This webinar was delivered by Ciara Wright PhD for the Long Covid Advocacy Ireland (LCAI) group. LCAI is run by a very dedicated team of volunteers and is Ireland’s only formal advocacy group for patients. Their website is an excellent source of information and supports for patients.
Following on from the webinar on gut health, Ciara Wright and Lynne Dalton joined LCAI for a Q&A session on the topic of functional medicine testing.
Functional medicine testing offers a more personalised and in-depth view of a patient’s health by identifying underlying imbalances and root causes of symptoms, rather than focusing solely on disease diagnosis. These tests can provide detailed insights into areas such as gut health, nutrient status, hormone balance, immune function, and metabolic health. This approach enables practitioners to develop targeted interventions tailored to the individual. This often leads to more effective and sustainable outcomes—particularly in complex, chronic conditions like Long Covid.
Ciara discusses Functional Medicine testing options for Long Covid patients including which tests may be most appropriate to consider first. She highlights those that can be done at home, as well as those that may be requested through your GP. Ciara also outlines the importance of careful interpretation and explains why aiming for optimal—rather than just being within the bottom of the reference range—is key to recovery.
If you would like to know more about how we can help Long Covid patients address this multi-faceted illness, please just get in touch.