Why Functional Medicine Labs Outshine Traditional Testing
If you’re feeling unwell, but doctors say your lab results appear "normal," please know that you're not alone. Traditional labs often miss important imbalances that can explain symptoms and point to the root of your health complaints. Unlike traditional labs, functional labs do just that — they offer a comprehensive view of one’s health and reveal the connections between symptoms.
What are functional lab tests & how are they different from the other tests I’ve done?
Think of traditional labs as a single flashlight beam, only revealing what's directly in its path. Functional labs, on the other hand, are like turning on the lights in the room, illuminating intricate connections between your symptoms and their root causes. Functional labs use samples of everything from saliva to stool to blood to urine in order to dive deeper and evaluate:
sex hormone levels
thyroid function
physiological impacts of stress
nutrient-absorption
food sensitivities
gut function and mucosal barrier integrity
immune activation and response
detoxification pathways
mineral and enzyme levels
Are all lab ranges the same?
Not at all. Beyond offering a fuller picture of your health, functional labs use different reference ranges than traditional ones.
NORMAL ≠ OPTIMAL
Traditional labs base their definition of “normal” values on the health of the average population. Due to the declining health of our population, this means a “normal” reference range is skewed and far from optimal. Normal and optimal are two very different ranges that are increasingly diverging from one each other as general health outcomes decline and chronic illness surges.
NORMAL ≠ OPTIMAL
Additionally, traditional ranges are nonspecific and don’t consider an individual’s health history, lifestyle, gender, and age. The beauty of a holistic approach is that it does exactly that — considers each individual as a whole person. Health history, genetics, lifestyle and age are viewed through a whole-body scope that understands the intricate connectedness of each body system.
What makes functional lab testing more comprehensive?
Where traditional labs fail, functional labs shine. Functional lab reference ranges consider important factors — health history, lifestyle, gender, and age. This enables them to reflect optimal health values for each individual. With smaller ranges, functional labs help practitioners identify imbalances before they reach a level that traditional labs would flag.
Holistic practitioners use functional labs because they align with their whole-body approach and enable evaluation of multiple body systems — hormones, gut, immune, and nervous system. This perspective differs from traditional or Western medicine, which isolates and treats each body system separately.
Are you tired of being told everything's normal when you know something isn't right?
If you’re sick of hearing “everything’s normal” when you know it’s not, or if you just want to optimize your health, consider working with a holistic medicine practitioner.
Using functional labs and a whole-body approach, holistic medicine practitioners can identify root causes of dysfunction and create personalized protocols that help you get well and stay well.
Speaking from personal experience, it was only after working with a holistic practitioner and running in-depth functional labs that I could piece together why my body was breaking down and what I could do about it. If that sounds like something you’re ready for, then schedule a discovery call with Wholistic Renewal and give functional labs a try. Together we can unlock the answers and optimize your health.
Fed up with unanswered questions about your health?
At Wholistic Renewal, we dig deep to uncover the root causes of your concerns. Our programs combine comprehensive functional lab testing with personalized protocols and dedicated support from a nutritional practitioner. Through one-on-one guidance and education, you can finally find the answers you've been searching for and renew your health.
*The information provided above is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related questions or concerns you may have. Reliance on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk.
