The key to preventing disease and feeling your best...
Genetic Testing Healing
No matter your age, race or gender, genetic testing provides an invaluable guide for you and your clinician to care for your body and mind. The reports are a foundation for planning your personalized approach toward optimal health, wellness and improved quality of life.
Genetic testing can help you:
If you’d like to explore genetic testing and learn more about what it can do for you, please give us a call to schedule a consult with one of our physicians.
What is genomic testing?
Genomics is the study of very small changes in a person’s DNA. Each of us has about 25,000 different genes made up of approximately 3 billion DNA nucleotides or units. Subtle variations in this DNA are not only what make us look different from one another, but also create subtle health differences by changing the instructions for everything our cells make and do; how we make hormones, handle inflammation and what nutrients we need more or less of. These changes translate to health effects that can be modified, when understood.
Genomics can provide valuable insight on your risk of:
- Poor mental wellness and focus
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Cognitive decline including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s etc.
- Cardiac disease
- Cancer
- Abnormal thyroid response
- Hormonal imbalances
- Inflammation and poor detoxification
- Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome
- Mast cell and/or histamine intolerance
- Susceptibility to mold toxicity or Lyme disease
- Anesthesia sensitivity
- Osteoporosis
- Clotting disorders
- Diabetes
- Food reactivity
- Autism
- Obesity
- Macular degeneration
- And much more…
Why should you get genetic testing?
Genetic testing is evidence-based medicine providing molecular-level insight into your physiology. Most importantly it provides ACTIONABLE information and precise treatment recommendations. Our physicians at Aspen frequently use it to prescribe individualized interventions with confidence that they’ll have beneficial effects. Genetic testing is especially useful if you are:
- Concerned about your health risks and want to prevent disease
- Suffering from a chronic health condition
- Not responding to treatment, no matter what methods you try
- Looking for a different approach to your symptoms and condition
- Wanting to optimize your diet, nutrition, and supplementation to be your healthiest self
Which clinical genomic companies do we use?
Our physicians choose from trusted genetic testing platforms (IntellxxDNA, Invitae, Nutrahacker, etc.) based on your specific concerns and need for personal information protection. These genetic platforms are backed by scientific evidence and built to give you the information you need to feel your best. As naturopathic physicians, we are uniquely trained to assess your genetic susceptibilities and offer evidence-based treatment recommendations, but also address epigenetic influences on your genome. It is said that “genes load the gun, but epigenetics pull the trigger.” Our whole person approach, training in the root causes of disease, and broad tool bag of treatment options as naturopathic physicians sets us apart from other “functional medicine” practitioners when it comes to utilizing your genetic information.
How is genetic testing performed?
The process is simple and easy.
- Meet with one of our doctors and they’ll determine the appropriate genetic panels to be done based on your symptoms, concerns, and health history.
- Your doctor will either provide you with a test kit or have it mailed to your home. You’ll also be provided with a login to the genetic testing portal.
- Once you have your kit, you’ll log into your portal to activate your kit barcode, and follow the instructions in the kit to collect your saliva sample. Most are a simple cheek swab and don’t require any blood.
- Mail in your kit and we’ll send you an email once your results are available. The test results will only be sent to your physician and we require an appointment to discuss the results, so you get the appropriate guidance.
- Schedule at least a 30 minute appointment with one of our physicians to discuss your results and begin the process of creating a personalized health plan based on the real you!