Uncover the Benefits of Functional Medicine Testing

If you’ve ever felt like your health issues are a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, you’re not alone. Traditional medicine often focuses on managing symptoms, but what if there was a way to dig deeper? Enter functional medicine testing—a method that aims to uncover the root causes of your health concerns rather than just putting a band-aid on the symptoms. Intrigued? You should be. Let’s take a stroll through what makes this approach so compelling, practical, and yes, sometimes a little bit revolutionary.

Why Functional Medicine Testing Might Be Your Health Game-Changer

Imagine your body as a complex orchestra. When one instrument is out of tune, the whole symphony sounds off. Functional medicine testing is like having a skilled conductor who can pinpoint exactly which instrument needs tuning. Instead of guessing, it uses detailed lab tests to identify imbalances in your body’s systems—be it hormones, gut health, nutrient deficiencies, or inflammation.

For example, if you’re constantly tired but your standard blood work says you’re “fine,” functional medicine testing might reveal things going on with your mitochondrial function (remember the Krebs Cycle from high school biology?)-- missing B vitamins (1-2-3) or minerals (Mg, Mn, Fe) or even glutathione (or its amino acid precursors: that might be why taking collagen makes you feel or even look so good: it's the glycine, stupid!), or alternatively, exposures or metals (Hg, As, Sb, F, Al) that are "gumming" up the works, your detox pathways or even your gut & hormone health that are the real culprits. This means you address the pieces that are personally affecting YOU-- not a generic prescription to block something.

Here’s what you can expect from these tests:

• Comprehensive panels that look beyond the basics. Exemplar test: NutrEval ($439)

• Insight into gut microbiome health, which is crucial for immunity and mood (actually, EVERYTHING). Exemplar tests: GI-MAP ($327), GI Effects ($339), BiomeFx ($356)

• Hormonal balance checks that can explain mood swings or weight issues (lots of things you might not automatically associate with hormone balance). My fave test: DUTCH Complete ($300)

• Nutrient and toxin screenings to identify what your body really needs or needs to avoid. Exemplar test: NutrEval (includes alot of this) and also Blood Metals Panel ($150) and DetoxiGenomics ($599) and Designs For Health's Genomic Spotlight ($207) (to learn about your genetic disposition for detoxification), ZRT's stripped down (Zn:Cu, Mg, Se, Cd, Pb, Hg) Toxic & Essential Elements (finger prick bloodspot) ($71)

  
  

The beauty? It’s all about you—your unique biochemistry, your lifestyle, your exposures.

How Functional Medicine Testing Works in Practice

So, how does this all come together? First, you’ll have a detailed consultation where your health history, lifestyle, and symptoms are discussed. Then, the testing phase begins. This might involve blood, urine, stool, or cheek swab samples, depending on what your practitioner finds most useful/appropriate.

Once the results are in, the real magic happens. Your healthcare provider will interpret the data to create a tailored plan. This could include dietary changes, supplements, stress management techniques, or detox protocols. The goal is to restore balance and optimize function, not just suppress symptoms.

For instance, if your test reveals gut dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria), you might be guided to an antimicrobial, stress reduction and prebiotic food plan to heal your digestive tract. Or if chronic inflammation is detected, rooting out and addressing the cause or causes.

While such an approach can occasionally produce gob-smacking results in relatively short order; for example, topping off low-level nutrients, fixing protein or fat digestion, clearing poisons, pruning back overgrown microflora,

functional medicine approaches are generally not so much a quick fix as a new trajectory for your life's journey.

What Are Some Of The (Potential) Downsides Of Going The Functional Medicine Route?

#1 Unfortunately, there are more than a handful of slightly or full-on disreputable people out there. I have seen people sign up for $3,000 and even $6,000 programs that were both inappropriate for them and that also didn't fix what they came in for. In Park City, Utah; in Westerville, Ohio; in Marlton, New Jersey; in Scottsdale, Arizona; in Beaverton, Oregon; and others.

#2 This kind of approach requires NEVER ENDING learning and reading and researching and sharing tips with colleagues and attending conferences & symposia to keep abreast of the latest and best research and the most effective approaches. And not a small dose of humility-- always asking questions, always looking to simplify ( as opposed to complicate.) "What is the simplest, easiest change we can make that will have the most effective, most lasting beneficial effect?"

#3 Because of the growing disillusion with conventional (some say "corporate") medicine, the field of functional medicine, nutritional medicine, lifestyle medicine-- whatever you want to call it (although there are tiny distinctions among them)-- is growing exponentially each year. But with that, so are the number of fly-by-night credentialing programs that bestow an impressive title or post-nominal letters to an otherwise relatively unqualified (or just poorly trained) person.

A solid program, honestly speaking, should include a year or so of clinical supervision: a supervised internship/mentorship, as it were. Dr. James Greenblatt's Nutritional Psychiatry program and the CNS nutritionist programs (but not the CCN ones) are the only ones to my knowledge that do that. (Not even the IFM or Dr. Dale Bredesen's ReCODE training include/require this!)

So unfortunately, in most instances, personal references are probably the best B.S. detector if yours is not super strong in this area. And frankly, unless you have been in this field for 10 years or longer, it is understandably quite difficult to recognize the red flags, the scams, or even to know the best questions to ask.

Quite honestly, if you can turn on your "intellectual humility" switch and free yourself from "I have this" or "I know it's X" thinking, most of this can be done "DIY" relatively effectively. Everyday I run into super body aware, super knowledgeable folks who have nowhere near the hours of formal study & training I have... and from whom I learn something-- sometimes really useful. So go to it!

Shifting from Symptom Management to Root Cause Healing

Here’s the kicker: the real power of functional medicine lies in its philosophy. It’s not about slapping a label on your symptoms or masking them with pills. It’s about understanding why your body is out of balance and addressing those underlying issues.

This shift in perspective can be transformative. Instead of feeling like a passive recipient of care, you become an active participant in your healing journey. You learn to listen to your body, make informed choices, and build resilience.

Root Resolution Health embodies this approach by guiding individuals through functional and naturopathic medicine principles. Their mission is to empower you to achieve lasting health by focusing on foundational well-being rather than temporary fixes.

So, if you’re tired of the endless cycle of symptom management and ready to explore a more holistic, personalized path, functional medicine testing might just be the key you’ve been searching for.

There you have it—a deep dive into the benefits, realities, and practicalities of functional medicine testing. It’s not for everyone, but for those willing to invest in their health at a foundational level, it offers a promising path forward. Why settle for surface-level answers when you can uncover the root cause?