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Naturopathic Treatment of PMS and PMDD

This is just a short list of common PMS symptoms:

  • Decreased energy
  • Irritability and anger
  • Food cravings
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Headache
  • Low sex drive
  • Breast pain
  • Muscle aces
  • Acne
  • Abdominal bloating

Conventional treatment is birth control pills. When PMS is very bad, it is called PMDD. This may even be treated with psychiatric medication. These treatment options do not treat the actual cause of symptoms.

It is absurd that women are given these two choices. Either suppress symptoms, or suffer. Natural health gives another option, to know what is causing these symptoms and to fix the problem.

Causes of PMS and PMDD

In natural health we can understand what causes symptoms and treat it. Below I review the most common reasons women get PMS symptoms. Ideally, it is best to work with a natural health care practitioner who can review your case and do tests to figure out the specific cause of your symptoms.

Toxicity, the liver and estrogen

Many symptoms of PMS are due to estrogen excess. Estrogen may not be elevated during the whole cycle. Fluctuations during short periods of the cycle can cause symptoms.

Symptoms of estrogen excess:

  • Bloating
  • Water retention
  • Very heavy bleeding
  • Cramps
  • Breast pain

The ovaries make estrogen, then the liver breaks it down and detoxifies it. If the liver is sluggish, then estrogen builds up causing symptoms. Therefore, the liver may need support to treat PMS.

From a certain point of heavy bleeding and cramps comes from the body trying to protect itself. If we have too many toxins for the liver to process, the body uses other methods of detoxification. The period gives women and an excellent auxiliary route of elimination. They can bleed toxins out. The naturopathic treatment is thus to aid the body, so it no longer needs to do this.

Why see a Naturopathic doctor for detoxification?

There are many supplements that aid the liver in detoxification and help PMS. Common examples are DIM, NAC and milk thistle. So why not just take those supplements? What’s the point in seeing someone?

When working with clients I do not simply hand out general advice. If working on detoxification anything I do will be based upon the totality of my clients symptoms, along with in office evaluation and lab tests to created a plan specific for them.

Digestion and gut dysbiosis

Gut dysbiosis refers to the balance of bacteria, yeast and other microbes in the digestive tract.

After the liver detoxifies estrogen it’s still not out of your body. It has to travel through the digestive system and is eventually excreted in the stool.

Some bacteria in the gut make and an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase. This causes the absorption of estrogen back into the body. Thus, working on gut health, diet, and possibly taking probiotics is part of treating PMS.

There are other ways dysbiosis can contribute to PMS. Yeasts such as Candida release toxins which put an extra burden on liver detoxification. Fermentation of foods in the upper GI system (caused by SIBO) also put extra stress on the liver and cause other symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue.

Plastics and xeno-estrogens

It is not just the estrogen that your body makes that needs to be eliminated. Over the past few decades our society has become bombarded with environmental toxins that mimic estrogen. The most well known of these is BPA (bisphenol A). Industrial toxins that act like estrogen in the body are called “xeno-estrogens.”

Other estrogen mimicking toxins:

  • The pesticides DDT and DDE
  • Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
  • Polychlorinated phenols (PCP)
  • Dieldrin
  • Chlordane

It’s hard for the body to break down these chemicals. Over time they become stored in fat cells. Learning how to avoid these toxins and taking steps to eliminate those we have exposed to is essential
for good hormonal health.

Some people may think that taking supplements and doing extra things for detoxification isn’t natural. They say all we need is a “good diet.” Maybe that was true 200 years ago. The way it is now, we are not living in a naturally world. We are surrounded with synthetic chemicals and our bodies need help to get rid of them.

Hypothyroidism

Low thyroid hormone slows down your whole body. It can also make PMS worse. Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed. There are numerous causes from hypothyroidism. Three of the more common causes are:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease)
  • Secondary to other illness, such as infection or adrenal fatigue
  • Nutritional deficiencies

I have other pages on hypothyroidism. Going into detail here is beyond the scope of this article. However, one nutrients I use often and is essential to women’s health is iodine.

Iodine is used to make thyroid hormone. It’s also essential for the ovaries and breast tissue. This is why women often need it much more than men. I believe many women’s health issues can be prevented or helped by using iodine.

Cortisol and Stress

Emotional stress causes an increase in the adrenal hormone cortisol. Cortisol raises blood sugar, blood pressure and helps us get through moments of stress.

If the stress remains, cortisol stays elevated. This leads to fatigue, blood sugar disorders and has numerous affects on other hormones. One of these is to lower progesterone. Progesterone deficiency is another cause for PMS symptoms.

Nutritional deficiencies

Nutrients which are commonly deficient in PMS include

  • B vitamins, especially B6
  • Magnesium
  • Essential fatty acids. This could be a need for fish oil, but some people actually need other oils. Evening primrose and borage oil help many women. Fish oil is needed in high doses for people who eat the “Standard American Diet.” My clients are generally much more health conscious than the average American, and thus do not need high dose fish oil to make up for a diet high in poor quality fats.
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin E
  • Iodine
I utilized several different methods for assessing such deficiencies. This includes careful review of symptoms, in person examination, kinesiology testing and directly testing for nutrients on lab tests.

Treating PMS

There are many options. But like any symptoms I always start by evaluating the whole person. Treat the person. Don’t treat PMS. PMS (even if you have severe symptoms) can see great improvement with natural health.

Lab tests

Female hormones can be tested in two ways:

  • Blood tests
  • Saliva hormone tests

Both of these have their advantages. Saliva is more accurate measurement of how much hormone is inside our cells. Multiple samples aer also easy to take, so it’s possible for a women to take samples during her whole period and chart out estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH on a lab test.

Disadvantages with saliva testing is that it can take weeks to get test results back. It is also not covered by insurance.

You can read more about saliva testing for female hormones on this page

With blood tests the turn around time for results in much quicker. Insurance coverage is much easier to have as well.

How interested I am in lab tests depends on the case. I generally want labs in cases with severe symptoms, someone who wants to get pregnant, PCOS or symptoms of high androgens. Most cases of PMS can be helped greatly by working on the factors I listed on this page. Functional labs for toxicity such as hair analysis, or testing nutrient levels may be more helpful at fixing the cause than working directly off of hormone levels.

Herbal medicine

Herbs are best prescribed based upon a constitutional assessment. The herbs are given for the person, not the disease. There are herbs very commonly used for PMS such as black cohosh or chaste berry. Sometimes it’s the less well known herbs that work best.

As an herbalist I keep about 200 different herbs on hand in my office and often mix customized formulas.

Go to the page on herbal medicine for more information

Additional Resources

Testing.com has good information on lab tests for female hormones from a functional perspective

 

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Heavy Metals And Toxicity Lab Tests

Naturopathic medicine and lab tests for toxicity

As a naturopathic doctor people come in to see me for a wide range of issues. This includes fatigue, autoimmunity, various hormonal issues, skin rashes, acne, chronic Candida, digestive issues and mental symptoms. All of these (and more) may be related to toxcity. 

Some ways toxicity impairs health:

  • Blocks the production of energy at the cellular level. This causes fatigue.
  • Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are neurotoxins. They kill nerve cells. These metals effect memory, cognition and may contribute to depression and anxiety.
  • Toxicity is associated with autoimmune disease.
  • Many toxins are carcinogenic (they cause cancer).
  • BPA (bisphenol A) and other environmental toxins mimic estrogen. This leads to hormonal issues in women and men.
  • Toxins change the environment within the body making it more susceptible to Candida, yeast and other infections.

Toxicity is a problem that can contribute to virtually any symptom a client comes in with. This is why, as a naturopathic doctor I test. I want to figure out what the cause of my client’s symptoms are.

This page is primarily about how to test for heavy metals. For more general information on environmental toxicity I suggest going to the Environmental Working Group page.

Blood Tests For Heavy Metals

Blood tests are good for very recent exposures. For example blood levels of lead show if children are actually exposed.

However, blood tests for heavy metals have a limited use. The body does not keep toxins in circulation for long. Metals are either excreted from the body, or end up stored inside of tissue. Just because a  blood tests says your levels of heavy metals are fine, that doesn’t mean it’s not lurking inside organs such as the kidneys or the brain.

Blood tests can give patients a false sense of security. They may be told they are fine because it’s not on the blood tests. But, not in your blood doesn’t mean not in your body. This is why it’s important to work with someone who is trained in how to test for environmental toxicity.

Functional Lab Tests For Toxicity

The following reviews four different lab tests I use at times for toxicity. All of them are from the company Doctors Data. You may go to their website for even more information.

Hair Analysis

Hair analysis is a good tests for heavy metals. However, it needs to be interpreted by someone trained to do so. Sometimes ratios between minerals matter. Other times patterns may show hidden toxicity that is apparent when first looking at results.

The following example should show how hair analysis is helpful, and why proper interpretation is essential.

 

Hair test 1: pre-detoxification

The initial test was done on the onset of detoxification. The bottom part that covers “Essential and Other Elements” is looked at first. Without looking at specific values of individual elements, it should be clear that almost all of them are under the 50th percentile. This is one of several patterns of mineral deregulation due to toxicity. In this case the proper treatment was to work on detoxification in general, rather than trying to manipulate levels of any one particular mineral.

The toxic metal section did show very high amounts of mercury and silver. However, considering the degree of mineral deregulation seen in the bottom portion, it would be wrong to assume that this was the the extent of her metal toxicity.

 

Hair analysis test results. Low lead and high mercury.

Hair test 2: during detoxification

The protocol included a custom formulated herbal tincture, some vitamins, a chlorphylin supplement and low potency compound homeopathics to help stimulate metal detoxification. The specific supplements are not being listed, as they were meant for her alone based upon the overall assessment. Other people following her protocol would not have the same results.

Client experienced significant improvement of symptoms. Mostly notably reduction in those related to chronic yeast infection. Previously extensive dietary changes and supplementation with herbs to kill yeast has only mild effect.

The “essential and other elements” portion also no longer showed such a deregulated pattern (although it was far from perfect and indicated the further detoxification is still needed).

 
Lead detoxification and other metals from detoxification program.

Urinary Porphyrin Test

Urinary porphyrins are metabolites produced in the production of hemoglobin. They may have long and complicated names, but they are just by-products of red blood cell formation.

What’s important is that different toxins can interfere in how these metabolites function, causing them to spill out into the urine. A urinary porphryin test is thus an indirectly assessment of the burden of toxicity on the body.

Unlike other tests which only look at metals, a porphryin tests also helps to evaluate other toxins: Hexachlorobenzene, dioxin, methylchloride, PVC and PBA.

The advantages of a porphyrin tests is that it’s easy to do (a simple morning urine collection), and it is more broad than a hair analysis which only looks at metals.

The disadvantage is that results are not as specific. For example an elevated coproporphyrin III may indicate lead, or PBA. Sometimes I like to combine both tests for a more complete view.

Results from Doctors Data Urinary Porphyrin test

Stool and Urine Metal Tests

Urine tests for metals only measure what is spilling out into the urine. Unless you are taking a chelating agent such as DMSA (which will detoxify mercury through the kidneys), then it’s unlikely to see much on these test. metals.
 
For a long time urine metals tests where popular. This is because they where given with DMSA. Over 10 years ago the FDA took DMSA off the market and now it is only available as prescription.
 
There are plenty of other natural metal chelators available. However, these will use the body’s more natural detoxification routes and move most metals out through the liver. Metals will then be excreted in stool.  Therefore, if there is a need to test how much detoxification is happening in the moment, a stool metal test may be the best option.
 
Doctors Data has both urine metal and fecal metal tests available.
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Lab Testing For Food Allergies

Immunogloblins and Allergies

Allergies are caused by immunoglobulins. They tag onto things that don’t belong in the body and tell the immune system to attack.

We need immunoglobulins to develop immunity against infections. The problem is when they become too active and react against things that are otherwise harmless.

We have several types of immunoglobulins. The following are the ones important to understanding food allergy tests.

IgE

This is the classic allergic response. IgE causes sudden acute symptoms. This includes rashes, hives, coughs, sneezing, or a swollen tongue.

 

IgG

We need IgG to protect us against infections. Unfortunately, we can develop IgG reactions to food. IgG allergies are delayed. It can take hours, or even a few days to notice symptoms.

IgA

IgA is secreted where the body has contact with the outside world. This is most active the digestive tract and lungs.

Food intolerance

These are non-allergy reactions to food. Some people are lactose intolerant and have symptoms from milk. Eggs are another food that some people are intolerant against. I‘m listing this here because some people can have all the allergy testing in the world, and their reaction won‘t show because it isn‘t a true allergy.

How Allergy Tests Work

Allergy tests look for specific immunoglobulins. So Let’s say you think you are allergic to wheat. You go to your doctor and ask for an allergy test. It comes back negative and so they tell you wheat is no problem for you to eat.
 
But is it really?
 
They commonly only test for IgE immunogloblins. What if you’re allergic, but it’s being triggered by IgG or IgA?

 

Key point: Just because one type of immunogloblin is fine, that doesn‘t mean all of them are.

 

Skin prick allergy tests look for an IgE response in  your skin. This does not mean you will not have an IgG or IgA reaction if you actually eat the food.

Food Allergy Lab Test Options

The following covers different ways I have to test food allergies with clients. It would be nice to have just one lab that covers everything. Since we have different types of immunoglobulins and special complexities testing for gluten, it isn’t so simple.

IgG Food Allergy Tests

For IgG testing I use KBMO diagnostechs. This is a blood test, but it only requires a fingerstick and a few drops of blood. There is no need to go to a lab. There are actually two different subtractions of IgG. KBMO tests for both of them, making false negatives less likely.
 
Their full panel of 132 foods can be pricy for some. They also have a 22 food panel that covers the most common allergies people have. Usually this is what people need. It’s the wheat, corn, dairy and soy that cause most allergies.

IgA Food Allergy Tests

For IgA I use another lab, diagnostechs. They measure IgA through saliva. I typically do not just for IgA allergies by themselves. Rather, these markers are included larger panels diagnostechs has for the digestive system.

Functional digestive system tests consist of both stool and saliva samples. Saliva is used to test for IgA against gliadin (wheat), soy, cassein (dairy) and eggs. They can also test IgA against various parasites like Ameba and some worms.

On the stool portion they lab can tests for parasites by microscopic examination, bacterial and yeast cultures, plus several markers for inflammation in the gut, pancreatic enzyme production and immune system activity. 

Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity Lab Tests

In case of an allergy to gluten (a protein in wheat, rye, barley, spelt and oats) it’s important to do additional tests. For some people just one crumb of a food containing gluten can set off an inflammatory cascade.

The following tests should be run:

  • IgA gliadin
  • IgG gliadin
  • IgG gluten
  • Deamindated gliadin peptide IgA
  • Deamindated gliadin peptide IgG
These tests can help to differentiate wheat allergy and gluten sensitivity from celiac disease. This test is available as a fingerstick test from Doctors Data. They have more resources on their website including sample results and gluten sensitivity resource guide. 
 
Depending on insurance the above tests may be ordered through a conventional lab as well.
 

Celiac genetic panel is a good followup to get a more definitive answer on gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

    • HLA-DQ2
    • HLA-DQ8
    • HLA-DQA1
    • HLA-DQB1
Geneitic testing should be available through a lab which does conventional blood work.
 

Non-Lab Allergy Test Options

Allergy Elimination Challenge Diet

For this no lab testing is needed.The patients first removes the most common allergens from their diet. This includes:

Gluten grains (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, oats)
Soy
Corn
Dairy
Eggs
Peanuts
Citrus fruits
Artificial foods.

After a month the patient then reintroduces each of these foods one at a time and tracks all symptoms for 3 days before adding back another food. Any worsening of symptoms shows an allergy.

Some people in natural health care believe this is the gold-standard test for food allergies. They may say to not even bother with lab tests because those can be unreliable.

In real life few people are going to bother doing it properly. It takes months of carefully planning a diet and charting symptoms to go through the elimination diet. Many food allergies are delayed. So in order to uncover it this way you have not just totally eliminate it, but be very precise with tracking symptoms on reintroduction. 

Most people are allergic to the common allergens of gluten, corn, soy, diary and eggs. It’s easier to a food allergy test which then convinces them to eliminate the foods and feel better.

Applied Kinesiology For Allergies

For a detailed description of Kinesiology and the Manual Muscle test please go to the muscle testing page.
 

I keep over 250 different food vials in the office to test clients.

Advantages to muscle testing over lab tests:

  • Inexpensive
  • Immediate results
  • Test isn’t dependent on finding the right immunoglobulin, or else giving a false negative
  • There are several desensitization techniques that practitioners may use with muscle testing. So this can be part tests and treatment.

Technically, this is not a true “allergy test.” An allergy means you have an immunoglobulin response. If holding a vial for dairy makes someone go weak that may be an immunoglobulin response. It may be a food intolerance. It may not be nutritionally good for the body at that movement.

 

The True Purpose of Allergy Tests

Eliminating allergenic foods can be difficult. Telling someone to go gluten free is  a huge lifestyle change. Getting a child to do it is almost impossible. For both children and adults food is part of our social connections. Going without that food can mean missing out on social engagements, not just a tasty meal.

I don’t really need to run a food allergy test to suggest you may feel better without having diary,  corn, soy, or wheat. You don’t have to come into my office. I can just write it here, if most people eliminate those foods they will feel better.

However, considering how hard it is to much such lifestyle changes we have to know for sure. Seeing it on a lab tests lets people know the food sacrifices they are making are well worth it.

And yes, sometime that pinto bean or banana will come up on a lab test and people need to eliminate those as well.

 

 

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Saliva Cortisol Testing and Adrenal Fatigue

Saliva Cortisol and the Adrenal Stress Index Panel

Normally cortisol is 10 times higher in the morning than at night. How much stress you are under, and what you eat can also cause it to fluctuate during the day. Therefore, a single blood tests can not tell you much. You need to have multiple sample to make sure you don’t miss something. Saliva cortisol has several advantages over blood. First, it is a more true representation of how much cortisol each cell is actually getting. Secondly, saliva cortisol can be collected just about anytime and anywhere. This allows for multiple collections during the day. Saliva cortisol can also be collected when you are most under stress. That’s often when people need their cortisol tests.

The adrenal stress index panel is a test used by my go to lab for saliva hormones, Diagnostechs. The panel measures cortisol and other markers useful for assessing adrenal fatigue. More on the ASI panel at the bottom of this page.

The following sample cases show the advantage of saliva cortisol collection over blood tests.

Low cortisol through the entire day

In this case saliva cortisol is sub-optimal during the whole day. This is someone who is tired all the time and needs adrenal support. Support for other systems is probably needed as well. This could be working on diet, infections, detoxification, emotional stress. What the exact support needed is depends on the rest of the intake. 

ASI adrenal test. low cortisol at all times

Elevated morning cortisol

This person can have several symptoms. One may be high blood sugar. Cortisol raises blood sugar, so if it’s spiking during the night then someone may have high blood sugar while they sleep. Sometimes people eat well and have normal blood sugar during the day, but when their doctor tests them, they are become diabetic. Cortisol may be one reason why.

Anxiety and fatigue may also be present with this pattern.

Cortisol is very high in the morning. The rest of the day it comes back down to normal.

Inverted cortisol pattern

This person will be tired during the day and have a hard time waking up. Later on at night they may get a “second wind” finally have energy to do things and stay up late. Insomnia is possible with this pattern. I have often had people collect saliva cortisol late at night (or even if they wake up in the middle of the night) to see if there is a cortisol issue causing insomnia.

Inverted cortisol pattern on test. it is below normal in the morning and higher at night.

Getting cortisol tested

The lab I have always used for cortisol tests is diagnostechs. I like them because they are affordable and have lab panels which make sense and are clinically relevant.

Typically, cortisol is tested as part of the ASI test (Adrenal Stress Index). This panel includes the following markers:

  • 4 cortisol samples
  • DHEA: another adrenal hormone which helps to interpret cortisol levles and degree of adrenal fatigue)
  • 2 insulin samples: high cortisol can raise blood sugar and insuline
  • 17-OH progesterone: A progesterone made by the adrenal glands. This aids in overall interpretation.
  • Gluten IgA: a good screen test for gluten allergy and sensitivity. Can contribute to adrenal fatigue.
  • Secretory IgA: marker of immune system function. Greatly effect by stress and cortisol.

Small panels are also available is all of the above is not needed.

Other pages on cortisol and Adrenal Fatigue

Naturopathic treatment of adrenal fatigue

Adrenal supplements and adaptogens

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Lab Tests For Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)

Epstein Barr Virus and Mononucleosis

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is a very common infection. Over 90% of the world’s population tests positive for exposure to it.
In conventional medicine EVB is the cause of infectious mononucleosis. This is commonly called “mono.”
Mono often strikes teenagers and young adults. It causes severe symptoms for weeks to a few months and then goes away.
Common symptoms of mononucleosis include:

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue
  • Anorexia
  • Myalgia (muscle pain)
  • Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes)
  • Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen)

This is an abbreviated list. Mononucleosis can be a severe acute infection.
In conventional medicine once symptoms subside and lab tests return to normal is it assumed that the patient has recovered.

Chronic EBV and Stealth Infections

A “stealth infection” is one that no longer is causing the classical acute symptoms. The patient seems to have recovered. However, the infection stays in the body, causing chronic symptoms.

Over the past few years people in natural health have associated EBV with chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue and autoimmune disease. One popular author (Anthony Williams) has even written books citing EBV as the cause of autoimmune hypothyroidism. I like to avoid extreme statements. There is not just one cause of all autoimmune disease. However, EBV is more than something which causes mono in teenagers.

The book, The Epstein Barr Virus Solution by Kasia Kines lists many conditions which research shows is associated with EBV. A partial summary is as follows:

  • Autoimmune disease (includes hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism,  multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthriris, scleroderma, sjogren’s, lupus)
  • Brain related illnesses
  • Gastrointestinal (includes H. pylori, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcer and GERD
  • Acute hepatitis
  • Numerous ocular symptoms

Blood Tests for EBV

Complete Blood Cell Count (CBD) with Differential

This the most basic type of blood test for the immune system is the CBD and differential. Doctors run this almost anytime blood worked it ordered.

We have two types of common blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen. White blood cell fight off infections. The CBC counts the total number of red and white blood cells. Since we also have several white blood cells, the differential tells how much of each kind we have.

Basic interpretation
The optimal range is where a healthy person should be. Reference range is larger, being outside of it shows there is a condition to treat.

WBC (white blood cell count)
Optimal is 5 to 7.5.
Reference range goes from about 4 to 11.
The WBC increases during acute infections. In case of long term chronic infections is may drop.

Neutrophils
Optimal is 40%  – 60%
These help the body fight off bacterial infections. Just like the WBC, neutrophiles can increase at the start of an infection then over time decrease.

Lymphocytes
Optimal is 24% – 44%
Lymphocytes are more specific for viral infections.
In case of EBV there is an initial increase in lymphocytes, which then comes back down to reference range.

Eosinophils
Optimal is 0% – 3%
Conventional 0% – 8%
These can increase in cases of allergies or parasites. Not typically relevant to viral infections such as EBV.

Although the WBC does not say what specific infection someone has, it does show general information about how the immune system is doing. It can help to guide treatment.

Antibody Tests for EBV

Antibodies are made in response to specific infections. These are proteins which allow the immune system target and destroy specific infections.

There are 4 common EBV antibodies:

VCA IgG: During an acute infection these go up. After the infection subsides there stay positive for life.

EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG: Just like the VCA IgG these increase after the initial infection and then stay elevated for life.

EA (D): These are elevated later into the acute phase of infection and then go back down to normal.

VCA IgM: These increase during acute infection and then go back down to normal.

Problems with antibody tests

Unless someone comes back with a positive EA (D) or VCA IgM, the results can be inconclusive. False negatives are possible. Most people are positive against VCA and EBNA IgG as it is. Yet, people with inconclusive results may respond well to natural protocols for the immune system.

Total IgG and IgM

They can test blood to see if total amount of IgG and IgM are low. If these are too low, then false negatives are the above test are more likely.

PCR testing

PCR is a measurement for viral particles in the blood. This in another test to run in case the antibodies miss the infection.

Do lab tests for EBV really matter?

Testing may help in that if an infection is confirmed, then we know what needs to be treated. Often testing is inconclusive because the antibodies that show past exposure are elevated, but the ones that show recent activation are normal. However, since EBV can cause so many symptoms and it helps to confirm on labs what the problem is, testing for EBV should be done.

Often medical doctors are hesitant to order lab tests past the basics. Or even if they do, they don’t order complete tests. So you may need to tell your MD what tests to order. If that doesn’t work, a naturopathic doctor would probably be more willing to order such tests. Depending on your insurance and where you live, getting tests through a ND may be covered. There are also options in certain states to order labs directly out of pocket. Lifeextensions is one such option.

Coming from a traditional, naturopathic perspective the goal isn’t not to simply treat the infection. Rather we work on treating the whole person, which means working on the immune system (and overall health) in general.