Many of the articles that will be presented on this website by BioHealth Diagnostics for the "For Women, By Women" section will address specific health issues relating to women's health such as hormones, menopause, cancer, osteoporosis, etc. What I want to do is set the stage for upcoming articles that I will contribute regarding many of the previously mentioned topics. In the coming months, I will be contributing a series of articles discussing topics about our body functions, the specific nutrients we need for proper hormone, immune, and digestive balance, and the many factors in our daily lives that can contribute to many of the diseases we face as women. This article will focus on what I feel is critical for all women seeking comprehensive health care - Information.

As a practitioner of naturopathic medicine, I have been trained to assess and utilize a wide variety of holistic and diagnostic modalities and treatments for my patients, including acupuncture, hands-on palpation, homeopathic case taking, muscle testing, and standard blood, saliva, stool, and urine tests. All of these modalities can give the practitioner a sense of what may be causing an individual's symptoms and guide treatment using various natural remedies. However, as was mentioned in a previous article, before I began utilizing BioHealth testing, I often was left unsatisfied with my diagnostic capabilities to get at the underlying root cause of women's health issues. Many women began to feel better with what I could provide, but as the complexity of cases increased in my practice, it became essential to have the ability to assess people's bodies on a more comprehensive fashion. BioHealth Diagnostics provides this service.

I stress to women all the time that the more information you have about the functioning of your body the better able you will be to take care of yourself. This is especially true with women suffering with hormone imbalances, chronic fatigue, autoimmune conditions (such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus), osteoporosis, digestive disorders, and cancer. It is also critical for me as a practitioner to have as much information about a patient's underlying body physiology to make informed and time sequenced decisions about their care.

I see women who have spent years suffering with ill health and have spent thousands of dollars trying to address their health complaints with very little success. For many, the frustration has led them to a wide variety of health practitioners including traditional M.D.s, acupuncturists, chiropractors, naturopaths, and hands-on healers. From my assessment, the most beneficial outcome has developed by utilization of comprehensive diagnostic testing. BioHealth Diagnostics provides a wide variety of testing including hormone evaluation, digestive function, infectious disease screening including parasite, viral, and bacteria, heavy metal assessment, and immune system evaluations. Much of this testing is essential even if your only problems seem to be hormone imbalances such as irregular menses, PMS, or menopause.

I have seen a number of women whose hormone dysfunction was related to hidden parasitic infections and/or food intolerances that were causing unseen stress. Once these factors were diagnosed and removed, their hormonal problems normalized. The cost is minimal compared to years of suffering, as well as compared to many other forms of diagnostic testing. A comprehensive evaluation including your sex hormone and adrenal function, digestive function (including parasite, bacteria, Candida and viral exposure), detoxification assessment of your liver, immune system evaluations, and food sensitivities costs between $900 to $1200. This is equivalent in price to one MRI scan, a weekend stay at a nice resort, and less than one month's home mortgage payment for most people.

We are talking about your health, well-being and future long-term goals for yourself and your family, and to me, that is priceless. Knowledge is power, and the more information you and your practitioner have regarding your body's function the better outcome you will have with your health.