Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (51 page)

—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)

Modern medicine equates the absence of disease with health. Often people walk into a doctor’s office feeling tired and run down, have an exam and a battery of tests that are normal, and are told that all is well. While it’s good to know that there isn’t anything serious wrong, they still don’t feel well. This is where functional, complementary, and alternative medicines play a critical role. It’s always important to treat the person and not the test. People often seek “alternative” treatment as a last resort, but the best medicine is medicine that combines what is the best of standard medicine care plus the best of functional and integrative care.

Medical disciplines and medical testing are like the ancient East Indian folktale of the six blind men touching the elephant. We test for what we “see.” But each of us is “blind” because no matter how much we know, there is still so much that is unknown to us. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of possible tests that clinicians can run to help diagnose what is going on with you. The art is in knowing which specific tests may be most useful in helping you to optimize your health.

As a nutritionist, I measure improved function by how people feel. When a client comes to me with symptoms or a diagnosed medical problem, I listen carefully to what the client tells me, record the information, and ask lots of questions. I was taught that if I listened carefully my clients would tell me 90 percent of what I need to know. While I can’t do that with each of you, in this chapter and throughout the book I have included questionnaires that can help you discover more about yourself, your lifestyle, and your body. These questionnaires also provide valuable information for your clinician.

Laboratory testing gives us a more complete picture of what is going on inside your body. The results of these tests give a lot of information that would be difficult to find otherwise. I ask my clients to bring in lab testing and typically refer people back to their own doctors for regular medical testing. When appropriate I will refer my clients to gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, dermatologists, or other medical specialists for testing in those fields.

This chapter discusses testing that your own doctors may not be familiar with yet. I have included tests that are new and upcoming today but will become routine in the future. The results taken in combination with how you feel, your family history, regular medical tests, and your symptoms can be a guide to putting the puzzle together to optimize your health.

There are numerous tests for functional medicine. The following are the ones I’ve found to be most useful for digestive problems. Most of these are laboratory tests, but a few are home tests you can perform on your own!

You can also find more resources on lab testing and specific laboratory information at
http://www.digestivewellnessbook.com
.

Useful for anyone with digestive problems, comprehensive digestive stool analysis (called by various labs: CDSA, CSDA, CSA, stool profile, GI-effects) is often where you can find the underlying issues. If you choose to obtain only one test, make it a comprehensive stool test in conjunction with comprehensive parasitology screening (see later in the chapter). This is a home test kit. You gather your own stool sample(s) and then ship it back to the lab. Shipping labels are included in the test kit, and the shipping cost is included in the price of the test.

A CDSA is used to assess bacterial balance and health, digestive function, and dysbiosis. It identifies the types of bacteria and fungi present and measures the levels of beneficial, possibly harmful, and disease-producing microbes. Most labs do sensitivities on any bacteria or fungi (such as candida) that are found to determine what medications or herbs will be most effective against them. These tests typically also measure calprotectin, lactoferrin, eosinophil protein X, and/or lysozyme levels to detect inflammation in the large intestine. Elevations could indicate ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, colon cancer, diverticulitis, or other inflammatory conditions. These markers can be used to find the inflammation without scoping, can
help distinguish between irritable bowel syndrome and more serious conditions, and can also be used to monitor whether the treatment or maintenance program you are using is effective for inflammatory conditions.

In addition, a CDSA measures how well you are digesting fats, carbohydrates, and proteins; gives some indication of how well your pancreas is performing; and measures levels of butyric acid and short-chain fatty acids.

If you find candida, it gives a good clinical picture. However, if you don’t see it in stool, you cannot be certain that it’s not actually a problem. Organic acid testing (OAT) is the best measurement for candida and fungal infections.

There are currently two types of stool-testing procedures used. Most of the labs are using standard culturing (Genova Diagnostics, Dr’s. Data, Meridian Valley Lab, Diagnostechs, etc.). The standard is culture testing: the lab technician puts samples in a Petri dish and measures what grows. When I am trying to find a specific bacterial infection, I use this type of testing. So far Metametrix Lab is the only one using newer technology using PCR genetic testing. By looking at genes of parasites, bacteria, and fungi, they can find infection at a much lower level. The problem is that this test often finds parasites and yeasts whose “taxonomy is unknown,” so you don’t know if this is really a problem. Currently there is no standardization of stool testing in the industry, so specific types of tests vary from lab to lab. So, when I have not been satisfied with one lab, occasionally I have used a second lab to discover parasites or other infections that weren’t apparent from the initial test.

Many labs, including regular medical labs, offer testing for candida antibodies. These tests can help to determine whether candida/yeast overgrowth is present. Personally, I like to use Dr. Crook’s yeast questionnaire, presented here, and work with yeast through diet and herbs. Many physicians will also use prescription medications to treat yeast overgrowth.

The following questionnaire can help you determine whether candida is a factor in your own health. A candida questionnaire for use with children is presented next.

YEAST QUESTIONNAIRE—ADULT

Answering these questions and adding up the scores will help you decide if yeasts contribute to your health problems. However, you will not obtain an automatic “yes” or “no” answer.

For each “yes” answer in Section A, circle the points that correspond to that question. Total your score and record it at the end of the section. Then move on to Sections B and C and score as indicated.

Add your three scores to get your grand total.

SECTION A: HISTORY

*Includes Keflex, ampicillin, amoxicillin, Ceclor, Bactrim, and Septra. Such antibiotics kill off “good germs” while they’re killing off those that cause infection.

SECTION B: MAJOR SYMPTOMS

For each of your symptoms, enter the appropriate figure in the Score column:

If a symptom is occasional or mild: 3 points

If a symptom is frequent and/or moderately severe: 6 points

If a symptom is severe and/or disabling: 9 points

Total your score and record it at the end of this section.

SECTION C: OTHER SYMPTOMS
*

For each of your symptoms, enter the appropriate figure in the Score column:

If a symptom is occasional or mild: 1 point

If a symptom is frequent and/or moderately severe: 2 points

If a symptom is severe and/or disabling: 3 points

Total your score and record it at the end of this section.

*While the symptoms in this section commonly occur in people with yeast-connected illness, they are also found in other individuals.

The Grand Total Score will help you and your physician decide whether your health problems are yeast connected. Scores for women will run higher than for men, as seven items in the questionnaire apply exclusively to women, while only two apply exclusively to men.

Yeast-connected health problems are almost certainly present with scores higher than 180 for women and 140 for men.

Yeast-connected health problems are probably present with scores higher than 120 for women and 90 for men.

Yeast-connected health problems are possibly present with scores higher than 60 for women and 40 for men.

With scores lower than 60 for women and 40 for men, yeasts are less apt to cause health problems.

YEAST QUESTIONNAIRE—CHILD

For each “yes” answer, circle the points that correspond to that question. Total your score and record it at the end of the questionnaire.