In today’s world, we are exposed to toxic chemicals and pollutants at an ever increasing rate.  These toxins are found in our food and water supply, the air we breath, our make-up and children’s toys. Through chronic exposure, we accumulate a toxic load that we cannot efficiently eliminate from our bodies. The presence of even very low levels of toxic metals can have detrimental health consequences. Heavy metal accumulation can manifest in the form of headaches, joint pain, allergies, poor digestive health and mental health conditions. By identifying these key exposures, effective treatment plans can be formulated, introducing detoxification protocols combined with nutrional and mineral support to rid the body of these toxic metals, as well as identifying and reducing your day-to-day exposure.

Testing for heavy metals is a simple non-invasive procedure which requires taking a small sample of your hair. Your hair sample is then analysed to reveal the mineral composition within your body. As well as identifying the presence of heavy metals, this test will also identify any nutritional deficiencies or excesses within the body, and can be a helpful tool for developing personalised nutrition plans.

This is a comprehensive test that will evaluate your gut health. It assesses levels of good and bad bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. In addition, it tests for markers of inflammation, barrier function and malabsorption, acidity or alkalinity levels within the gut and the functioning of your digestive enzymes. This stool test is an essential starting point to identify any underlying digestive dysfunction.

This test involves collecting a stool sample, which you can do in the privacy of your own home. After you have completed the test, a courier will then collect the sample and take it to the lab where it will be analysed.

This test is recommended for anyone suffering with generalised digestive disturbances such as: bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), abdominal pain or swelling, flatulence, or if you have mucous, blood or undigested food in your stool, chronic reflux, chronic fatigue, candida symptoms, skin problems such as acne, psoriasis or eczema, or if you have travelled overseas and picked up a gut bug and haven’t felt right since.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) – commonly known as Leaky Gut Syndrome – is characterized by an abnormal and excessive overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the small intestine.

The small intestine is mainly responsible for absorbing nutrients from our food.  During a SIBO infection, the overgrowth of bacteria begins to ferment undigested carbohydrates, leading to increased gas production, contributing to common symptoms such as gas and bloating. The increased gas in the digestive tract can also contribute to changes in bowel habits, such as constipation, diarrhoea, or even alternating bowel patterns (IBS) and a host of other symptoms including: intestinal inflammation, abdominal cramping and changes in appetite. SIBO can also lead to many symptoms outside of the digestive tract, including joint pain, headaches, brain fog, mood swings and skin changes.

The overgrowth of bacteria can also impact nutrient absorption, leading to a deficiency or lower levels of essential vitamins and minerals. SIBO is often associated with poor sleep leading to lower energy throughout the day. One of the most common symptoms of SIBO is chronic fatigue.

The SIBO test is a simple and non-invasive breath test to measure levels of hydrogen and methane gases in the breath to determine the presence of gas producing bacteria in your gut. Samples are collected every 20 minutes for a 3 hour period.  Guidance and instruction can be given so that you can complete this test at home.  Once this test is completed, it will be sent to the lab for analysis. The results from this test will be extremely useful in creating an effective and individualised treatment plan to treat your condition.

Food allergies/intolerances and sensitivities are an increasing problem among people today.

Often people are not aware that certain foods are affecting their condition until they undergo naturopathic food allergy/intolerance testing. This type of testing provides detailed information on what foods may be triggering their condition.

Food sensitivities and intolerances may occur because:

* You don’t have the right enzymes to digest the food properly. Lactose intolerance is an example of an enzyme deficiency, which occurs when people are born with or develop insufficient lactase enzymes to digest lactose in cow’s milk or other dairy products.

* You react to food additives or preservatives like sulphite, MSG, or artificial colours.

* Sensitivity to caffeine or other chemicals

* Sensitivity to sugars, naturally found in certain foods.

Symptoms of food allergy/intolerance and sensitivity include but are not limited to: bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, nausea, IBS, Crohn’s disease, reflux, indigestion, abdominal pain, fluid retention, headaches and migraines, asthma, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, skin problems, nasal congestion, hayfever, memory loss, weight gain, auto-immune disease, behavioural problems in children and attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).

If you suffer from any of these conditions, make an appointment for a detailed comprehensive test to get to the bottom of the issue.

Balanced interactions between hormones are essential for good health. They regulate menstruation, fertility and libido (sex drive).

Many conditions like pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), fibroids, endometriosis, fertility issues and more, can be traced back to the levels of active bio-available hormones in the body. Additionally, as women approach mid-life, hormonal changes occur that can be distressing and uncomfortable as the reproductive organs gradually shut-down, eventually leading to menopause.

Female hormone profiling can be useful in understanding the full impact that hormones may be having upon your health. Hormone testing gives a comprehensive overview of your hormonal status and helps in identifying the underlying cause of any complex hormone-related issues.

This test will measure reproductive hormones, such as: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), oestrogens, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA. These hormones are crucial for regulating the menstrual cycle, ovulation and fertility. Testosterone – in both men and women – plays a role in sexual development and function.

A Female Hormone Profiling test involves a combination of urinary and salivary hormone tests that will measure not only your hormone levels, but also how your body is utilising and metabolising these hormones. This information can indicate any problems with liver metabolism and enzyme deficiency which could be a contributing to your symptoms and affecting your health.

Symptoms that would suggest the need for hormone testing include: mood swings, anxiety, infertility, PMS, PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, depression, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, prostate enlargement, memory loss, sleep issues, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness and hot flushes.

Information gathered from this testing will identify elevations or deficiencies in your hormone levels. With this information, individualised treatment plans can be formulated to address these imbalances and manage your symptoms.

Thyroid Abnormalities are one of the most common endocrine disorders present today. The thyroid gland secretes hormones which regulate our metabolism, energy levels, body temperature, brain development and brain function.

Thyroid function testing assesses thyroid health and immunity and pinpoints thyroid hormone imbalances that may be causing your symptoms and affecting your health.

Testing for thyroid issues is recommended if you experience symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, constipation and diarrhoea or heart palpitations. Thyroid testing is also recommended in cases of infertility.

This comprehensive test measures levels of TSH, T3, T4 and Reverse T3. Reverse T3 is produced during periods of stress, illness or in response to other external factors. A build of up of reverse T3 disrupts the body’s ability to properly metabolise thyroid hormones and results in rT3 dominance. This is often seen in ‘sub clinical hypothyroidism’ where you have elevated TSH levels with normal thyroxine levels, and if this is left untreated it can lead to more serious thyroid issues.

Thyroid testing also detects the presence of thyroid antibodies TGab and TPOab, which can cause serious thyroid autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s and Grave’s Disease.

If low thyroid function is suspected, it may be necessary to order a urinary iodine test, iron studies and vitamin D test, as these are often found to be deficient in patients presenting with thyroid complaints.

The Adrenocortex hormone profile is a critical tool for revealing adrenal imbalances.  Lifestyle, physical and psychological stresses put constant demands on the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are an important part of the body’s endocrine (hormonal) system. If they become depleted, adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency may be experienced. Adrenal fatigue is a common condition resulting from increasing stress upon the adrenal glands.

This test evaluates bioactive levels of the body’s important stress hormones. It examines 4 saliva samples over a 12 hour period for levels of Cortisol and DHEA. It is a non-invasive saliva test that serves as a reliable marker of the stress response.

Symptoms indicating adrenal insufficiency and adrenal fatigue may include: anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, dysglycemia and a host of other clinical conditions that may affect people’s daily lives.

The adrenocortex test can be used as a general screening test to assess the functioning of the adrenal glands as they play such an important role for a healthy life.

The Extensive Neurotransmitters Profile is a non-invasive urine test that assesses the levels of 6 neurotransmitters (brain chemicals): serotonin, GABA, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline and glutamate.

These important brain chemicals are the most researched in relation to their effect on mood disorders, hormones, sleep, glucose/insulin balance, pain perception, appetite and cognitive function.

Low or high levels of neurotransmitters are observed in various mental health disorders such as: low moods, anxiety, stress, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), Parkinson’s disease and panic attacks.

This test will benefit those who are experiencing unexplained alterations in mood, behaviour and cognition. It is a very useful test to determine the precise neurotransmitter chemicals that are out of balance.

This test does not diagnose any conditions, however it helps to understand where the chemical imbalances may be and what nutritional support, dietary adjustments and homeopathic treatment may be required to support and correct the imbalance.