FAQs About Gut Health & Our Services

Functional lab testing offers testing outside of standard bloodwork in conventional care. These lab tests look at imbalances in the body that can contribute to unwanted symptoms and drive disease. These tests may include samples from stool, urine, hair, saliva, and blood.

I offer stool testing through the GI Map, hair testing (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis), DUTCH hormone test for hormones and cortisol, insulin blood spot testing, as well as several nutrient tests. Other testing options may be offered upon request.

A gut microbiome test is a stool test that analyzes your gut health. It measures levels of our beneficial bacteria, overgrown bacteria, digestion health, yeast, gut immune health, and more.

A hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) look at our mineral status in our tissues (hair). Bloodwork is a snapshot in time. The minerals in your bloodwork are meant to be as normal as possible and keep you alive. An HTMA looks at how your body is using minerals, what you are deficient in, what you may be burning through, and heavy metals. We look at ratios of certain minerals for insight into adrenal health, nervous system, thyroid, blood sugar balance, and more.

Hormone testing looks at your sex hormones and cortisol. There are 2 ways to test this: through saliva, and urine. Saliva testing is good for a general idea of your hormones and cortisol. The DUTCH hormone test is performed through urine and gives a thorough evaluation of hormones, as well as metabolism of estrogen, how you are using cortisol, and several other markers.

Functional lab testing is so valuable and gives insight into your body as a whole. We don’t want to just treat a certain system as every system is connected to each other.

Bloating is one of the most common conditions I manage. Lab testing is vital for bloating as what may be the cause for one client, is not the cause for the next. Testing allows me to create a protocol personalized to your results

I do create a personalized supplement plan based on test results but supplements alone are not the answer. We have to address why our symptoms initially started. I address nutrition, lifestyle habits, and nervous system regulation with all of my clients.

I do not, however this is actually a good thing. If I accepted insurance I would be constrained to the same practices as conventional medicine. Typically with insurance, a diagnosis is required, and in functional medicine I am not looking for a diagnosis, but to rebalance the body as a whole. By not being tied to insurance, I able to practice the way I know will get us answers and healing. Because of this, I do offer flexible payment options, have a financing service available, and often can accept HSA/FSA in order to help more people.