Functional Medicine
Functional medicine is a type of integrative medicine that focuses on bringing balance back to all body systems rather than treating each individual symptom separately. It uses functional diagnostic lab testing to discover your hidden root causes. This is exactly what we do here at Holistico as it results in a much more efficient path to clear skin!
Test For Your Root Causes
There are three main functional tests Katie finds most helpful to run on her 1:1 clients who are suffering with their skin. This includes the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Test, DUTCH Complete Hormone Test and the GI MAP Stool Test below. These three tests are very accurate, definitive and provide Katie with the full picture so she is able to identify all your root causes and how they are affecting one another. Katie analyzes your test results to develop a comprehensive plan that brings your body back to balance so you can experience clear skin permanently. Katie can order these tests for her 1:1 clients in need along with any other functional tests and blood panels that are necessary. No markup, 1:1 clients get access to all tests at lab cost - one of the many perks. If this isn't your thing, don't worry- testing is always optional and not mandatory to do inside the 1:1 membership.
DUTCH Complete Hormone Test
This is a comprehensive dried urine hormone test measuring sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites. This test is especially useful if you suffer from PMS, period cramps, irregular or heavy periods, infertility and/or jawline acne. The DUTCH test is a great evaluation if you have or suspect PCOS as it not only looks at the aromatase pathway but also gives complete insight into cortisol, cortisone, estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and DHEA-S. It also looks at DHEA and progesterone metabolites to evaluate how these hormones are being broken down. We are even able to see cortisol and cortisone pattern to analyze circadian rhythm. Most importantly, it tests your estrogen metabolism pathways to see how well you metabolize estrogen through your liver. This is key for estrogen dominant women as it helps us decipher if phase 1 or phase 2 detoxification is slow and in need of repair. Both of these detoxification pathways can cause acne if under-active. In addition, it measures your daily free cortisol pattern, melatonin (6-OHMS), 8-OHdG and the following organic acids: Homovanillate (HVA) - the primary dopamine metabolite Vanilmandelate (VMA) - the primary norepinephrine and epinephrine metabolite Methylmalonate (MMA) - elevated if patients are vitamin B12 deficient Xanthurenate - elevated if patients are vitamin B6 deficient Kynurenate - elevated if patients are vitamin B6 deficient Pyroglutamate - elevated if patients are glutathione deficient Indican- elevated if patients have gut putrefaction or dysbiosis b-Hydroxyisovalerate- elevated if patients are biotin deficient Quinolinate- marker for neuroinflammation .
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Test
This is a non-invasive hair mineral test that evaluates how your body responds to stress and how resilient you are. It gives insight into nutritional deficiencies, gut infections, sex hormone balance, blood sugar, adrenal health, thyroid & metabolic health as well as nervous system balance. It also is an assessment for copper and iron overload. With everyone dieting and taking an array of supplements or pharmaceuticals now a days, mineral imbalances have become extremely common. This is unfortunate because minerals are the backbone to our health and the spark plugs of our body. It is impossible to clear acne if you do not have balanced minerals because you will never be able to detoxify properly. The HTMA test is the best bang for your buck as it is relatively affordable and explains the "why" behind acne, hormone and digestive issues. It displays macro and micro minerals, toxic metal levels and how well your body is able to excrete toxic metals. Minerals are essential but you don’t want too many or too little. It's all about the ratios and overall balance in the body. This is a non-invasive hair tissue mineral biopsy that tests levels of the following minerals and toxic metals: Calcium Nickel Magnesium Cobalt Sodium Molybdenum Potassium Lithium Iron Boron Copper Lead Manganese Mercury Zinc Cadmium Chromium Arsenic Selenium Aluminum Phosphorus .
GI Map Gut Health Test
This is the most advanced DNA based stool test that gives complete insight into digestion, your gut microbiome and gastrointestinal function. This is an important test to do if you suffer from acne, eczema, psoriasis and/or chronic digestive issues like bloating/gas, acid reflux, constipation/diarrhea etc. All disease begins in the gut! The GI Map is the only accurate test for microbes and microbial imbalances that cause acne. After all, gut health and acne are highly connected due to the gut skin axis. This test also provides markers for insight into blood sugar, bile flow, adrenal health, gluten sensitivity, inflammation, immunity, pancreatic enzyme sufficiency, liver function, leaky gut, SIBO, occult blood and antibiotic resistant genes. It also checks for the following bacteria, parasites/pathogens, worms, viruses and fungi/yeast: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli / Shigella Escherichia coli O157 Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Clostridioides difficile Toxin A and B Campylobacter Chilomastix mesnelli Geotrichum species Microsporidia species Rhodotorula species Necator americanus Cyclospora Cytomegalovirus Epstein-Barr Virus Ancylostoma duodenale Trichuris trichiura Taenia species Ascaris lumbricoides Candida species Candida albicans Pentatrichomonas Entamoeba coli Firmicutes Enterobacter species Lactobacillus Enterococcus Shigella Shiga-like Toxins Salmonella Cryptosporidium Entamoeba histolytica Giardia Adenovirus Norovirus Rotavirus Helicobacter pylori with 7 virulence factors Bacteroides fragilis Bifidobacterium Escherichia coli Clostridium species Bacteroidetes Bacillus Enterococcus Morganella Pseudomonas Staphylococcus Streptococcus Citrobacter Klebsiella Mycobacterium tuberculosis Prevotella copri Proteus species Blastocystis hominis Dientamoeba fragilis Endolimax nana .
Katie likes to do a full medical evaluation on her 1:1 clients before considering any testing. After your first session, she will map out a healing plan for you and if she sees any uncertainties, she will recommend specific test(s) to provide the answers she needs moving forward. This allows for complete customization to you and removes the potential of any unnecessary testing. Ultimately, testing is always the client's choice and will only be suggested if necessary. All testing is available at lab cost for clients part of the 1:1 membership.
Additional Testing Available Inside 1:1 Membership:
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Full Thyroid Panel
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Organic Acids Test
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Mycotoxin Testing
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Vitamin D Test
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Sex Hormone Panel
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Vaginal Microbiome Test
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Stress Hormone Panel
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Histamine Test
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Vitamin & Mineral Testing
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Food Sensitivity Testing
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SIBO Breath Test
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Liver Markers
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Insulin & Glucose Markers
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Cholesterol Panel
+ MORE ALL AT LAB COST
What is the Difference Between Functional Medicine & Western Medicine?
Functional medicine is complementary to western (conventional) medicine and is fully backed by science. Western medicine is necessary for acute sudden illness/injuries, whereas functional medicine is better for disease prevention and reversing chronic illness. There are many studies showing connections between different systems/organs in our body and how they all collectively play a role in disease.
For example, the following conditions have all been shown to correlate back to a disrupted gut microbiome and poor digestion; hypo/hyper thyroidism, anxiety/depression, autoimmunity, heart disease, skin conditions, chronic fatigue and migraines. None of these conditions are directly apart of the gastrointestinal tract but it still plays a primary role. This is what functional medicine is all about; looking at your body from a broad perspective to piece together your health puzzle and rebalance all systems from the root. Rather than prescribing drugs for each disease, a functional nutritionist investigates why the disease has occurred in the first place and works to reverse it.
Western medicine tends to look at disease from the 'germ theory' perspective whereas functional medicine takes a hybrid approach but understands that keeping a healthy environment (terrain) in your body is most important for disease prevention. Let's look at acne for example. If you go to a dermatologist, they will likely say you have a bacterial infection on your skin and will encourage a heavy dose of topical anti-bacterial agents like benzoyl peroxide. They do not see acne as an internal issue like we do here at Holistico. Through many research studies, we know that acne is caused from internal + external stressors, poor detoxification, hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, poor eating/lifestyle habits and gut dysbiosis. We see it all the time in our practice and have watched our clients skin completely transform by addressing acne from the inside out. The topicals you put on your skin do have the ability to aggravate your acne and make it worse but they are never the cause. What you eat and the lifestyle you live plays the biggest role in the health of your skin. This is why we are trained to use food as medicine and get to the true root cause so you never have to experience acne again.
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