Have you ever been told “your labs look normal” even though you feel anything but normal? You’re not alone—and there’s a reason that happens. Traditional lab tests are great for identifying disease, but they often fall short when it comes to catching imbalances before they become full-blown problems. That’s where functional medicine comes in. Looking Beyond the "Normal" Range Standard labs use reference ranges based on population averages—not necessarily on what’s optimal for your health. In functional medicine, we don’t just ask, “Are you within range?”—we ask, “Is this the healthiest range for you?” For example, a TSH (thyroid) level might be considered “normal” on a standard test, but if it’s not optimal, you could still be experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, or brain fog. Functional Medicine Testing: Digging Deeper Functional labs go a step further by looking at root causes and subtle dysfunctions, such as: • Comprehensive stool analysis to assess gut health, infections, and inflammation • Hormone panels to evaluate imbalances over an entire day or cycle • Micronutrient testing to detect deficiencies before they cause symptoms • Advanced thyroid panels (not just TSH!) including free T3, free T4, and antibodies • Toxin and heavy metal screenings for hidden exposures that impact your energy and focus Personalized Results = Personalized Plans The goal isn’t just to find out what’s wrong—it’s to create a tailored plan that helps your body heal and thrive. With deeper, more targeted testing, functional medicine can uncover imbalances that traditional labs often miss. So, if your labs say you're “fine” but you don’t feel fine—don’t stop there. You might just need a more functional approach to your health.
