Functional Medicine Testing at Double Happiness Health
I recently treated a patient with complex health issues--auto-immune disease, thyroid and adrenal challenges, gut and hormonal imbalances, just to name a few. Let’s call this patient Linda. Linda’s symptoms of GI distress, chronic fatigue and irregular and painful menstrual cycles were seriously interfering with her quality of life. Western medicine had helped her cope with some of her symptoms, but even when Western medicine lab tests came back “normal”, Linda still felt terrible. Feeling frustrated and wanting to find the root cause of her illness, Linda arrived at our acupuncture clinic. After listening, I wanted to help Linda, but I needed a clearer view of the struggle that was going on inside her body. I recommended the functional medicine testing we provide at Double Happiness Health.
What is Functional Medicine testing?
According to the Institute for Functional Medicine, “Functional Medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease”(). In contrast to allopathic medicine, which focuses on treating symptoms using mainly drugs and surgery, functional medicine helps us not only avoid disease, but reach optimal health. This is similar to Chinese medicine which observes the “branch” or symptom presentation, but aims to treat the root.
Functional medicine testing differs from most modern Western medicine lab testing in that it identifies optimal levels, not just broad reference ranges that are considered “normal”, for markers like Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in the case of thyroid disease and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the case of hypercholesterolemia. It also routinely employs a broader variety of testing. For example, a functional medicine approach includes testing thyroid antibodies (not just TSH) and very-Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) (not just LDL) to get a better understanding of what disease process is in effect.
Blood Labs
At DHH, we take a functional medicine approach to interpreting your labs. When you see a practitioner at Double Happiness Health, we will ask to see any recent blood work you have had done in order to throroughly review your health history. If needed, we will recommend further testing through your primary care physician. We have relationships with common labs such as Labcorps and can order blood tests for you if needed.
Specialized tests offered through DHH
Some very helpful tests not offered through traditional doctor’s offices include comprehensive stool testing and hormone testing. We offer both at DHH.
The GI-MAP test
The Gastrointestinal-Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) test offers a deep dive into your gut microbiome. It can reveal parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungi that may be contributing to disease. It also looks at how well you’re digesting and absorbing food and the level of inflammation and immune mobilization in the gut. It’s a great idea to have this test done if you have GI symptoms like painful gas and bloating, food sensitivities, constipation or diarrhea. But it’s also revelatory for those with evidence of widespread inflammation and immune-system dysfunction--cases of chronic fatigue, brain fog, headaches, musculoskeletal pain and more.
The DUTCH test
The Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones can measure sex and stress hormones as well as melatonin, all from your urine. DUTCH also offers a salivary cortisol test as part of one of their tests. This testing can be so helpful if you’re showing signs of hormone imbalance such as perimenopause (nightsweats and hot flashes), PCOS, infertility or recurrent miscarriage. But beyond those cases, DUTCH can also offer critical information for solving the puzzle of insomnia and fatigue.
How we work with the results:
Once we get your test results, we share them with you along with a customized treatment plan we’ve created that utilizes herbal medicine, supplements, nutrition and lifestyle adaptations to bring balance to your particular gut and hormone picture. If necessary, we refer you for a western medical follow up. We have used these specialized tests over the past several years to help scores of patients get relief and feel great.
Let us know if you’re interested in pursuing functional medicine testing at Double Happiness Health by emailing info@doublehappinesshealth.com. It works hand-in-hand with acupuncture and Chinese medicine and provides a roadmap to better health!