Root Cause Consultation

Why Functional Analysis & Advanced Tests?

Many of us have been there. Going to get a check up and all the routine labs that traditional medicine checks are normal, but we still feel like the health issues are unresolved. That’s where advanced testing comes in. There are many avenues to take to get to the root cause of issues. When it comes to functional medicine, the approach is simply using these avenues to investigate what is really happening, sometimes down to the cell level. I want to share with you here which tests I have found to be very effective to give you a better understanding of why practitioners recommend and use them to help you find the answers and solutions you need.

First, one thing to know about lab tests is that they are tools to use in the process. They are not the main event, so to speak. Using the root cause approach looks at the whole picture, not just one element. Unfortunately, in conventional/traditional medicine, it has become a sick-care model to where symptoms are treated, leaving a perpetual cycle of more medications and money down the drain for the majority. When using tests as a tool, you get the big picture, WITH the symptom history, WITH the current situation and then go from there. While insurance does not cover most of them, when you consider the cost of allowing illness to continue to where your quality of life is impacted later on, it is a worthy cost to invest in finding the answers now and taking the steps to find better health.

Another point to add before diving into various testing is that our body systems are all connected. For example, you may go to be seen for a skin issue and not have any GI symptoms, yet the root may be from inflammation in the GI tract. The same goes for hormonal issues and mental health. The gut tends to be the culprit of many disorders and dysfunctions. This makes sense, thinking of it being the core of the body, but also when you see the impact of the barrier that is set up by our cells. Our gut is designed to keep food particles, pathogens and other substances out of the bloodstream. So, when symptoms arise, autoimmune disorders develop and other things appear, it is crucial to think about gut health.

Gut Testing

Speaking of gut health, one of the ways to identify the root cause is to test the stool for parasites, inflammation, toxins, bacterial overload, gluten sensitivity, fat digestion and more. This is not found in conventional testing, but in advanced testing such as the GI Map, GI 360, Biome Fx and others. The information found in these tests offer more information of what is contributing to these symptoms and disorders. Reasons for having this advanced testing include GI symptoms (bloating, belching, IBS, etc.), autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, stubborn weight gain and more.

Food Sensitivities/Allergies

While there is the option of avoiding foods and substances for 30 days and reintroducing them one at a time to identify if there are sensitivities or allergies present, this takes much longer than just running tests. Differing from allergen skin testing, testing the blood for food sensitivities will give you the answers. Results will be dependent on what has been in the system most recently, so if it is not something you ingest often, it may not show up as much in that time of the testing. Either way, there are multiple tests and companies that use this technology each with their own variants of which foods and substances are used. You would be looking for one that tests the IgE for allergen. Even tests that just search for sensitivities would be helpful as well. Reasons for using this testing includes GI symptoms after eating certain foods, skin issues, chronic weight gain, other symptoms not finding the answers for.

Hormonal Testing

Hormonal imbalances have been on the rise, especially with more and more environmental exposures to toxins, mold and more. Getting blood testing for hormone levels can be helpful, but you also have to know what cycle the body is in to know if they are where they are supposed to be at the time of testing. Using tools such as the DUTCH tests help to see how the hormones are broken down in the body, so you have a clearer picture of WHAT the body is doing, not just WHERE the levels are at. Using these advanced tests will help to see how the body is detoxing, whether there needs to be interventions for poor absorption of b vitamins and more. Reasons for this testing include irregular menstrual cycles, chronic fatigue, PCOS, endometriosis and more. Hormones and gut health are connected, so choosing hormonal testing WITH gut testing will make a better, more focused picture of where the work needs to take place.

There are more advanced tests that I use to help clients find the root cause of illness and symptoms. These are 3 that I see most commonly due to the common health issues that I see. Hopefully this has opened your eyes to see the value in using advanced testing. Though it seems costly initially, it will pay off in the long run because you will have the information that guides the direction to go in for finding the answers to your health concerns. You have to look ‘under the hood,’ so to speak, by utilizing these tools of advanced testing and then move onto the proper interventions. If we don’t test, then it’s just a guess. This targets the approach to what YOUR body needs and you can return to the right balance. Just throwing in supplements for symptoms is the same trap. Find out if you really need those interventions and seek assistance from someone who understands the root cause approach and can help you analyze your results effectively.

Want to find out more of the labs and tests I recommend? Follow https://labs.rupahealth.com/store/storefront_GXKM8E4.

Is it time for you to find the answers? Reach out today for a health consultation!

(717) 288-7522

Rachel.rootcause@gmail.com