Stop Guessing, Start Testing: Why Functional Lab Testing Is the Key to True Healing
If you’ve ever been told “your labs look normal” yet you still don’t feel normal, you’re not alone.
Most women I work with come to me after years of frustration — bloating, fatigue, mood swings, skin breakouts, stubborn weight, or feeling “off” even though their doctor says everything is fine.
That’s where functional testing comes in.
Instead of chasing symptoms or guessing what’s wrong, we test to find out why your body is out of balance — so we can build a personalized plan to support true healing.
Why We Test (and Don’t Guess)
Your body is beautifully complex. Hormones, digestion, detoxification, minerals, and even your immune system are all deeply connected. When one system is off, it creates a domino effect that can show up as “mystery” symptoms and lead to what is called Metabolic Chaos.
Guessing based on symptoms alone is like throwing darts in the dark. Testing gives us clarity — data that shows us what your body actually needs.
No more wasting money on random supplements or protocols that don’t move the needle.
The Main Tests I Use in My Practice
Each functional test helps us see a different piece of the puzzle. When combined, they paint a full picture of your health from the inside out.
DUTCH Test – Hormones & Adrenal Health
The DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) gives us an in-depth look at your sex and stress hormones — estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol.
What it tells us:
How your body produces, metabolizes, and clears hormones
Whether you’re in a high- or low-cortisol pattern (stress response)
Clues about PMS, perimenopause, weight gain, sleep issues, fatigue, or mood swings
Insight into estrogen dominance and detoxification pathways
Why it matters: Balancing hormones isn’t just about estrogen or progesterone — it’s about how your body processes them, and how stress and adrenal health play a role.
GI-MAP – Gut Health & Microbiome Balance
The GI-MAP is a comprehensive stool test that analyzes your gut microbiome — the bacteria, yeast, viruses, and parasites living in your digestive tract.
What it tells us:
Presence of pathogens, parasites, yeast, or dysbiosis
Digestive enzyme function and inflammation markers
Leaky gut, immune activation, or overgrowths contributing to IBS, SIBO, acne, or fatigue
Why it matters: The gut is your second brain. It affects hormones, skin, mood, and immune balance — healing starts here.
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) – Mineral Balance & Stress Response
Your hair holds a record of your mineral status and toxic metal exposure over the last few months.
What it tells us:
Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, and more
How stress impacts your adrenal function and thyroid conversion
Insight into blood sugar balance
Metabolism- Fast or Slow Oxidation
Heavy metal burden and detoxification needs
Why it matters: Minerals are the “spark plugs” of your body. They regulate everything from energy production to hormone synthesis. When they’re off, nothing works properly.
MRT (Mediator Release Test) – Food Sensitivities & Inflammation
The MRT measures your immune system’s response to 170+ foods and chemicals to identify what’s triggering inflammation in your body.
What it tells us:
Which foods (including healthy foods) cause delayed immune reactions (not immediate allergies)
Clues behind headaches, fatigue, bloating, skin rashes, or joint pain
The foundation for a personalized anti-inflammatory eating plan
Why it matters: Food sensitivities can drive inflammation quietly for years. Removing triggers allows the gut and immune system to calm and heal.
MBA (Mucosal Barrier Assessment) – Gut-Lining Integrity
This test looks at markers like zonulin, a protein that controls the "tight junctions" between intestinal cells, and related peptides. High levels can indicate a more permeable gut lining. The MBA also accesses histamine and diamine oxidase (DAO), the enzyme that breaks histamine down. The ratio provides information about gut inflammation and barrier integrity. What it tells us:
The level of gut inflammation or immune activation
If the mucosal barrier is compromised (a root cause of “leaky gut”)
Whether pathogens or toxins are slipping into circulation
Why it matters: Your mucosal barrier is your body’s first line of defense. If it’s weak, inflammation spreads throughout the body, affecting hormones, skin, and mood.
MWP (Metabolic Wellness Profile) – Leaky Gut & Cellular Health
This urine test measures markers that reflect digestion, detoxification, and oxidative stress in the body.
What it tells us:
Evidence of intestinal permeability, SIBO, malabsorption, poor protein digestion
How well your body detoxifies and metabolizes nutrients, possible liver dysfunction
Imbalances linked to fatigue, constipation, inflammation, and immune dysfunction
Why it matters: The MWP helps us see how well your gut and liver are communicating — critical for energy, hormone balance, and long-term wellness.
Putting It All Together: A Personalized Healing Blueprint
When we combine these results, we uncover the root causes of why you feel the way you do. Maybe it’s sluggish detox pathways, adrenal burnout, mineral depletion, or gut inflammation driving your symptoms.
Testing gives us clarity, so your plan is yours — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Seriously….You don’t have to guess anymore.
You deserve to understand what’s really going on in your body — and have a clear plan to support healing from the inside out.
When we test, we stop guessing.
When we stop guessing, we start healing.
And it’s so simple…tests are mailed DIRECTLY TO YOUR HOME!
