Common Tests You Must Be Prepared For On Your First Visit to a Holistic Doctor
The human body functions in such a way that every organ works to support the other. The heart, for example, pumps blood to various body parts. The brain, in turn, supports the working of the heart as well other parts of the body—from the head to the little toe.
While the conventional medicine doctor understands that the body works as a whole, progress in science have only succeeded in zeroing down on single parts of the body. Therefore, you will find doctors whose profession is focused on the brain, heart, skin or even the bone structure.
A holistic medicine doctor, on the other hand, focuses on the entire body without singling out the parts. Nonetheless, like other doctors, a holistic doctor should carry out necessary tests in order to determine which part of the body function is wrong with the aim of correcting it and ensuring the harmonious functioning of the entire body.
- Tests for Inflammation
Inflammation is one of the main causes of a wide range of diseases, including digestive disorders, arthritis, heart diseases, cancer and allergies. Your holistic doctor will test the functioning of your liver. The main aim of the test is determine the extent of damage to your liver.
- Thyroid Test
Obesity often comes with diabetes. If you are overweight, the holistic doctor should test for problem related to the thyroid function. The main focus should be finding out the presence of either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The test is aimed at finding out whether your thyroid is producing high or low levels of thyroid hormone.
- Blood Cholesterol Test
The level of cholesterol in your body will determine your risk to heart disease and diabetes. You holistic doctor should, therefore, carry out a blood cholesterol test. The focus should be on finding out whether you have Low Density Lipoprotein (or LDL), which is harmful cholesterol levels that are often associated with stroke and heart attack.
- Insulin Resistance Test
Resistance to insulin is one of the biggest problems in the fight against diabetes. Your holistic doctor, guided by symptoms, should conduct a test to determine whether your body has developed a resistance to insulin. The test typically involves measurement of tolerance to glucose. Similarly, the doctor should carry out hemoglobin A1c test aimed at finding out the levels of your blood sugar—just in case diabetes is already on its way by the time of carrying out the tests.
Summary
Many people hope that alternative medicine physicians will succeed where their conventional counterparts have failed. They are proved right in many cases. However, you should note that there is a link between the two types of doctors: they are both trained in taking care of patients, diagnosing diseases, and providing a way of treatment. The only difference is the fact that they have varying approaches towards alleviation or elimination of diseases and conditions.
While the conventional doctor focuses on the proper functioning of one or two body organs, the holistic doctor will consider the functioning of the entire body in order to arrive at a decision on your treatment. However, the latter will be guided by a number of tests in order to come up with the perfect solution to your health problems.