At the Turnpaugh Health & Wellness Center, not only do we treat the root cause of disease, but we look to see how the body functions as a whole, not only by individual organ systems.
One important concept for addressing hormones is the Ovarian-Adrenal-Thyroid Axis (OAT), which is commonly referred to as the “triad.” When one of the three is dysfunctional, the rest suffer which is why it is important to test all three. Taking it a step further, the liver is also a common culprit and should be addressed as it is involved in various hormonal functions.
Symptoms of OAT dysfunction include adrenal fatigue, depression, anxiety, irregular or heavy periods, tender breast, hypoglycemia, hair loss, acne, dry skin, mood swings, sugar cravings, infertility, headaches, irritability, difficulty falling asleep, weight gain/difficulty losing weight, irregular bowel movements etc.
The first step to addressing the triad is by getting proper laboratory analysis. As functional medicine providers, we look at functional ranges. Ranges that are not only needed to survive, but to thrive which are much narrower than typical laboratory ranges. We also look at full panels that give us the full picture, not just pieces of the puzzle. In addition to functional blood work, additional testing may be indicated that may include urine, stool, salivary or hair samples.
Blood analysis that may be indicated for OATs include a full thyroid panel which includes TSH, free T4, free T3, TPO, Thyroglobulin antibodies, sometimes RT3 and T3 uptake. Cortisol and hormones should also be assessed which may be done with labs or via the DUTCH test which tests for hormones and their metabolites. Common nutritional markers are also important to look at such as omega fatty acids, magnesium, iodine, selenium, b12, folate.
*This is not meant to be personal medical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information.
