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 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).
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.
