As part of your naturopathic care, I may recommend functional testing to help uncover the root cause of your symptoms. These tests give us deeper insight into how your body is functioning and can reveal imbalances that may not show up on standard blood work. They allow us to take the guesswork out of treatment and create a more targeted, personalised plan to support your health.
GI-MAP Testing – My Go-To for Gut Health
The GI-MAP is one of the most valuable tools I use in the clinic. It’s a comprehensive stool test that provides a detailed picture of your gut microbiome, assessing bacterial imbalances, parasites, yeast, viruses, digestive function, inflammation, and leaky gut markers. It’s especially useful for people experiencing bloating, constipation, IBS, skin issues, autoimmune conditions, fatigue or hormonal imbalances. Because your gut influences almost every system in the body, this test helps us understand what’s driving your symptoms and what your body needs to heal.
DNA Sequencing Tests – Deeper Insight Into Your Microbiome
Alongside the GI-MAP, I also use DNA sequencing-based microbiome testing when we need an even more detailed view of your gut ecology. These tests analyse the genetic material of your gut microbes to identify patterns, diversity, beneficial species and potential imbalances with a high level of accuracy. DNA sequencing can be particularly helpful when symptoms are persistent or complex, or when we want to track changes in the microbiome over time to guide your treatment more precisely.
Other Functional Tests I May Use Include:
Food intolerance testing – to identify foods triggering immune or inflammatory responses
SIBO breath testing – to detect bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine
Salivary hormone testing – for assessing female and male sex hormones over a full day
Cortisol stress testing – to understand your stress response and adrenal function
Hair mineral analysis – to check for heavy metal exposure and mineral deficiencies
OMX (Organic Metabolite Testing) – to assess detoxification pathways, nutrient status, and energy production
Thyroid hormone panels – to evaluate thyroid function in more detail than standard TSH testing
MTHFR and genetic markers – to support methylation and detoxification pathways
If you’ve been dealing with ongoing symptoms and are looking for answers, functional testing can help uncover what’s going on beneath the surface, so we can get you feeling better, faster.