When you come to a clinic such as CAM – or any clinic, for that matter – testing of some sort it usually done. But what kinds of tests are done, and why, and what do they show?
What is the testing for?
Conventional doctors and clinics usually do testing in order to diagnose and name a particular disease. The focus at CAM is somewhat different. We test mostly for causes of health problems such as toxicity or parasites, as well as testing for imbalances and nutrient deficiencies that can indicate other root causes.
What is the underlying principle of testing?
The parts of the body are all interconnected, and each part of the body gives information that can reflect what is going on throughout the body. Most of you are familiar with the standard CBC (complete blood count) and chem panel test done at almost any health facility. The resulting printout of numbers can provide information on how your blood, liver, kidneys, thyroid, digestion, pancreas and blood sugar regulation, and so forth are doing. The blood contains information about all body systems, as do other body fluids and components.
What is tested for?
The CBC is a good beginning, but there are many other tests. However, the testing is only as good as the doctor prescribing the tests. If the doctor doesn’t know to suspect, for example, intestinal parasites, hormonal imbalance, mercury, or toxin overload, then that doctor won’t order the relevant tests. CAM practitioners test for these things and more.
Interpretation of results
As is the case with ordering the tests in the first place, skill in interpretation can vary greatly. A layperson might see a confusing listing of numbers. An average doctor might only look at what is out of range. A CAM practitioner looks not just at out-of-range results but at results that might be within range but not optimal.
Relationships between results are also often significant. For example, potassium and sodium compete for biochemical binding sites in the body, as do calcium and magnesium, so their relationship is important. High chloride with low sodium can indicate low HCl, which in turn can mean poor protein digestion.
However, even well-interpreted test results don’t tell the whole picture, but are used in combination with other test results, x-rays and other scans, symptoms (felt by the patient), and signs (observable by the doctor).
What kinds of testing are there?
Nearly any body fluid or substance can be tested to find out what is going on with the body, since information about the body is contained to some extent in every part, so there are many kinds of testing.
Blood testing
Blood testing is one of the most common types of testing, and there are a number of ways to do blood testing as well as a great many things to test for. The most common blood test is the CBC and chem panel, which includes minerals, lipids such as cholesterol, enzymes that show organ stress, and other indicators. The CBC is considered to be a screening test; if abnormalities show up, this indicates the need for further testing. For example, if liver enzymes are high, this means the liver is stressed, and testing for hepatitis or toxicity should be done to narrow down what’s going on. There are specialized tests that are sometimes done that aren’t routinely a part of the CBC, such as testing for inflammation or autoimmune problems, or the PSA for prostate cancer. Blood for testing is usually collected from a vein, but can also be obtained from a finger stick.
Blood microscopy testing
Blood microscopy, also called live blood analysis (LBA) and dried layer analysis, is another way to get information about the body from the blood, taken via finger stick. In LBA, toxicity as from chemicals, dietary toxins, or allergy can show up as stacked, stuck-together red blood cells. A great many other root causes can be indicated by blood microscopy as well; these tests are done at CAM.
Urine testing
Urine can be tested for blood sugar, kidney or urinary tract infection, drugs, and metals after chelation.
Urine pH is usually tested during a professional urine test or can be self-tested with an indicator paper strip. Urine pH can be used as an indicator of metals, chemicals, fermentation, allergy, or low minerals.
Hair testing
In hair testing, a sample of hair is taken, typically about an inch close to the scalp. The sample is broken down chemically and analyzed for metals, although it isn’t necessarily good for testing for mercury or most chemicals.
Muscle testing
In muscle testing, also called kinesiology testing, the person being tested holds one arm out and resists the downward pressure on the arm applied by the tester, both without and then with the substance being tested. If the muscle remains strong, the substance is not a problem for that person. If the muscle goes weak, the patient is sensitive to that substance, or it is toxic.
Saliva testing
Saliva testing is used to determine levels of certain hormones such as adrenal hormones.
Stool testing
Stool testing is usually used to detect intestinal parasites of various kinds, as well as intestinal bleeding.
Pulse testing
This is usually a self-test. The pulse, or heart rate, often speeds up when a person is exposed to something to which that person is allergic, or which is toxic.
Electrodiagnosis
Electrodiagnosis, or computerized testing, is done at CAM, and involves using electronic or energy frequencies to determine whether a substance, infection, or food is a problem for the person being tested.
Mercury vapor testing
This test is used on those with metal dental fillings to see how much toxic mercury is being released from the fillings, both at rest and after chewing.
Electrical charges testing
This test is used to find out whether metal dental work of any type is putting out measurable electrical charges. Since both the brain and the heart rely on electrical impulses, electrical charges from the mouth can interfere with the proper functioning of these organs and can stress the whole body.
Genetic testing
Genetic testing is relatively new. It is sometimes used to find out whether a person has a genetic tendency to certain diseases, or whether they are likely to respond to a particular medication.
Come on in and get tested
Most of these tests are offered at CAM, along with practitioners trained to properly interpret the results.
