We offer a variety of Naturopathic assessment tools and diagnostic tests as a part of your health evaluation. Laboratory tests are specifically recommended for each patient based on your individual health concerns and the goals you want to achieve while working with our doctors.
During one of your first two visits at HealthSource Integrative Medical Centre, our doctors will take a finger prick sample of your blood and examine it through a microscope. The image of your blood is then projected onto a screen for you to view. Clients always find live blood cell analysis fascinating as you, too, can see a snapshot of what we observe in your blood. Common elements seen in this type of testing are degeneration, dehydration, microbes, inflammation, oxidative stress, nutrient deficiencies, heavy metals and immune system health. After your first reading, we can test again to monitor your health progress and to continually customize your treatment plan.
As part of a general screening we strongly encourage our patients to assess their body’s vitamin & mineral stores, blood sugar, hormone levels and inflammatory markers using our Laboratory Profile. We use this tool to ensure you are reaching optimal levels of vitamin & minerals in addition to addressing nutrient or hormonal deficiencies. Our laboratory profile provides valuable information to helps the doctors see inside your body, to determine imbalances within your body’s terrain and to establish which specific treatments you will benefit from the most.
These tests are used as a general screening or monitoring a current health condition. Testing may include some of the following: Complete Blood Count (CBC), liver panel, kidney function, electrolytes, blood sugar, cholesterol, thyroid, B12, and iron.
Saliva is considered the best predictor of your body’s hormone levels and is most useful for uncovering hormone imbalances. Hormones tested are estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA-s, and testosterone. Once a hormone imbalance has been uncovered, nutritional or bio-identical hormone therapy can be instituted.
Symptoms and diseases that may be associated with food allergy/sensitivities include:
Urine toxic or Heavy Metal Testing (for lead and mercury, for example) is an invaluable tool for the assessments of retention of toxic metals in the body. Toxic metals do not have any useful physiological function and they adversely affect virtually every organ system and disrupt the homeostasis of nutrient elements. Elevated levels may contribute to a host of physical symptoms.
We offer testing for Lyme Disease. There are a variety of panels that can be ordered to rule out Lyme Disease and other Tick-Borne Infections. Please speak to one of the doctors at HealthSource Integrative Medical Centre to find out which panel is right for you.
Are you 50 years old with a vascular age of 65? As you age, arteries stiffen and become less elastic. The amount of resistance the heart must overcome to pump blood into the arteries increases. Inevitably, this places an ever increasing load on the heart. Using the Arterial Stiffness Assessment tool, we can tell you if your heart is working harder than it should be. We can assess the “age” of your arteries and then take appropriate measures to keep your heart and arteries healthy and strong. We provide you with a biological age of your cardiovascular system and we compare that to your chronological age.
Our Biological Impedance Analysis (BIA) machine is used in a clinical setting to reliably and accurately measure your body fat in relation to lean muscle mass and your hydration status. It is safe and painless to use. Body weight alone (the number on a scale) is not an accurate measure of body composition, and therefore, not an accurate measure of overall health. Even after losing weight, you still might be considered over-fat if your weight loss occurred predominantly from muscle and not from fat. A person having excess fat on the inside while looking normal on the outside may still result in disease risks similar to those who appear to be overweight. Preserving lean muscle also increases metabolic rate, enabling the body to burn calories more effectively each day. When used as a part of a program which includes a healthy diet, personalized nutritional supplements and exercise, our BIA machine allows us to target fat loss, preserve lean muscle and shape your body for better health.
Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are among the most common reasons that patients seek medical care. Symptoms associated with GI disorders include persistent diarrhea, constipation, bloating, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and malabsorption. The Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology may be used to assess digestive and absorptive functions and the presence of opportunistic pathogens (yeast or candida, bacteria, and parasites).
The Organic Acids Test (OAT) provides a metabolic “snapshot” based on those products the body discarded during urination. This test can be used on adults or children. These small organic acid molecules are byproducts of human cellular activity, the digestion of foods, and the life cycles of gastrointestinal flora. The Organic Acid Test has the ability to reliably detect the overgrowth of yeast and bacteria species commonly missed by conventional culture methods. Additional pathways of interest include products of carbohydrate digestion, mitochondrial function which produces most cellular energy, many vitamin levels, neurotransmitter metabolites, fatty acid oxidation abnormalities or ketosis, oxalate levels, and inborn errors of metabolism (genetic testing). In addition, it checks for many other abnormalities such as vitamin deficiencies and abnormal metabolism of catecholamines, dopamine, and serotonin. Once any abnormalities are detected, there are a variety of treatment options available to correct the condition.
This test can be performed by using the Organic Acid Test (urine), by blood looking for Candida Antibodies or by collecting the stool for analysis under the microscope. If the yeast grows in culture after collecting the stool sample, sensitivity of that yeast to prescription anti-fungals and to natural antimicrobials is determined. This information is valuable in directing therapy for yeast overgrowth.
All new patients are given a complaint-oriented physical exam and an extensive case history is taken as part of the investigative procedure. The doctors at HealthSource Integrative Medical Centre will also review and discuss your X-rays, CAT Scans, Pathology and Ultrasound reports you bring with you.
The DUTCH Test® was created to provide insight into many health conditions – such as menopause, weight gain, fatigue, low libido, depression, or PMS. It aims to deliver the most complete assessment of sex and adrenal hormones, along with their metabolites, in one easy to administer test. It is a dried urine collection process is great for baseline measurements of women and men with hormonal imbalances and for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) monitoring.
DUTCH offers the most extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites. Additionally, the daily (diurnal) pattern of free cortisol is included, along with melatonin (6-OHMS), 8-OHdG, and six organic acids.
