Identifying Root Cause With the Help of Functional Labs
Advanced functional lab testing plays a significant role in root cause medicine because it allows us to identify internal stressors that are not visible on standard panels. These may include nutrient imbalances, toxic burden, hidden infections, inflammatory patterns, and disruptions in metabolic function.
Rather than guessing, we assess.
Depending on what you are experiencing, I may recommend expanding beyond foundational testing to include the Organic Acids Test (OAT) or additional comprehensive gut analysis. These tools help clarify deeper biochemical and microbial patterns so that any strategy we build is precise and individualized.
If you are not currently enrolled in 1:1 coaching but would like to order the Organic Acids Test or advanced gut testing, you may contact me directly at carly@holisticallycarly.com to discuss next steps.
I also offer several gut testing options as well as Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. You can review available testing under the “Services” tab to determine which option aligns with your needs.
The goal of testing is not to collect data for the sake of data. It is to create clarity — so that every recommendation is informed, intentional, and built around your unique physiology.
When Testing Is Appropriate
Functional lab testing is a powerful tool — but it is not always the first step.
Testing is most appropriate when symptoms are persistent, complex, or unresolved despite foundational changes. If you have ongoing digestive distress, chronic acne, unexplained fatigue, hormonal irregularities, inflammatory patterns, or you’ve tried multiple approaches without clarity, advanced testing can provide direction.
However, testing does not replace foundation. If sleep, nourishment, stress regulation, and daily habits are inconsistent, lab results alone will not create change. In some cases, strengthening the basics first leads to more meaningful and accurate data later.
My role is to help you determine whether testing is necessary now, or whether your next best step is foundational support.
Precision matters. Timing matters. Context matters.
My mission is to positively influence as many people’s health as possible. Over time, I realized two important truths. Not everyone needs high-touch 1:1 coaching. And not everyone is in a season where that level of investment makes sense. Some women thrive with structure, education, and a clear roadmap they can implement independently. For that reason, I’ve created several Signature DIY programs. They are designed to provide expert guidance, clear frameworks, and strategic protocols — without requiring ongoing private coaching. Because improving your health is not about how much money you spend. It is about how committed you are to aligned action.
That said, independence requires responsibility. While my DIY protocols are available to everyone, they are not appropriate for everyone. Sustainable healing requires consistency, adaptability, and the willingness to course-correct when necessary. Without accountability and personalized oversight, some individuals struggle with implementation, adherence, or knowing when to pivot.
This does not mean the protocol failed. It means that healing often requires nuance. Adjustments. Revisions. Sometimes frequent ones. My expertise as a coach lies not only in building protocols, but in navigating obstacles — emotional resistance, confusion, plateaus, and unexpected responses. When that layer of guidance is absent, progress can stall.
If you find yourself feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward within a DIY program, it may be a sign that you need more personalized direction. You are always welcome to book a Strategy Session at any time while working through a DIY protocol. You may also choose to transition into my Signature Immersive 1:1 Program within a designated timeframe and receive credit toward your enrollment, depending on the program selected. Additionally, you may enroll into my Signature Immersive Program (1:1 coaching) within a certain period of enrolling into the DIY protocol and receive a reimbursement for your current enrollment (Root Cause Consult, 30 days | HTMA, bronze 30 days | HTMA, silver, 60 days | HTMA, gold, 90 days | DIY Signature, 60 days | GI MAP, 60 days).
Healing is rarely linear. It often requires refinement. My goal is not simply to sell you a protocol. It is to ensure you are supported at the level your body and nervous system actually require. Choose the container that matches your readiness, capacity, and commitment.Mycotoxins
If you suspect mold may be impacting your health, it’s worth taking seriously.
Water-damaged buildings are far more common than most people realize, and mold exposure can contribute to persistent symptoms that often appear unrelated at first — digestive distress, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, hormone disruption, immune dysfunction, and inflammatory patterns.
In my clinical experience, mold and mycotoxin burden are frequently overlooked contributors to chronic gut issues. If underlying mold toxicity is present, progress can stall no matter how many supplements or dietary changes are implemented.
This is why I do not ignore it.
When clinically appropriate, I recommend mycotoxin testing through a urine panel from Mosaic Diagnostics or Real Time Labs. This test identifies specific mycotoxins produced by different mold species. The distinction matters, because various mycotoxins require different detoxification strategies and binders. Precision prevents unnecessary supplementation and shortens the path forward.
Once your results are available, I will email you.
When clinically appropriate, I recommend mycotoxin testing through a urine panel from Mosaic Diagnostics or Real Time Labs. This test identifies specific mycotoxins produced by different mold species. The distinction matters, because various mycotoxins require different detoxification strategies and binders. Precision prevents unnecessary supplementation and shortens the path forward.
Once your results are available, I will email you results.
Testing, however, is only one part of the equation.
If active mold exposure is ongoing, no protocol will fully compensate for continued environmental stress. Removing yourself from the environment or properly remediating the space is essential.
If remediation is needed, I often recommend Pure Maintenance, a nationwide company that specializes in mold remediation. They were thorough, transparent, and cost-conscious during my own experience — an important distinction in an industry where pricing can vary widely.
If you would like to read more about my personal mold journey and the symptoms I experienced, you can access my free download.
Mold is not the cause of every symptom. But when present, it is a significant piece that must be addressed.
Clarity first. Strategy second.
qPCR Stool Testing
The GI MAP & US Biotek GI Advanced Profile is a comprehensive qPCR-based stool analysis that offers a detailed look at your microbiome — the ecosystem of bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms living within your gastrointestinal tract. It also evaluates digestive function, inflammation markers, and indicators of immune activity within the gut.
Symptoms like bloating, acne, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities, fatigue, hormone imbalance, and autoimmune tendencies rarely exist in isolation. They are often downstream effects of microbial imbalance, chronic infections, poor digestive capacity, or inflammatory patterns within the gut.
This test allows us to see what is actually happening beneath the surface. Rather than guessing, we assess. Rather than suppressing symptoms, we identify patterns.
I am currently offering this service to both active and non-active clients. If you are not currently working with me, you may choose either a 60-minute or 90-minute consultation to review your results.
If you feel unfamiliar with digestive health, microbiome science, or therapeutic dietary strategies, I strongly recommend the 90-minute consultation. This allows us the time necessary to not only interpret your results but to ensure you truly understand what they mean and how they connect to your symptoms.
If you already have a solid understanding of gut physiology and foundational nutrition principles, the 60-minute option is often sufficient.
For returning clients who only need targeted reassessment, you may also choose to order the H. pylori assay independently rather than completing the full GI Advanced Profile.
This testing is not about collecting data for the sake of data. It is about precision. It is about clarity. It is about building a plan that reflects your unique biology instead of a generic protocol.
When we understand the terrain, healing becomes strategic rather than reactive.
HTMA
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is one of the most foundational tools I use in practice.
This non-invasive test evaluates your mineral levels and, more importantly, the relationships between those minerals. It is the balance — not just the individual numbers — that reveals how your body is functioning.
Minerals influence everything: nervous system regulation, thyroid communication, adrenal resilience, stomach acid production, detoxification capacity, metabolic rate, and glandular patterns. When minerals fall out of balance, symptoms begin to emerge — often long before conventional lab work reflects dysfunction.
HTMA allows us to identify these patterns early.
It can provide insight into metabolic trends, stress adaptation, heavy metal retention patterns, digestive capacity, and overall resilience. For many women, it is the clearest place to begin when symptoms feel widespread or difficult to categorize.
Because mineral balance is so foundational, I include both an initial test and a retest inside my Signature Immersive Program. Retesting allows us to measure progress, adjust strategy, and ensure the body is responding appropriately. Healing is dynamic. Testing should reflect that.
Note: HTMA is not permitted to me mailed to addresses in the following countries / states: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Guinea, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, New York, New Jersey (USA)If you live in the United States, you are eligible for testing with HTMA unless your only address is in the following states: New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island. If you have any questions or issues at check out, don’t hesitate to reach me by email at carly@holisticallycarly.com
If you are not currently a private client, you may still order HTMA independently and choose from one of the available support options. Follow-up testing is strongly recommended, as mineral patterns shift over time and require thoughtful adjustment.
Please complete the intake form prior to scheduling your consultation so I can interpret your results within the full context of your health history.
HTMA is not about chasing numbers. It is about restoring balance at the most fundamental level.
When minerals are supported, the body often begins to stabilize in ways that feel both subtle and profound.
If you'd like, I can also create a short comparison paragraph on your site explaining how HTMA differs from blood testing so buyers clearly understand why it’s valuable.
You will send in a sample of hair to be tested & fill out this form, within 3-4 weeks we will receive results about your health including blood sugar, stress, metabolism and toxicity. I will provide interpretation & suggested integrations for improving your health. DUTCH Plus
If you're looking to get a comprehensive and accurate understanding of your hormones, the DUTCH Plus test is an exceptional option. Unlike traditional blood tests, which provide a snapshot of hormone levels at a single point in time, the DUTCH Plus test offers a deeper analysis using dried urine and saliva to provide a full picture of hormone production and metabolism.
I highly suggest booking a call with me before purchasing because this is generally one of the last tests that I recommend to my clients. Rarely are hormones the first to become imbalanced— those imbalances are often preceded by imbalances in the gut, blood sugar and circadian health. Because hormones are simply messengers, they will do what they are told, determined by stress, nutrients, the gut microbiome, inflammation, sleep, circadian health and more. I recommend working on those things before getting caught up in what hormones are imbalanced. Hormones will typically show improvement once the things listed above are addressed.
DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) Plus is a cutting-edge hormone test that measures hormone metabolites in dried urine and cortisol levels through saliva. This test provides a more complete look at hormonal balance and function, offering insights that other testing methods simply can't match.
What Markers Are Tested?
The DUTCH Plus test analyzes a wide array of hormone markers, including:
Estrogen Metabolites: Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3)
Progesterone Metabolites: Pregnanediol
Androgens (Male and Female Hormones): Testosterone, DHEA, DHEA-S, Androsterone, Etiocholanolone
Cortisol and Cortisone Metabolites: Daily free cortisol, metabolized cortisol
Melatonin: A key hormone involved in sleep regulation
Organic Acids: Indicators of B-vitamin status, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter metabolites
Why the DUTCH Plus Test Stands Out
The DUTCH Plus test provides key advantages over blood and saliva tests alone, particularly in assessing hormone metabolism:
Hormone Metabolite Insights:
Where the DUTCH Plus test truly shines is in its ability to measure hormone metabolites, which are crucial for understanding how your body is processing hormones. Blood tests cannot measure these metabolites, leaving potential imbalances undetected.
Ease of Collection:
The test is done in the comfort of your home using simple dried urine and saliva samples, eliminating the need for inconvenient lab visits or painful blood draws.
Accuracy and Comprehensive Data:
Dried urine provides a more accurate reflection of hormone levels over the course of the day, rather than a single moment in time. This approach captures fluctuations and offers a better overall picture.
Cortisol Testing with Saliva:
The DUTCH Plus test incorporates saliva testing for cortisol, which is the most accurate way to measure the cortisol awakening response (CAR). Measuring CAR is critical for understanding how your body handles stress first thing in the morning when cortisol spikes. This sets DUTCH Plus apart from the "Complete" version, which only uses dried urine for cortisol measurement (a less precise method).
Choosing the Right DUTCH Test
I typically recommend the DUTCH Plus test due to its comprehensive nature, especially for those struggling with stress-related hormonal imbalances. However, there are a few considerations:
If you are confident that cortisol (your stress hormone) is not a factor in your hormonal imbalances, there may be a less expensive option available. Feel free to email me to discuss alternative testing that may better suit your needs.
If fertility concerns such as infertility or miscarriage are part of your health journey, the DUTCH Cycle Mapping option provides a more comprehensive look at your entire cycle. This test tracks hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, providing invaluable insight. Email me for more details and pricing.
If you're ready to gain deep insights into your hormonal health and get a personalized plan to optimize your well-being, the DUTCH Plus test is an excellent choice.