Eleanor Henderson
BSc (Hons) Lic. Acupuncturist
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner
General Health - Initial Investigation
-
DUTCH complete
-
GI-MAP + Zonulin
Laboratory tests may help to reveal imbalances & metabolic (The chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism to produce energy). markers for your hormone, immune system, digestion, detoxification, energy production & the nervous system. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ as every individual’s chemistry, biology, history & metabolism is unique.
Functional Medicine uses the most advanced tests & cutting-edge science available to help you understand how your body works so you can reduce dietary inflammation & improve your overall health naturally.
​
By taking various snapshots of the body at one time, gives us a more well-rounded view of how the
body is functioning as a ‘whole’. How an imbalance in one area may be causing a knock-on effect elsewhere via ‘metabolic chaos’.
​
This initial investigation is a good starting point, & depending on what arises in test results, we can investigate deeper using various other labs that may be more specific to a persons needs.
​
​The DUTCH Plus (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) is used as it offers the most extensive profile of sex & adrenal hormones & melatonin. Additionally, the diurnal (daily) pattern of free cortisol is included to bring another important piece of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis into focus.
​
The Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus (GI-MAP) was designed to assess a patient’s gut biome from a single stool sample, with particular attention to microbes that may be disturbing normal balance & may contribute to changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) flora or illness. It detects parasites, pathogenic bacteria, commensal bacteria, opportunistic pathogens, fungi & more by targeting the specific DNA of the organisms tested.
Zonulin has been identified as a key biomarker for intestinal permeability, which has been associated with coeliac disease, non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and other GI & systemic conditions, such as 'leaky gut'.