Functional Pathology

 We use specialist laboratories that have state of the art technology that allows us to use saliva, urine, stool and blood samples to provide fast accurate results; in most circumstances these samples can be collected in the comfort of your own home. You will be provided with clear instructions and easy to organise collection, which makes this process simple and convenient.

The Adrenal hormone profile is a non-invasive saliva test which monitors the levels of the stress hormones cortisol and DHEA-S, over the course of a day. This is an important test to determine your adrenal function if you experience symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, headaches, low energy, stress, hormonal imbalance and poor immune function. Altered levels of cortisol and DHEA-S can indicate acute and/or chronic mental and/or physical stress. Prolonged stress causes increased secretion of cortisol and can eventually lead to decline in adrenal function, exhaustion and immune suppression.

DHEA-S is an androgen in both men and women and its levels decline with age. Reduced levels of DHEA-S may result in fatigue, poor immune function, weight gain, increased ageing, memory loss and poor concentration.

The Complete Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) is a specialised test that provides a comprehensive overview of your gastrointestinal tract, looking at digestion, absorption, intestinal function and microbial flora, as well as identifying pathogenic bacteria, parasites and yeasts. Poor digestive function and imbalanced gut flora may play a crucial role in the underlying cause of a number of health conditions. Symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, bloating, abdominal discomfort and bad breath are all indicative of poor gut function. Information generated from this non-invasive test helps us to formulate an individualised treatment plan.

Essential fatty acids are commonly deficient in the diet and are literally ‘essential’ to life as they play an important role in growth, reproduction, skin and hair condition and wound healing. EPA and DHA help to lower cholesterol levels, regulate inflammation and are important for brain and eye health. Initial symptoms of EFA deficiency are dry, scaly skin and poor wound healing as well as dull, dry hair and scalp conditions such as dandruff. But essential fatty acid deficiency can have more serious effects as they have a significant impact on maternal health and neurological function in infants, heart disease, psoriasis, asthma, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, bowel cancer, non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, schizophrenia, the learning performance of school children and the reduction in severity of the symptoms of arthritis. Testing your essential fatty acids allows us to have a clear understanding of your current levels and their possible impact on your health.

Adverse reactions to foods can be a source of considerable discomfort and can contribute to many chronic conditions and diseases. Food sensitivity symptoms are varied and people can react in different ways. Many people live with minor or major symptoms of adverse food reactions for years without ever suspecting the involvement of the immune system and the foods which trigger them. It is important to consider the possibility of food sensitivities if you experience any of these common symptoms: bloating, fluid retention, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, migraine, depression and mood swings, asthma, skin conditions and behavioural problems in children. The most common food sensitivities occur with cow’s milk, eggs, gluten, beans, nuts and other cereals. The food sensitivity profile provides us with essential information to help us formulate an individualised dietary and treatment plan to achieve the best results.

The functional liver detoxification profile challenges the phase I and phase II detoxification pathways of the liver with low doses of caffeine, aspirin and paracetamol. Saliva and urine specimens, collected at timed intervals, are then analysed to assess the efficiency of the liver. The results of a functional liver detoxification profile will help to accurately identify how well your liver is able to detoxify endogenous and exogenous toxins and helps us to tailor an individualised treatment program. This test is particularly important for patients who suffer from food allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue, leaky gut syndrome and hormonal imbalances e.g. premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms.

Hair mineral analysis is a safe, non-invasive test that measures the levels and comparative ratios of nutrients and toxic metals found in your hair. Hair mineral analysis can detect whether there is an excess or deficiency of vital nutrient minerals such as calcium, potassium, zinc and iron. It can also identify over-exposure to toxic metals such as aluminium, lead, arsenic and mercury. This is an invaluable screening tool in both every day and preventive health care and is always used in preconception programs to assess your heavy metal levels and overall mineral status. This test provides us with comprehensive information on what minerals and toxic heavy metals have been deposited in your hair over a 2-3 months period. The hair sample is usually taken from a non-visible area such as the nape of the neck.

The intestinal permeability test is a precise and non-invasive method for assessing gastrointestinal mucosal integrity. Damage to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract (small and large intestine) is common in people with conditions such as food sensitivity and food allergy, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, coeliac disease and dermatological conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne. The lining of the gut wall is often subjected to a wide variety of insults from substances such as alcohol, caffeine, spices, medicines and environmental chemicals. The impact of chronic stress may also affect the permeability of the gut wall over time. Correcting the altered permeability may have an immediate effect on the relief of symptoms and facilitate the gradual improvement in the underlying condition.

Depending on your presentation we may recommend a blood test which can measure a number of trace elements, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, this provides us with valuable information on your nutritional and biochemical status. A combination of any or all of the following nutrients can be tested:

The salivary hormone profiles for men or women provides valuable information on your hormonal status and the potential impact this may have on your physical and emotional health. Hormonal imbalance contributes to weight gain, mood swings, night sweats, disturbed sleep patterns, loss of libido, fatigue and hot flushes. By having an accurate understanding of your hormones we are able to individualise your treatment in order to achieve optimal hormone balance.

Our thyroid hormone profile takes an in-depth look at your thyroid health including TSH, T3 and T4 levels as well as investigating your thyroid antibodies and reverse T3 levels. Reverse T3 is a stereoisomer of normal T3 and in regular testing is counted as T3 (which is an active form). Reverse T3 can’t be used by the body and an investigation into its levels often clarifies why some people with clear symptoms of thyroid dysfunction come up with normal thyroid hormone levels in regular testing.

Toxic metal analysis can be performed using specimens of urine or blood. Toxic metal accumulation from chronic dietary, environmental and/or industrial exposure is common and the symptoms are similar to many other health conditions, e.g. fatigue, nausea, insomnia, impaired mental function, nervousness and damage to vital organs. A blood analysis for toxic metals is ideally used in acute situations to determine the level of recent exposure and toxicity. Urine provides the best specimen type for longer term exposure to toxic metals. This test indicates toxic metal exposure by measuring the excretion of toxic metals from tissue deposits into the urine.

Significant progress in amino acid research has revealed a definitive link between amino acid imbalance and metabolic and nutritional imbalances. Urinary amino acid testing should be considered whenever a thorough nutritional and metabolic assessment is required. In addition to family history, a variety of presenting conditions may indicate disordered amino acid metabolism, including chronic fatigue, frequent headaches, chronic digestive dysfunction, intolerance to foods and chemicals, chronic inflammation, depression, learning disabilities, malnutrition, neurological disorders or symptoms of degenerative disease.

• EssentialAmino Acids
• Non-Essential Amino Acids
• Intermediary Metabolites and Diagnostic Markers
• Dietary Peptide Related Markers

This test monitors the oestrogen metabolism in men and women, which may be of great importance in determining who may be at higher risk of hormone imbalance. High levels of circulating oestrogen contributes to proliferative disorders such as fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease and prostate problems; it is also linked to some oestrogen dependant cancers such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. Oestrogen is metabolised via tthree pathways the first – 2-hydroxyoestrone is protective, whilst the second and third – 16-hydroxyoestrone is linked to proliferative conditions and disease. This test identifies which is your dominant pathway and allows us to ensure that the correct ratio between the two pathways is maintained helping you to enjoy optimal hormonal health.

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