As part of your visit to Shine Health Wellbeing Centre you may be required to undergo some thorough clinical testing to get the root cause of your health issues before your treatment commences.

We have our own testing centre where we perform a variety of specialized naturopathic tests using state of the art equipment which allows us to easily understand what the causes of your health concerns are and prescribe the optimal health solution.

Your naturopath will suggest the most appropriate tests for your condition based on the information gathered during your initial consultation. In addition to these tests you may also be required to fill out several questionnaires which will asses lifestyle, stress levels, wellbeing and reveal if your life is in balance or not.

Sensitivity Testing

To understand how Shine Health Wellbeing Centre can help you with your intolerance, allergy or sensitivities problem, it is important to differentiate between sensitivities and allergies. An allergy is an immune response of the blood to a foreign body. A substance that is in the bloodstream that should not be will have immunoglobulin’s produced against it, called IgE. These immunoglobulin’s, more commonly known as antibodies, attach themselves to the foreign invader so that it can be recognized by the white blood cells which can then destroy it.

A sensitivity or intolerance on the other hand is less well defined by the orthodox world but naturopathically is considered to be a substance to which the body responds badly in any number of ways, such as nausea and vomiting, skin rash, diarrhoea, sneezing, hayfever and any other eliminative process. Food sensitivities will often result from poor digestion due to insufficient enzyme production by the body, intestinal infections, gut permeability, compromised immune status, stress, poor diet etc. These ‘allergy like reactions’ will continue to affect the individual until such time as these digestive related problems are corrected. The cure is NOT removing the foods, but rather correcting the digestive disturbances. However, omitting the food intolerances can provide relief but NOT cure.

At Shine Health Wellbeing Centre we use 2 types of tests to assess your sensitivity profile. Our sophisticated EAV equipment for intolerance and sensitivity screening can identify substances (stressors) to which a person has developed an abnormal sensitivity, and which may have an aggravating or weakening effect on the body. Our test identifies the substances that send your body’s meridian system out of balance and create physical symptomology. As mentioned previously, an allergy is a condition in which the body mounts an immune defence to normally innocuous or harmless substances. A sensitivity is very similar, however may not create as intense a reaction and is generally cumulative in nature as a response to overconsumption. You may have sensitivities to foods or other substances that you are not aware of that may be affecting your health. Sensitivities are generally more difficult to identify as they tend to produce delayed reactions, however with our sensitivity screening tests we can easily identify them.

With a 98% accuracy in comparison to the RAST test (a blood test used to determine to what substances a person is allergic) and the Prick test or Scratch test (pricking the skin with a needle or pin containing a small amount of the allergen), this test is safe, accurate and non invasive and can be easily used with children.

Delayed allergy and sensitivity reactions may include joint and muscle pain, behavioural abnormalities, headaches, depression, insomnia and many others. Other problems commonly associated with allergies and sensitivities may include post nasal drip, sneezing, sinusitis, increased mucous secretion, recurrent infections, lack of energy, lowered libido, asthma, eczema and skin rashes, recurrent respiratory infections, digestive disturbances, stomach aches, diarrhoea or constipation, headaches, migraines and more. If you suffer from any of these our sensitivity screening will help you identify how you can improve your health.

Our second test is the Food Detective Blood test. Using a small amount for blood from the finger we can identify an immunological reaction (food antibodies IgG) to 30 different foods.

Foods Tested
Cereals
Corn, Durum Wheat, Gluten, Oats, Rice, Rye, Wheat.

Nuts & Beans 
Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Cocoa Bean, Peanut, Legume Mix (pea, lentil, haricot), Soya Bean, Walnut. 

Meats 
Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork. 

Fish 
Freshwater Fish Mix (salmon, trout), Shellfish Mix (shrimp, prawn, crab, lobster, mussel), Tuna, White Fish Mix (haddock, cod, plaice) 

Vegetables 
Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Cucumber, Leek, Peppers (red, green, yellow), Potato. 

Fruit
Apple, Blackcurrant, Grapefruit, Melon Mix (cantaloupe, water melon), Olive, Orange & Lemon, Strawberry, Tomato 

Other 
Egg (whole), Cow’s Milk, Garlic, Ginger, Mushroom, Tea, Yeast.

Meridian Stress Assessment

The Meridian Stress Assessment is our Rolls Royce of tests and integrates Eastern wisdom with Western technology. If you want to improve and renovate your home you must know the blue print of your existing layout. The Meridian system is that blue print. It is the dictator of health or illness in you body and 5000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine will show that when you have harmonious meridian energy flow you will have a healthy body and a healthy mind. The term Meridian comes from the Traditional Chinese Medical model and describes a network of energetic pathways which pass through tissues and organs of the body. When the meridians are in balance i.e. have energy running through them, the organs, their functions and overall health of the body is maintained. Due to the fact that a meridian is an electrical circuit (of such), it has been found that at the site of all acupuncture points an electrical current may be measured. Healthy tissue has been found to display a particular electrical conductivity, whereas stressed or weakened tissue has either a higher or lower conductivity. By testing the conductivity at various acupuncture points your practitioner can ascertain the functional status of your body and organs.

Using the information gathered from this assessment your practitioner will prescribe herbal, homoeopathic and nutritional medicines to bring your body back into a state of balance and restore functional health.

In today’s world everyday stress, environmental pollutants and illnesses are wearing our bodies down. Meridian Stress Assessment and Bio Resonance Analysis are procedures that combine Eastern medicine and Western technology to assess our body’s functional health.

When you are out of balance your energy becomes blocked and stagnant and your life force doesn’t flow into your organs or cells properly, then dis-ease begins to manifest. Unlocking the secret of your energetic blue print, unlocks the pathways towards real health and sustained wellness. The purpose of the Meridian Stress Assessment is to reveal how your body is functioning at the present time. Once this is known then a more accurate health restoration program can be prescribed. The Meridian Stress Assessment shows where in your body and which organ systems are compromised and not functioning to their fullest capacity. Using the technology of bio-feed back where the equipment talks to your body, it is ensured that the right medicines will be prescribed for your exact need. Regular retests show your progress and enable you to see how your internal environment is changing and improving bringing with it renewed vitality and improved health.

Biological Terrain & Functional Analysis

Think of your Biological Terrain and Foundational Axis as your inner environment, like the soil in your garden bed. The healthier and fertile the soil is, the more your garden will flourish and the more beautiful and productive your garden will be. If it the soil is full of weeds, is dry and in poor condition, it will never grow beautiful healthy flowers and fruit.

If your Biological Terrain and Foundational Axis shows high toxic load, inflammation and degeneration, you can be assured that your health will be suffering. As many chronic symptoms are due to toxic accumulation within the cells, reduction of your toxic load is paramount to achieving health and longevity. The key indicators gained from this testing procedure are the Toxic Load currently held within your body and the source of this toxicity, the ability of your gut to absorb nutrients with the help of enzymes, the level of inflammation in your gut which is an indicator of Leaky Gut Syndrome, the efficiency of phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification and the level of systemic inflammation and degeneration.

This information is so valuable in that it provides information that forms the foundation of your road map towards optimal health and longevity. Assessing, detecting and monitoring toxic load, detoxification effectiveness and the inflammatory processes within your body sets up a pathway towards achieving Optimal Health.

Identifying which filters need to be detoxified and strengthened, facilitates the formulation of the most appropriate detoxification program for you. Detoxification is always an essential starting point for any long term treatment protocol. By using this road map you can find out how well you are put together (and how much abuse your body can handle), where your body will tend to get sick, (including which organ systems are at greater risk), what specific underlying reasons contribute to your symptoms (which may vary from person to person with the same symptoms), and what emotional or behavioral factors may be influencing these patterns.

In short, it can show you where you came from, where you are headed, what kind of body you have for a vehicle, and what type of driver you are. With this knowledge, you can more effectively approach health challenges and also identify which preventive medicine practices would be most important for you to pursue.

Cellular Health Analysis

A Western medical test originally developed for NASA space astronauts to monitor various parameters of cellular health and to monitor patients following surgery. Using a BIA (Bio Impedance Analysis) unit your cellular health is assessed. This simple, accurate and valuable tool measures cellular toxicity, hydration levels, inflammation, body fat percentage and muscle mass. You’ll really know what you’re made of!

Stress Hormone Profile

The Adrenocortex hormone profile is a non-invasive saliva test that serves as a reliable marker of stress response and a critical tool for revealing adrenal imbalances. Lifestyle, physical and psychological stresses put constant demands on the adrenal glands. If they become depleted adrenal fatigue or insufficiency may be experienced.

We look at levels of DHEA and Cortisol throughout the day.

Neurotransmitter Profile

This it the perfect test if you are suffering any mental health issues. By analysing the levels of neurotransmitters present in your body, your naturopath can support you nutritionally and herbally to restore proper levels and begin returning you to mental health. The combination of a neurotransmitter and adrenal hormone profile provides measurements of 6 primary urinary neurotransmitters: Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine as well as a companion related assessment being the salivary adrenal hormone profile which measures 4x cortisol readings throughout the day.

These neurotransmitters are the most researched in relation to their effects on mood disorders, hormones, sleep, glucose/insulin balance, pain perception, appetite and cognitive function.

Samples of both urine and saliva are analysed for the following metabolites.

Urine: Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine

Saliva: DHEAs 6-8am, Cortisol 6-8am, Cortisol 12noon, Cortisol 4pm, Cortisol 8pm

Female, Male and Thyroid Hormone profiles

Using either urine or saliva samples we can analyse the level of various hormones in your body. If hormone levels are out of balance, they may be part of the problem contributing to poor health and unwanted symptoms. Careful analysis of these results can give your naturopath the missing link of information needed to tailor your treatment appropriately to your needs.

Female Hormone Profile

Hormones are crucial to a woman’s reproductive health. The main hormones affecting the menstrual cycle and fertility are produced by glands in the brain and by the ovaries. Those hormones regulate menstruation, fertility and sex drive (libido) – any one of which can be adversely affected if the production of these hormones goes out of balance. As most women approach mid-life, hormonal changes gradually cause reproductive organs to shut down eventually leading to menopause.

Hormones tested; Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3),  Progesterone, Testosterone, Cortisol, DHEA, T4, T3, T4:T3 ratios, creatinine.

Male Hormone Profile

The ageing male experiences a decrease in testosterone at a rate of 10% per decade from the age of 30. This reduction of testosterone and other androgens experienced as a consequence of the ageing process has been named andropause or androgen deficiency of the ageing male (ADAM).

Hormones tested;Testosterone, DHEA, Cortisol, T4, T3, T4/T3 ratios, E1, E2, creatinine.

Thyroid Hormone Profile

Thyroid abnormalities are one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting millions worldwide. Thyroid hormones are well known for their role in basal metabolic rate, development and growth. Hypothyroidism affects approximately 4-5% of the population whilst estimates for hyperthyroidism are 0.4-2%.

Analytes tested; T4, T3, T4/T3 ratios, creatinine.

RBTI Urine and Saliva Test

Developed by Dr. Carey Reams in the USA in the 1940’s, The Reams Biological Theory of Ionisation or otherwise known as RBTI Analysis is a complex urine and saliva test which reveals the inner workings of your whole system. The information gained by the RBTI can be used to treat children or adults who suffer from any and every manner of health problem or imbalance including those who are anxious, autistic, have arthritis, are depressed, fatigued, infertile, obese or sick in any other way. A test of internal biochemistry the RBTI enables your practitioner to track your biochemical responses and prescribe for you the best possible remedies to improve your health and wellbeing.

The RBTI analysis measures the following elements of your biochemical health:

Acid/alkaline levels of your urine and saliva which indicate the effectiveness and strength of your digestion as well as the ability of your body to remove poisons and wastes.

Carbohydrate metabolism and how it affects your available oxygen and energy levels, mentally, emotionally and physically.

Toxicity and hydration levels. It also indicates how much stress there is on your liver, pancreas and kidneys.

This information enables your naturopath to identify what is causing the greatest impact on your health and can begin the process of lessening the toxic burden and restoring proper function and health.

Candida Test

Candida is a nasty yeast and if the overgrowth is high, serious health issues can prevail. Because Candida will compete for your nutrients from your food leaving you feeling tired and exhausted. It can also cause you to crave sugar, all too often ending up with weight problems. A simple in house blood test using capillary blood, we will find out within 5 minutes whether Candida is a problem for you.

Oxidative Stress

Your urine reveals your levels of oxidative stress and level of antioxidants in your body. This is an important marker because if you haven’t got enough antioxidants then your body cannot defend itself properly or adequately repair itself.

Vitamin C Test

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient. Therefore, a simple urine test will indicate to us whether your Vitamin C levels are adequate or not. Unlike most mammals, humans do not have the ability to make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet. Vitamin C is required for the making of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone. Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are critical to brain function and are known to affect mood. In addition, vitamin C is required for the production of carnitine, a small molecule that is essential for the transport of fat to cellular organelles called mitochondria, for conversion to energy. Recent research also suggests that vitamin C is involved in the metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids. If the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids does not occur because of low vitamin C then cholesterol may get high as a result, and it may also cause gallstones. Vitamin C is also a highly effective Antioxidant. Even in small amounts vitamin C can protect indispensable molecules in the body, such as proteins, lipids (fats), carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species that can be generated during normal energy production as well as through exposure to toxins and pollutants (e.g. smoking and pollution). Vitamin C may also be able to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin E. Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include bleeding and bruising easily, hair and tooth loss, joint pain and swelling. Such symptoms appear to be related to the weakening of blood vessels, connective tissue, and bone, which contain collagen. Early symptoms of vitamin C deficiency such as fatigue may result from diminished levels of carnitine, needed to drive energy from fat, or decreased synthesis of the neurotransmitter . . . norepinephrine. You need to know your levels of Vitamin C and this vitamin is essential for energy production, and when deficient may cause blood vessel problems like spider veins and varicose veins or tiredness or fatigue. It may also cause joint pain, high cholesterol levels and may even cause mood swings.

Helicobacter pylori Test

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that can infect your stomach causing major health issues. In fact, it wasn’t too many years ago that mainstream physicians scoffed at the idea that Helicobacter pylori, a helical bacterium found in the human digestive tract, is a principal cause of several gastrointestinal ailments, including ulcers. There is now abundant scientific evidence indicating that H. pylori is indeed a central player in the possible causes of ulcers, and new research is showing that it may also be linked to high cholesterol levels and heart disease. The presence of this bacterium can be easily detected with a simple capillary blood test.

How Helicobacter pylori can cause problems

Until the 1990s, most Medical doctors believed that ulcers (whether of the stomach or duodenum) were caused by stress, bad diet, smoking, or a variety of other causes. However, research that began in the early 1980s on the definitive cause of ulcers showed that C which is now thought to infect about 3 billion people (half the world’s population)—is the actual culprit in the ulcer formation. In the stomach, H. pylori generates an enzyme, urease, that releases ammonia. The ammonia shields the bacteria from attack by the stomach’s digestive juices (mainly hydrochloric acid), enabling them to burrow through the layer of protective pink mucus that lines the stomach wall. They then embed themselves in the sensitive underlying tissue, where they can cause the painful irritation called gastritis. Given enough time, they can damage this sensitive tissue and the result is an ulcer (which may or may not be painful and which may or may not bleed).

Over the centuries, doctors have tried (largely unsuccessfully) many treatments for ulcers, including the avoidance of spicy foods, milkshakes and antacids containing Aluminium which is deadly and damaging to brain tissue.. We now know, however, that the most effective way to treat ulcers is to eradicate H. pylori from the digestive tract—including the mouth, where the bacteria can also thrive. The conventional medical treatment for H. pylori is called “triple therapy”—the use of three prescription drugs (generally two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor like Losec) for 2 to 3 weeks. However it can cause multiple side effects (including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea). Furthermore, it kills beneficial digestive-tract bacteria (the good guys), and it can contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. This Bacteria has recently been linked to Stomach Cancer, so if you suffer from ulcers, nausea, bloating, heart burn, or reflux. . . to find out if this bacteria is the cause would be of utmost importance, and our centre can help as it only takes a small prick of blood to know.

Celiac Test

Using a sample of blood from your finger, within minutes we can easily tell you whether you have Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods, but is also found in products we use every day, such as stamp and envelope adhesive, medicines, and certain vitamins. When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. The tiny, finger like projections in the small intestine called villi, are damaged or destroyed. These finger like projections normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, regardless of the quantity of food eaten. Because the body’s own immune system causes the damage, celiac disease is considered an autoimmune disorder. However, it is also classified as a disease of malabsorption because nutrients are not absorbed. Celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Sometimes the disease is triggered or becomes active for the first time after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, bacterial or viral infection, or severe emotional stress.

What are the symptoms of celiac disease?

Celiac disease affects people differently. Symptoms may occur in the digestive system, or in other parts of the body. For example, one person might have diarrhoea and abdominal pain, while another person may be irritable or depressed. In fact, irritability is one of the most common symptoms in children.

Symptoms of celiac disease may include one or more of the following:

• gas
• recurring abdominal bloating and pain
• chronic diarrhoea
• pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
• weight loss / weight gain
• fatigue
• unexplained anaemia (a low count of red blood cells causing fatigue)
• bone or joint pain
• osteoporosis, osteopenia
• behavioural changes
• tingling numbness in the legs (from nerve damage)
• muscle cramps
• seizures
• missed menstrual periods (often because of excessive weight loss)
• infertility, recurrent miscarriage
• delayed growth
• failure to thrive in infants
• pale sores inside the mouth, called aphthous ulcers
• tooth discoloration or loss of enamel
• itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis

Unfortunately a person with celiac disease may have no symptoms. People without symptoms are still at risk for the complications of celiac disease, including malnutrition. The longer a person goes undiagnosed and untreated, the greater the chance of developing malnutrition and other complications. Anaemia, delayed growth, and weight loss are signs of malnutrition: The body is just not getting enough nutrients. Malnutrition is a serious problem for children because they need adequate nutrition to develop properly. Once again we have an easy way of finding out if you have this disease, by way of a simple test.

Heavy Metal Urine Test

A simple urine test shows us whether your body is burdened with heavy metals.

You can book an appointment online to get your testing done now.