Functional Lab Testing

Uncover the root cause of your symptoms with gut, hormone, and mineral testing

What is functional lab testing?

Functional lab testing is a powerful tool that can uncover the root causes of ongoing gut issues, which are often overlooked in conventional healthcare. By diving deeper into your body's unique makeup, these tests provide valuable insights to create a targeted and effective plan for healing.

At Laura Grubb Wellness, we offer a variety of functional tests, including gut microbiome testing to assess digestive health, hormone testing to identify imbalances, and mineral testing to check for deficiencies. Together, these comprehensive tests help us get a complete picture of your health, allowing for personalized solutions that bring a sense of relief and support your journey toward long-term wellness.

Additional testing is available upon request to investigate specific concerns further.

Are you experiencing these symptoms?

  • You’re constantly feeling drained, no matter how much sleep you get.

  • Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight has left you frustrated.

  • Your periods are irregular, painful, or accompanied by severe mood swings.

  • Stress is taking a toll on your energy and overall well-being.

  • Skin breakouts, hair loss, or brittle nails are persistent and hard to manage.

  • Do you have frequent mood swings, anxiety, or depression, but prescriptions aren’t helping?

Gut Microbiome Test

Gut microbiome testing provides a detailed analysis of the bacteria and microorganisms in your digestive system, often revealing the root cause of specific symptoms such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and even skin issues or fatigue. These underlying imbalances are frequently missed in annual health exams and medical testing, which is why gut testing is so valuable.

After analyzing the results, I can create a personalized plan to address issues like inflammation, bacterial overgrowth, low-beneficial bacteria, fungus, and more. By assessing this test, I create a customized plan tailored to your results to help eliminate or reduce your symptoms. My ultimate goal is to help you get to the core of your health challenges and restore balance to experience lasting relief and vibrant health.

Additional functional lab tests

Hormone Testing

Hormone testing is essential to understanding your body’s unique balance and identifying imbalances affecting your well-being. With comprehensive hormone testing, I can assess your hormone levels and uncover the underlying causes of symptoms like fatigue, period pain, mood swings, and weight gain. We’ll create a personalized plan to restore your hormonal balance and achieve your health goals.

Mineral Testing

Minerals play a vital role in energy, hormone production, and enzyme production. Mineral testing is done through a hair sample. This allows us to look at how you use minerals over the previous 3-4 months. Mineral testing can provide us information of what minerals you may be deficient in, what you are burning through, heavy metals, as well as provide insight into adrenals, thyroid, blood sugar, inflammation, and stress levels.

  • "Working with Laura has been a game changer. Even after a short amount of time, I've noticed big changes with small tweaks and understand my body's unique needs thanks to her approach. I have less bloating, headaches, am fuller longer, and am more in tune with my body. It's refreshing to work with a heal professional who shows such a high level of investment and genuine care." - C.

  • "Working with Laura has been absolutely wonderful. She takes the time to listen to your symptoms and helps from the root cause. She doesn't slap supplements on you and expects them to fix you. She educates you, helps cheer you on, holds you accountable, and if you're like me and you slip every once in awhile- she helps you get back up and on track again. If something's not working, she reevaluates/works to find out why." - L.

  • “I was having trouble with heavy, painful periods, heartburn, and post nasal drip. I had been to my doctor regarding my periods, and was offered birth control or surgery options. Neither of these options I was interested in. I decided to contact Laura, and after discussing my concerns decided to move forward with the GI MAP and HTMA test. After starting the supplements she recommended, I’ve had no more heartburn, my post nasal drip has been greatly reduced, and my periods are much better and manageable. I am so thankful I came across her page and decided to work with her. It has most definitely made a positive change in my life." - J.

FAQs

  • Functional lab testing offers testing outside of standard bloodwork in conventional care. These lab tests look at imbalances in the body that can contribute to unwanted symptoms and drive disease. These tests may include samples from stool, urine, hair, saliva, and blood.

  • I offer stool testing through the GI Map, hair testing (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis), DUTCH hormone test for hormones and cortisol, insulin blood spot testing, as well as several nutrient tests. Other testing options may be offered upon request.

  • A gut microbiome test is a stool test that analyzes your gut health. It measures levels of our beneficial bacteria, overgrown bacteria, digestion health, yeast, gut immune health, and more.

  • A hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) look at our mineral status in our tissues (hair). Bloodwork is a snapshot in time. The minerals in your bloodwork are meant to be as normal as possible and keep you alive. An HTMA looks at how your body is using minerals, what you are deficient in, what you may be burning through, and heavy metals. We look at ratios of certain minerals for insight into adrenal health, nervous system, thyroid, blood sugar balance, and more.

  • Hormone testing looks at your sex hormones and cortisol. There are 2 ways to test this: through saliva, and urine. Saliva testing is good for a general idea of your hormones and cortisol. The DUTCH hormone test is performed through urine and gives a thorough evaluation of hormones, as well as metabolism of estrogen, how you are using cortisol, and several other markers.

  • Functional lab testing is so valuable and gives insight into your body as a whole. We don’t want to just treat a certain system as every system is connected to each other.

  • Bloating is one of the most common conditions I manage. Lab testing is vital for bloating as what may be the cause for one client, is not the cause for the next. Testing allows me to create a protocol personalized to your results

  • I do create a personalized supplement plan based on test results but supplements alone are not the answer. We have to address why our symptoms initially started. I address nutrition, lifestyle habits, and nervous system regulation with all of my clients.

  • I do not, however this is actually a good thing. If I accepted insurance I would be constrained to the same practices as conventional medicine. Typically with insurance, a diagnosis is required, and in functional medicine I am not looking for a diagnosis, but to rebalance the body as a whole. By not being tied to insurance, I able to practice the way I know will get us answers and healing. Because of this, I do offer flexible payment options, have a financing service available, and often can accept HSA/FSA in order to help more people.