NATURE CARE HEALTH Level 5, 39 Chandos St St Leonards, NSW, 2065

FUNCTIONAL TESTING

Digestive Function Tests 

Addressing gut health is often the first step in treating your many health concerns as our digestive system influences our immune system, hormonal health, mental health and more. The following digestive function tests are some that may be used by your practitioner in order to investigate gut health:

  • Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA)
  • Complete Microbiome Mapping
  • Intestinal Permeability (Leaky gut)
  • Helicobacter pylori Antigen (H.Pylori)
  • IgG Food Sensitivities
  • 3 Day Parasitology
  • SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) Breath Test
  • Coeliac gene testing

Functional Liver Detoxification Profile 

This test is unlike standard liver function tests as it evaluates the ability of your liver to process and detoxify common substances (such as caffeine) and determines how effective both phase I and phase II detoxification pathways are.  This allows your practitioner to design a therapeutic treatment plan to improve your liver detoxification and health. Common conditions that may alert your practitioner to poor liver function include hormonal issues, chronic fatigue, GIT disturbances, food intolerances, migraines and chronic headaches.

Hormone Testing 

When treating hormonal health conditions, we investigate your current hormone picture. This could be done through one or more of the following tests:

  • Full hormonal panel including: Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinising Hormone (LH) , Oestrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), DHEA-s and Prolactin
  • DUTCH test including adrenal profile
  • DNA Testing 
  • Extensive Thyroid profile (TSH, T3, T4), Thyroid Antibodies, Reverse T3
  • Methylation 

Comprehensive Fertility Testing 

Comprehensive fertility testing addressing all potential common and uncommon influences on your fertility will be investigated by your practitioner. Some of the tests that may be ordered are:

  • Gene testing including MTHFR, read more under Genetic Testing
  • Nutritional screening
  • Autoimmune screening
  • DNA Testing 
  • Hormonal imbalances and hormonal metabolism testing (see above)
  • CA 125 
  • Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)

Adrenal Health and Stress Management Issues  

Adrenal health complaints may warrant in-depth investigations to identify the underlying cause of your health complaint. Some of the tests that our practitioners utilise include:

  • Salivary cortisol and DHEAs
  • DUTCH test
  • Comprehensive Adrenal Investigation, Adrenocortex hormone profile
  • Methylation
  • Neurotransmitter profile including Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine

Autoimmmune Disorders

The prevalence of autoimmune diseases is increasing at a dramatic rate and our practitioners continue to stay up to date with the growing body of research behind these conditions. If you are at risk of developing an autoimmune disease, have a family history of autoimmune conditions or are beginning to show signs and symptoms your practitioner may order one or more of the following tests:

  • Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
  • Antiphospholipid antibodies and other specific autoantibodies
  • Inflammatory markers such as Homocysteine, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR
  • Methylation
  • Vitamin D
  • Allergy Testing
  • GIT Health Markers

Genetic Testing 

The age of personalised medicine has arrived with clinically available DNA testing. As practitioners we have long known that everyone is different, but only recently have we been able to address an individual’s health needs according to their unique genetic profile. The tailoring of treatment to patients has always been a fundamental feature, meaning we can determine how a persons genes may influence their health as well as identify more suitable treatment protocols to help optimise overall wellbeing.

DNA testing is a simple non-invasive swab test. Your practitioner will receive the results and a male a personalised treatment plan that is as individual as you are.

Nutritional Deficiencies 

After a thorough health analysis during your consultation, your practitioner may need to investigate nutritional deficiencies through blood testing. Examples include zinc, copper, folic acid, active B12, B6, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and iron. These are done through a simple blood test at your local pathology lab. See below.

General Pathology

Our practitioners are partnered with Laverty and Douglas Hanley Moir pathology laboratories and are able to request any general pathology tests you may need, similar to what your GP can do. Please note however that any testing a Naturopath or Nutritionist requests is not covered by Medicare.

General blood pathology tests can include a full blood count, glucose, insulin, iron studies, cholesterol, liver function tests, biochemistry and more.

Hair Mineral Analysis 

Hair mineral analysis is a non-invasive way of assessing body chemistry. Heavy metal levels within the body can reveal a tendency towards certain conditions. Common heavy metals include aluminium, cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic. This test also detects deficiencies and excess levels of vital minerals including zinc, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, manganese, molybdenum and selenium.