Health News
CAM outsources to several labs worldwide for advanced, functional diagnostics.
Simple blood tests may not always offer enough information and often serum, urinary and salivary measurements provide a more comprehensive representation of functional health status. More sophisticated testing can be useful to solve, complex conditions more rapidly by providing more targeted therapy. These tests can be used to assess multiple external inputs and biological systems including: metabolic, genetic, oncologic, infectious, immunological, inflammatory, allergic, autoimmune, hormonal, estrogenic, adrenal, nutritional, cardiovascular, neurologic, gastrointestinal, hepatic, environmental oxidative and cytosolic.
To view a more comprehensive list of available labs visit:
Samples are collected at home or the lab and sent directly for analysis.
Most popular tests include:
Food Allergy Testing
In an IgG reaction, the IgG antibodies attach themselves to the food antigen and create an antibody-antigen complex. These complexes are normally removed by special cells called macrophages. However, if they are present in large numbers and the reactive food is still being consumed, the macrophages can’t remove them quickly enough. The food antigen-antibody complexes accumulate and are deposited in body tissues. Once in tissue, these complexes release inflammation causing chemicals, which may play a role in numerous diseases and conditions.
Hormone Testing
Serum, urinary and salivary testing can provide valuable insight into the dynamic balance of hormones including production, transport, metabolism and excretion.
The Female Panel of five hormones may highlight imbalances that can contribute to a number of different health conditions. Low levels of estrogens may contribute to bone loss, fatigue, heart disease, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness and depression. Low testosterone may also contribute to bone loss, depression, fatigue, heart disease and vaginal dryness. High estrogens or low progesterone may be a factor in anxiety symptoms, weight gain and breast cancer risk. Fatigue often accompanies hormone imbalance and is frequently observed in postmenopausal women. Hormone imbalance may also be a feature of metabolic syndrome.
The Male Panel of four hormones may highlight imbalances that can contribute to different health conditions. Low levels of testosterone may contribute to bone loss, fatigue, heart disease, irritability, apathy, grumpiness, memory loss, prostate enlargement, sleep disturbances and depression. High estrogens can arise from excess conversion of testosterone to estrogen, causing breast enlargement and erectile dysfunction. Hormone imbalance may also be a feature of metabolic syndrome.
Environmental Toxicity Testing
Accumulation of toxicants has been linked to a multitude of chronic, complex health problems and diseases including chronic fatigue, mood disorders, pain syndromes and autoimmunity. Testing and identifying specific types of toxins found in the body can be the first step to the solution. A variety of types of toxins can be tested for including volatile solvents, heavy metals, chlorinated pesticides and PCBs.
Genetic Testing
With recent advances in technology and since the completion of the Human Genome Project, genetic variances also called ‘single nucleotide polymorphisms’ can now be measured. Testing can provide early detection of an individual’s susceptibility to an environmental or lifestyle factor that leads to toxic accumulation, individual disease rick, cardiovascular risk, early cognitive decline, pain or a mood disorders.
Anti-aging Testing
Age adjusted telomere length is the best method to date to assess biological age using structural analysis of chromosomal change in the telomere. Serial evaluation of telomere length is an indicator of how rapidly one ages relative to a normal population. Therapies directed at slowing the loss of telomere length may slow aging and age-related diseases.
Gastrointestinal Function Testing
Standard colonoscopies and endoscopies cannot detect functional deficits in the gut and are only designed to identify masses and overt end-stage diseases. Inadequacies in the stomach, pancreas, liver or mucosal lining of the gut or infectious microorganisms such as H.Pylori can have systemic consequences. Functional assessment of the gut can be used to identify and restore optimal function to digestion, absorption as well as the delicate status of the microbiome.
Stress Testing
Stress does not cause disease; instead what leads to a number of biological consequences, is what is known as an ‘altered stress response.’ Stress is inevitable, but the resulting bodily harm is not. The stress response is unique to every individual. Once the individual neurochemical response is known, targeted therapy can be used to buffer and maintain a healthy stress response leading to healthy stability and renewed vitality even under extreme situations.
Nutritional Testing
Subtle imbalances in nutrients, co-factors, fatty acids, amino acids and minerals have been linked to numerous chronic illnesses such as infections, arthritis, allergies, bone loss, body composition and cognitive decline. Biochemical individuality suggests each individuals need for a nutrient may differ and various disease states can increase our nutritional and metabolic needs. Accurate testing can be the key to restoring balancing.
