Naturopathy and Lab Tests

Lab tests can be very important. But keep in mind that this is only method used to evaluate health. Other methods I use include taking a good history, kinesiology muscle testing, heart rate variability and tongue analysis. Lab tests are just another tool. Very valuable at times, but should be used in context of the case. With all the modern lab tests available too often practitioners fall into the trap of treating a lab tests, rather than their patient.

Conventional versus functional lab tests

Conventional labs tests are those commonly run by most medical doctors. This includes basic blood work such as a CDC, thyroid hormones, cholesterol, vitamin D and anything else you can get from a typical doctor. The purpose of conventional lab tests is to diagnose specific diseases.

Functional labs are specialized tests commonly used by more integrative practitioners such as naturopathic doctors. The purpose of functional lab tests is not necessarily to diagnosis a disease. Rather they are used to find out the underlining functional cause of illness.

For example, a colonoscopy can be used to diagnose Chron’s or ulcerlative colitis. A functional stool tests will not give that specific diagnosis, but can help to show and underlining imbalance in the microbiota that leads to inflammation in the digestive tract.

Sample collection

Most conventional lab tests are either blood tests, or imaging. Both typically require the patient to go to a doctors office to get the test done. Most functional lab tests actually do not test blood. Samples are commonly saliva, urine, stool or hair. Tests come as part of a kit. The collection is done at home and then the kit sent to the lab. Some kits test blood with just a few drops of blood from a fingerstick. The collection can easily be done at home and sent to lab without having to go to a lab for a blood draw.

What functional labs are available

In my office I carry functional lab kits from several companies:

Diagnostechs

Doctors Data / Labrix

Great Plains Laboratory

KBMO diagnostics