Is Lab Testing in Functional Medicine Important? Nirva Experts Answer

Is Functional Medicine Testing a Unique Approach?

How is functional medicine testing a unique approach different from the conventional approach? Read on to know.

During lab testing in functional medicine, the experts look into an individual's health through biochemical, genetic, and environmental changes. How is that done?

The functional medicine blood test and other test results uncover the underlying imbalances, deficiencies and dysfunction within the body. 

But do you know what is different when a functional medicine doctor writes tests for you? The tests you must undergo are not always directly related to your symptoms. For example, if you have anaemia, the functional lab tests will involve looking for blood and iron deficiencies and analysing your gut microbiome composition, genetic predisposition, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal levels. Interesting?

Let us see where the difference lies in the principles of functional medicine testing.

1. For a Holistic approach - The tests evaluate the interconnectedness of the body and understand various body functions.
2. Has a Personalised understanding - The tests look for a unique understanding of the individual's body by evaluating biochemistry, genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences, allowing tailored treatment plans.
3. Focuses on Preventive Goals - Functional medicine experts catch the imbalances before they're shown in the lab test results and manifest as a clinical condition.
4. Looks for a Comprehensive approach - The lab tests involve extensive evaluation of all systems with the help of blood tests, imaging and in-depth consultation. These results create your whole health profile. 

Due to the rise in chronic diseases and everyone understanding the importance of whole body health, with the help of advanced technology, functional medicine works in depth to offer you the best health services. 

What Are The Different Types of Functional Medicine Diagnostics? 

You can employ functional medicine diagnostic and lab tests to diagnose a health condition after evaluating you in different categories and not simply based on your symptoms.

If you are ever going to get your tests done by functional medicine experts, the tests may come under the following categories:

Functional Medicine Blood Tests 

One has to carry out blood tests to detect blood markers and assess inflammation, nutrient levels, immune function, and overall organ health.

The results provide information on systemic imbalances, inflammation patterns and potential underlying issues.

Functional Medicine Hormone Testing

Evaluating hormone levels like cortisol, thyroid, and reproductive and sex hormones helps identify irregularities in whole-body metabolism, energy levels, mood and reproductive health.

Functional Medicine Genetic Testing

When your genetic makeup is understood, it helps the experts uncover the diseases' predispositions and specific susceptibilities to environmental factors. These help you understand the required lifestyle strategies and modifications for a healthy lifestyle.

Functional Medicine Diagnostic Imaging tests

A broad range of imaging, like MRI and CT scans, helps identify structural abnormalities. Physical changes in the body, like tumours, organ changes, and other structural issues, provide significant information that is helpful in treatment. Interestingly, functional medicine practitioners prefer functional MRI, where the image is taken during the functioning of a structure or organ. It's just like a live video rather than a photo.

Laboratory Test Panels

Sometimes, one uses certain groups of tests (panels) to evaluate general health status. Tests, including urine analysis, stool tests, metabolic panels, and many more, show how well your body functions.

The experts can understand specific organ function, gut health, microbial imbalance, and metabolic status from different test panels. You can find some of the basic test panels ordered for functional medicine diagnostics listed in the table below:

Why do functional medicine practitioners request such a wide array of lab testing? 

They do so cos the tests give your results to evaluate the whole body in the following aspects;

• Eating and digesting (Assimilation)
• Defending and healing (Immune function)
• Energy and power (Bioenergetics)
• Moving things around (Transport)
• The inside conversations of your body (Communication)
• Keeping the foundation strong (Body structural integrity)

Aren't these how your body functions in the first place? So, getting these tests done gives your functional doctor an idea of what is happening inside your body. Yes, before you experience the symptoms outside.

What is the Importance of Functional Medicine Testing?

When experts made the rules of functional medicine testing, seven key ideas were put forth that made it more unique and essential.

Your Genes + Environmental Matter - The world around you shapes how your body works

The Team Players, Body Organs - Different parts of your body work together to give the final result

Food, Lifestyle, and More - What and where you eat, where and how you live, and all your emotional experiences send messages to your inner body that decide how your body will feel in future.

Getting to Know Your Body Inside Out - Your body is evaluated from past happenings, which may connect to present symptoms.

Fixing with Mixing - From the test results, the doctors understand what functions mix to give a result of the whole body functioning.

You are One of a Kind - Different people have different "normal". The optimum level of one's blood and test result may be different for another. It depends upon how you feel and how strong your inside body is.

Time and Connection - Your health results from the test imply the total connection between different body parts, the different times, and the effects your body has experienced.

With all these concepts combined, your functional medicine expert will start your treatment with three concepts in mind.

• The root cause
• Personalised treatment plans
• Early detection and prevention

So, are you ready to get your functional medicine testing done?

How Can Your Journey of Functional Medicine Testing Be?

Here's an easy guide to the functional medical testing process.

• Find a functional medicine practitioner online or offline.
• The initial evaluation will contain a detailed assessment of your history, symptoms of all body systems and future health goals.
• The experts select a test according to history and health goals. They may provide some test kits to help you do the tests at home.
• Test results take a few days or weeks to process. During follow-up consultation, the functional medicine practitioner creates a personalised plan for your health goal.
• Changes may include lifestyle, dietary modifications, supplementation, or further investigations and follow-ups.
• Sometimes, doctors refer you to mind and body experts like yoga practitioners.

Can you Approach Nirva Health Experts for Functional Medicine Tests?

Nirva Health experts follow the concept of functional medicine in addition to Ayurvedic principles.

Moreover, functional medicine approaches are similar to Ayurveda treatment principles, where the experts interpret your test result and treat you individually, considering the connection between all your organs. The connection between the whole body and the mind is also an essential aspect of the treatment principles at Nirva Health.

In addition to the functional medicine tests, the experts also consider your bioenergy imbalances, body composition and mind characteristics before considering you for any treatment. So, yes, you can easily approach our health experts for functional medicine tests.

What Should You Look for in Functional Medicine Testing?

Always look for recommendations from friends and family or read online reviews when you do anything related to your health.

Here are some tips for choosing a reputable functional medicine testing provider.

• Look for certified and accredited laboratories.
• Choose providers with good experience and track record in providing and interpreting the tests.
• Assess whether they provide comprehensive tests that go well with your health concerns.
• Consider the cost and insurance coverage if necessary.
• Check for the turnaround time of test results.
• Sometimes, your functional medicine expert or doctor will recommend you to the best testing facilities.

Please always look for what you need whenever you have a chance and health needs.

Cost and Insurance: Things to Consider

The insurance industry has taken over medicine since World War II. But is functional medicine covered by insurance? It's a very crucial question that needs an answer.

The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some of the critical points you need to know about functional medicine insurance are:

• Varied Coverage - Insurance may not fully cover functional medicine services may not be fully covered by insurance due to extended time and repeated consultation compared to the conventional medical system.
• Cash-Based Model - Here, the practice is mainly for the patients to pay the providers directly for the services, supplements, therapies, etc.
• Limited Coverage - Traditional insurance coverage may not include some functional medicine testing and diagnostic panels.
• Membership-Based Approach - Usually, functional medicine practitioners go for a membership type of treatment with a membership fee and a billing fee. This can contribute to insurance covering losses.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) sometimes provide functional medicine testing expenses. Go through the plans thoroughly before you jump in.
• Reimbursements - Sometimes, even when you go for a cash payment option, some of the lab tests may be covered under the insurance services, especially for high-cost tests. Sometimes, you get partial reimbursements.

Before choosing your treatment line, you must understand the pros and cons of functional medicine testing services.

To Conclude

Functional medicine may be complex to understand as the test panels sometimes include different approaches to multiple organ functions. The main aim is to check what physiological functioning is in your body now rather than just evaluating and treating the symptoms. Symptoms are just the output of an underlying abnormality that has been going on in your body for how long, no one knows. Functional medicine testing finds the answer for you.

Talk to the best functional medical experts to see what you need to do to heal and prevent your health conditions.