Reading Diagnostic Laboratory Blood Tests For Female Hormonal Health

An advanced level course that highlights accuracy and precision of the most common blood tests that are routinely completed at a GP’s office. Gain proficiency and confidence to review and analyze laboratory tests, allowing you to design effective treatments for your patients.

General Interest

2 CEUs/PDAs

Length: 2 hours

Instructor: Bev Maya | Medical Herbalist, Honours B.SC. Chemistry

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Need to know

Who is this course for?

Western Herbalists, Naturopaths, Advanced General Interest & Practitioners

Course length (start & watch when you want)

2 hours of video content

Course credits

2 CEUs / PDAs AcNZ, AHA, BCNA (Category C), CAIN, California (Category 1), CHA, CONO (Section B), CTCMPAO, NCCAOM, OHA

Extras

Lifetime access · Certificate of completion

Meet your course instructor

Bev Maya | Medical Herbalist, Honours B.SC. Chemistry

Bev is a practicing Medical Herbalist who also speaks internationally and locally at conferences and colleges. She worked in the fields of medical research, sales and marketing for 15 years after graduation with an Honours B.Sc. in Chemistry. Bev then completed studies in medical sciences and clinical training in the UK to become a Medical Herbalist. As a tenacious inquisitive, Bev focuses on demystifying menopause for those who do not respond to traditional approaches. At her solo clinic in North Vancouver, BC, Bev’s unique blend of education and experience has provided her with a rare ability to blend the intricacies of nervous, endocrine and digestive system physiology with emotional and spiritual root causes to create a comprehensive treatment plan for those with significant hormonal challenges. Bev previously worked for 15 years with a group of Physicians at the West Coast Women’s Clinic for Hormonal Health and continues to interface with physician in Vancouver, BC that share her interest in the treatment of whole body hormonal health. Bev is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and a professional member or American Herbalists Guild. Bev is one of 20 professionally trained Medical Herbalists in Canada.

Course description

Have you ever wondered how accurate those blood tests your medical doctor uses to determine your health status are? Do you have an interest in learning what those values mean regarding your own health? This course is designed to highlight the accuracy and precision of the most common blood tests that are routinely completed at your GP’s office. Bev Maya, a trained medical herbalist, will review a basic hematological panel, provide “optimum” value for each blood parameter, and empower you by teaching you to understand these values so you can track your own health status. She will also inform you of the appropriate tests to ask for while in your GP’s office that will help you and your physician to fully understand these values.

This course has two more parts to help to further your knowledge about the hormonal system and powerful herbal medicinals to restore hormonal balance: An Integrated Approach To Female Hormonal Health, and An Integrative Female Approach: Treatment Protocols For Common Hormonal Case Studies.

You will learn about:

Available medical laboratory blood test including variability and precision of these results
Basic blood tests and what they mean for overall health
How to interpret a basic hematology panel in relation to overall body function
Clinical applications of the hematology panel and how it can be used to assess specific health concerns
Critically assessing blood parameters for conditions related to adrenal health, insulin/glucose balance, thyroid function, reproductive hormones, testosterone, binding hormones (including sex hormone binding globulin), and stimulating hormones of brain origin (FSH, LH & Prolactin)
How to interpret blood results related to fertility

Female hormonal health can be treated through Western Herbal medicine, which can use common blood tests to uncover effective treatments.

Lesson plan

Introduction
Welcome to your course! Meet Bev and she’ll give you a brief overview of what you’re about to learn!
Levels Of Diagnostic Models
Bev begins by outlining three levels of laboratory results that are available from MDs and Natural Medicine Practitioners. She speaks about the general costs associated with these testing methods, and the level of information that is gleaned from each type of testing.
Accuracy & Precision of Medical Lab results – Variability, and Interpretation of Values
The concept of “maximum allowable error” and the measurement of “precision” is introduced in this section. The difference of allopathic and natural medicine interpretation of these results is discussed.
Blood Tests
Bev interprets the types of tests given by GPs and why they use them, including the basic functions of the hematology panel.
Blood Analysis
Bev speaks about things to consider when going over blood cell function.
Hematology Panel Clinical Applications
Learn some clinical applications with real case studies in this section.
Blood Tests From a GP
Here Bev will go over the types of blood parameters that are tested by your GP, what they mean, and how to interpret them so you can track your own health progress. How empowering!
Live Blood
Have you ever heard of a “live” blood sample? It can tell you a lot about your overall health. Bev teaches you how in this section.
Advantages and Limitations of Blood Testing
Here, Bev goes in depth to the limitations of blood testing, as well as the advantages, using the analogy of a highway.
Adrenal Function and Blood
In this section, Bev discusses what optimum levels of AM and PM cortisol look like. She then compares these results to the accuracy of salivary cortisol testing.
Insulin and Glucose Balance in the Blood
There are optimum values for traditional parameters such as fasting glucose and insulin, random insulin, insulin tolerance testing, and triglycerides. Bev discusses these in this unit, as well as the value of the emerging testing of Hemoglobin A1C and its meaning. Ideal values for optimum metabolic balance, as well as important signs and symptoms of insulin resistance are discussed.
Thyroid Function
This is where we get chemical. In this section, Bev discusses the chemical structure of cortisol and thyroid hormones. She then shows a schematic of how metabolism is controlled in the body, and the synthetic pathways of thyroid hormones synthesis. Optimum blood values for TSH, Free T3, Free T4 for healthy metabolism is discussed along with the broader health implication of the presence of thyroid antibodies in relationship to auto-immunity. Finally, Bev explores the presence of a group of chemicals known as “halogens” and their impact on thyroid health.
Reproductive Hormones
This section begins with a review of estrogens and progesterone and their function in the body. You’ll then take a closer look at optimum levels at various phases of a woman’s reproductive cycle of Estradiol, Progesterone and 17-OH Progesterone. Synthetic pathways of hormones are presented to highlight the importance of inflammatory liver enzymes and the role of digestive and detoxification balance.
Testosterone
Bev discusses the function, metabolic pathways and pathological states of hyperandrogegism in this section.
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
This is where you’ll cover the main function of SHBG, its optimum value in the blood, and the relative affinity of key reproductive hormones to SHBG. The effect of thyroid hormone on SHBG is also highlighted.
Stimulating Hormones – FSH and LH
You may be familiar with FSH and LH. In this section, the function and effect of these two stimulating hormones produced by the pituitary gland are discussed. Also, Bev reviews the process of menopause and its effect on the blood values of FSH and LH.
Prolactin
In this section, discover the function of prolactin, along with the implications of hyperprolactinemia on fertility, immune and kidney function. Bev speaks about what optimum levels of prolactin look like, as well as the interaction of prolactin, estradiol, and dopamine.
Fertility
In this section, Bev introduces what is known as the “Ovarian Assessment Report” for prospective mothers. This report includes estradiol, FSH, LH, inhibit B and the specialized testing of antimullerian hormone as a measure of ovarian “age” and predictor of successive outcome. Bev provides optimal blood values of each of these hormones.
Considerations for Converting Units
Here, you’ll learn about the importance of consistent units of measurement for laboratory tests. This is a very important consideration if the tests have been completed in different countries; including USA, Europe and Asia.
Summary
Once you’ve completed this course, you will have the proficiency and confidence to review laboratory tests with patients or interpret your own health. You’ll now know what each laboratory test means, what the optimum value is, and the significance the testing parameter has on your overall health outcomes.