to minimize your exposure to this herbicide. Our physicians can assess your level of glyphosate toxicity to determine if glyphosate is contributing to your health complaints. Test results help guide individualized treatment plans designed to reduce the toxic burden within your body. Recommended changes often include dietary modifications, detoxification regimens, and supplements.