At the recent Institute for Functional Medicine Symposium, a doctor flipped through our book and said, “This stuff looks complicated.” I said, “It is complicated. Read Chapter 12 first.”

Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine was written to serve as a primary desk reference for clinicians using the new testing profiles that reveal metabolic difficulties due to nutrient deficiencies, toxicant poisoning and lack of cellular controls. The content density is high in order to cover the large span of tests, their scientific basis and the implications of abnormalities. Those who are new to the field may find themselves lost in the myriad of details. To get the larger picture of how the testing is applied in routine medical practice, I suggest reading Chapter 12 first. Two main areas are covered in that chapter. The first is an introduction to the integration of multiple profile and sub-profile implications to arrive at the focal issues for each patient. Secondly, a few hypothetical cases are presented to provide insight into the thought process during a routine clinical visit that guides decisions about testing options to confirm or rule out suspicions of trouble areas.

All clinicians who have entered into the new way of using metabolic testing to identify underlying causes of disease in each patient have experienced the uncertainty about the lack of training in the complexities. The basic requirements for health are very simple: eat your fruits and veggies, get adequate exercise and sleep and learn to enjoy an abundant, spirit-filled life. When specific disorders are present, standard, nutrient protocols can be implemented without delay. For example, the autistic child is very likely to benefit from magnesium, vitamin B6, fish oils and the elimination of gluten and casein-containing foods. And most patients with cardiovascular disease show signs of improvement when coenzyme Q10, carnitine and balanced antioxidants are added. These condition-based protocols are good starting points. They open questions about what other focal metabolic issues might be present that are amenable to nutrient corrections.

 Patients need guides when they fail to learn the lessons of diet and lifestyle. And when they have been far out of health practices or they have special genetic limitations, their return to health can be greatly speeded by periods of focused interventions to restore nutrient levels, lower toxicant effects and balance cell regulators. Discovery of these fine points is where the laboratory evaluations become so valuable.

Working with the biochemical intricacies becomes like a puzzle where the pieces fall in place as patterns of abnormalities emerge. You start to realize that you are working at the cellular level to achieve individual patient customized support that allows more rapid return to health.