Medicine Naturally

Don't settle for feeling unwell and being told that all of your lab results are normal. Standard lab tests often fail to reveal the full picture of your health. Functional medicine testing looks beyond the typical labs to provide a more accurate and detailed assessment of your overall health, uncovering the root causes of your problems. These cutting-edge tests, such as the GI-MAP, OAT, DUTCH, Cyrex arrays, Vibrant Wellness Zoomers, and genomics, require additional training to fully comprehend the significance of the markers. Unfortunately, many doctors may not be familiar with or able to interpret these tests.

Standard lab tests can miss important information about your health, which can lead to problems being overlooked in the early stages. This is where functional medicine testing comes in. Instead of relying on broad reference ranges based on the average population, functional medicine practitioners use optimal lab values to detect patterns and markers that may indicate problems with your health. This is important as the average American is not healthy (6 out of 10 have a chronic illness and 4 out of 10 have two chronic illnesses). Catching these issues early on can help prevent disease progression and improve your overall health.

Here are some examples of how standard reference ranges compare with functional medicine optimal ranges.

Below are some of the Functional Medicine tests I use in my practice.

GI Map

A DNA stool test that detects parasites, bacteria, fungi, and more accurately than a regular stool culture. Provides markers to assess digestive function, leaky gut, gluten issues, and detects special bacteria associated with diabetes, autoimmune or colitis, and many other conditions
Organic Acids Test

A very comprehensive urine test to detect candida, high oxalates, clostridia, toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, mitochondrial issues, and neuroinflammation.
Hormonal Testing
Hormonal testing is essential since gut and hormonal imbalances are closely linked. For instance, IBS patients commonly have adrenal issues, female hormonal imbalance is related to gut dysbiosis, SIBO is often present in endometriosis patients, and patients with Hashimoto's disease typically have low stomach acid and leaky gut, to name just a few of the GI problems associated with this common disease.
- DUTCH testing for adrenal and sex hormones (E and P)
- Full thyroid panel, including reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies
Genomic Testing

SNPs are small DNA variations that affect our health by impacting our ability to detoxify, nutrient status, brain health and many others. Testing for SNPs can provide valuable information for creating a personalized treatment plan.
Food Sensitivity and Allergy Testing

Food sensitivity testing is an important aspect of Functional Medicine, as it can uncover IgG-mediated food sensitivities which are distinct from IgE-mediated food allergies and can be more subtle and harder to detect. I use Cyrex, Vibrant Wellness, and Great Plains to assess these sensitivities.
Toxicity Testing

We are exposed to a daily "toxic soup" of carcinogenic or neurotoxic chemicals. It's concerning that researchers have detected 287 chemicals in umbilical cords, 180 of which can cause cancer and 217 of which are toxic to the nervous system. To address this issue, I use labs such as Great Plains and Vibrant Wellness to test for glyphosate, organic pollutants, and mold.
Nutrient Deficiency

I use Spectracel or Genova Diagnostics. The NutrEval® evaluates over 125 biomarkers and assesses the body's functional needs for 40 antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, digestive support, as well as markers for methylation, toxic exposure, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. This type of testing is particularly important for those with gut or autoimmune, skin, or other leaky gut-related conditions that may impact nutrient absorption from food and supplements.
Comprehensive Blood Panels

Blood panels are also an important part of functional medicine testing. These panels include markers that are not typically tested by conventional medicine, such as homocysteine and methylmalonic acid, fasting insulin, vitamin D levels, and hs-CRP, among many others.

By utilizing functional medicine testing, we can get a much more accurate and detailed assessment of your health. This allows us to uncover the root causes of your health problems and develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses these underlying issues. This approach is much more effective than simply treating the symptoms of a health problem, as it leads to long-term healing and improved overall health.

If you are struggling with chronic health problems and feel like standard lab tests are not providing the answers you need, consider seeking out functional medicine testing. In general, testing is usually ordered during the first visit, depending on your individual situation.

Alternatively, the Rupa Health Lab Shop offers direct access to a wide range of Integrative and Functional Medicine testing without a doctor's visit. Testing (not covered by insurance) can be conveniently performed in the comfort of your own home using the kits provided by Rupa Health. Once the results are finalized, we will review and interpret the results, and provide a written report detailing what the results show and recommendations for improving health based on those results. The lab results and interpretation are then emailed directly to the client. Please note that the interpretation of the test results is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. It is important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to address any health concerns and to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

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Address: 922 S Cowley St, Ste 7, Spokane WA 99202 | Phone: (509) 262-8145 | Email: drmonica@medicine-naturally.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.