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The Power of Organic Acids Testing

As a practitioner, you already know this:  labwork data is helpful.   Sometimes, very helpful.

Many of you have heard me say it a hundred times: Test; don’t Guess.  Wherever possible, I recommend we use objective lab data to help identify the root causes of our patients’ dis-ease, imbalance, and blockage. Sure, it’s only one part of the puzzle, along with a patient’s history, diet, symptoms, mindset, and lifestyle.

But here’s a truth my clients have benefited from MANY times in my practice: lab data can reveal THE missing puzzle piece (you know, the one that somehow ended up under the couch – gone forever unless you look hard and long). You can find the puzzle piece that points the way to unexpected true root causes and how a patient can finally find relief.

There are many types of helpful labwork. But especially for those complex patients with many symptoms and overlapping issues (e.g. all chronic autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, depression), I have found organic acids testing to be – by far – the most revealing. With that data in hand, some of my clients are relieved – and more empowered than ever. Hundreds of our clients have benefited from this powerful insight. Just last month, one wrote, “Wow – I finally have some answers. Thank you for recommending that test. We learned so much!”

Urinary organic acids testing (OAT) measures intermediate metabolites of biochemical processes, indicating where they may be blocked or overloaded. The blockage might be due to a missing nutrient, toxic overload, gut microbial overgrowth, insufficient antioxidants, an inflammatory process, and/or poor cellular metabolism.  Yes: feedback on all of these areas at once. With one single OAT panel.  And you can learn how to use this test data with confidence.

I am particularly passionate about this type of testing for complex patients cases. Those cases where it’s clear that a LOT is going on. You have many ideas whirling around in your head. But you just aren’t sure what’s actually at play in this unique person. Is it intestinal yeast? Is it a problem with detoxification? Is it poor methylation? What about cellular energy production?

You don’t want to guess…and risk having to guess over and over again, a sure way to burn yourself out and demoralize your patient (and definitely not the way to wildly satisfy them!).   Wherever possible, Test; don’t Guess.

Nearly a decade of running a full practice has given me tremendous wisdom as a practitioner. I am so grateful for that expertise! But sometimes I am still surprised (though delighted) at what data can reveal about a unique client. In the past few months alone, OAT has helped our practice to find

  • Low serotonin function in a woman with long-time obesity who simply can’t sustain dietary changes due to over-the-top cravings (no, it wasn’t yeast – or insulin resistance).
  • Dramatic microbial imbalance in the gut of a grandfather with long-time arthritis pain – who has no GI symptoms at all (turns out, it wasn’t food sensitivities).
  • High need for Vitamin B12 in a woman suffering from depression whose serum B12 was 976 pg/ml (typical reference range is 200-900 pg/ml).
  • Poor cellular metabolism at the root of a man’s persistent IBS (when we already knew there was no significant dysbiosis or SIBO).
  • Highly blocked sulfation detoxification pathway in a vegan client who enjoys multiple servings of cruciferous veggies every day (yet still has dramatic estrogen dominance).

I am always humbled and inspired to learn what I don’t know.

I am always excited to learn a new and fascinating way that puzzle pieces can fit together in a unique individual. The human body is an unfathomably complex and adaptive system. I am grateful for the OAT technology that allows this type of comprehensive, progressive testing and insight.  OAT casts a broad net to help you find puzzle pieces that you didn’t even know you were missing. For that unique person. With their unique genetics, history, diet, and lifestyle. Most panels include dozens of markers.

As you might imagine, wisely interpreting OAT data is not something you just pick up on-the-fly. An interpretive guide is helpful. But finding all the pearls – especially the ones indicated across multiple markers – is an art. At long last (this one’s been requested many, many times over the years), I am delighted to invite you to join me for a new SAFM Deep Dive Clinical Course:

The Power of Organic Acids Testing

Please note that this is not an introductory course, but rather an advanced Deep Dive Clinical Course available for purchase after students have established a firm foundation in SAFM’s signature approach to functional medicine training. We hit the ground running in the content, so we want to be sure you will be comfortable.

P.S.  If you are passionate about transforming healthcare through the power of functional medicine, we encourage you to learn more about our training program here.

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