Hair Mineral Analysis. This is ideal for detecting levels of toxic metals and to help assess the levels of essential minerals in the body such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium.

Food Allergy Cytotoxic Test: This is a blood test that covers over 200 foods to detect a range of reactions associated with allergy or sensitivity. Helpful with people who have bowel problems, skin conditions, fatigue etc. See below for more on the benefits of Allergy testing*

Comprehensive Stool Test & Parasitology: An in depth test of the digestive tract and bowel, including bacteria, yeasts, friendly gut flora, parasites, digestive and absorption function, inflammation, immunity (SIgA), and blood in the stools. Any unhealthy bacteria, yeasts or parasites found are tested in the lab to find out to which natural treatments they are both resistant and sensitive.

Female Hormone Panel: This charts levels of eostrogen and progesterone throughout a typical cycle taking a sample every three days (up to 11 samples). This is helpful for women who are having fertility, menstrual or premenstrual problems.

Estronex: Compares levels of healthy and unhealthy oestrogens.

N.B. There are a great many other tests now available.

More on the benefits of Allergy testing

The following is a copy of an article I wrote for the newspaper on food allergy (published in the Mid Somerset Gazette 14/07/05):

One of the most common nutritional influences on mood and energy are food sensitivities. Although the idea of food sensitivity is considered controversial by some medical professionals there is increasing clinical experience that shows that when some people eliminate specific foods from their diets they do feel happier and healthier. I have been in practice as a nutritional therapist for twenty-one years and in that time I have found that more than half of my patients have had at least one or more food sensitivity.

Typical symptoms of food sensitivity include a drop in energy after eating, dark circles under the eyes, general tiredness, depression, mood swings, sleep problems, hyperactivity or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), behavioural problems, water retention (puffy face or ankles, daily weight fluctuations), catarrh or asthma, headaches or migraine, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome (constipation, mild diarrhoea, wind, bloating), food cravings for common allergens such as dairy products or wheat (bread), unexplained aches and pains.

If you suffer from any of the above symptoms it could be due to one or more food sensitivity. There are several different types of food sensitivity, only some create obvious symptoms very quickly after eating them. Many are hidden and create chronic symptoms that appear slowly over several days or weeks. If you eat them every day it is difficult to know which ones they are. The most common sensitivities found in the UK are to wheat (bread, pasta, cereals, cakes), dairy products (milk, cheese), yeast (bread, yeast extract, beer, wine), eggs, gluten (wheat, oats, rye, barley, spelt), artificial food additives and chocolate. There are many others frequently found when the common ones are not.

The easiest and most accurate way of detecting food sensitivities is to see a nutritional therapist who can test you for them. There are several different methods that can be used for testing, the most accurate is a blood test. There are also other methods such as kinesiology testing or food elimination diets. Kinesiology testing usually works out less expensive than the blood tests.

Apart from food sensitivity there are other possible influences on mood and energy. In nutritional therapy we also consider the potential influence of swings in blood sugar level, the right balance of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6), the effects of stress, the bodies ability to digest/absorb effectively as well as elimination of toxicity. When eliminating certain foods from your diet it is also important to make sure that you are not going to be deficient in any essential nutrients. It is advisable to seek professional advice before making diet changes in pregnancy, breast-feeding or if taking prescription medicines.