Why I Use Lab Tests
(And Why I Didn’t Always)
by Kari Barron
For a long time, I didn’t believe lab tests were very helpful.
Not because I didn’t want answers — but because every test I had done came back normal.
Yet I was exhausted. Emotionally off. Physically drained. And no one could tell me why.
If you’ve ever been told “Everything looks fine” while knowing deep down that something isn’t right, you understand that quiet frustration. You start to wonder if it’s all in your head. You keep pushing through. And eventually, you stop asking questions.
I used to think lab tests were useless — not because labs don’t matter, but because the wrong questions were being asked.
The Real Problem With Most Testing
Most conventional testing is designed to answer one question, "Is there a diagnosable disease?"
That’s an important question — but it’s not the only one that matters.
As a natural health practitioner, my focus shifted when I learned to ask a different question, "Why is the body struggling to function well?"
There’s a big difference between confirming disease and understanding
causation.
Most people don’t wake up one day suddenly “broken.” Their bodies adapt, compensate, and survive — until they can’t keep up anymore.
Lab tests, when used correctly, don’t label the body. They tell a story about what the body has been dealing with.
What a CBC Can Tell Us When We Look Deeper
A CBC (Complete Blood Count) is often dismissed as “basic.”
But when viewed through a functional lens, it can reveal foundational patterns.
A CBC can reflect things like:
- Hydration status
- Oxygen delivery and cellular stress
- Toxic burden patterns
- Liver workload and strain
Most people are told their CBC is “normal” and that’s the end of the conversation. But patterns matter more than single numbers.
“In range” does not always mean “optimal,” especially for someone who is exhausted, foggy, or emotionally overwhelmed. The body often whispers before it ever screams.
Thyroid Testing: It’s Rarely Just the Thyroid
I can’t tell you how many people have had their thyroid “checked” with only one marker.
A full thyroid panel gives us a much clearer picture:
- Is the pituitary sending proper signals?
- Is the thyroid responding appropriately?
- Is the liver converting hormones efficiently?
When conversion pathways are stressed, symptoms persist — even when labs look fine on paper.
With more complete testing, we can also see when hormones like estrogen or testosterone are overwhelming the system and interfering with thyroid function. This isn’t about labeling someone — it’s about understanding where the system is under strain.
Why I Start With the Root Cause Landscape Test
Rather than guessing or chasing symptoms, I start with the Root Cause Landscape test.
I think of it as an overview of the body’s internal terrain — a way to see where energy is being drained and where the body is compensating.
This test helps us understand major categories such as:
- Toxin load
- Cellular energy production
- Inflammation patterns
- Nutrient utilization
- Hidden stressors the body has been managing
It gives direction. It reduces overwhelm. And it prevents the random supplement cycle so many people get stuck in.
When We Go Deeper: Getting More Specific
Advanced lab testing is not automatic in my practice.
We only go deeper when the big picture tells us it’s necessary.
Once we see where the stress points are, we can get more specific — more granular — about the details:
- Identifying particular toxins
- Exploring infections, mold, or metabolic blocks
- Clarifying hormone or digestive challenges
This approach saves time, money, and emotional energy. We dig where it makes sense, not everywhere at once.
Why I Don’t Diagnose — And Why That Matters
As a natural health practitioner, I don’t diagnose or prescribe. That is outside my legal scope — but even more importantly, it’s not how I believe healing works.
I don’t want to limit someone’s mindset with a label. When someone says, “I have diabetes,” that diagnosis can quietly become an identity — something they feel they own.
But the label we are meant to own is this:
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
God designed our bodies to heal.
Not perfectly. Not instantly. But intentionally.
When we attach ourselves to disease labels, we often stop believing restoration is possible. My goal is never to name what’s “wrong” with someone — it’s to help them understand what their body needs so it can do what it was designed to do.
Why This Matters for Exhausted Women
So many women I work with are doing everything “right” and still feel:
- Constantly tired
- Emotionally fragile
- Foggy and disconnected
- Unsure what to work on first
Lab tests, when used properly, bring clarity and confidence. They help us stop guessing and start supporting the body wisely.
Your body isn’t broken.
It’s responding to something.
From Confusion to Clarity
I went from feeling dismissed and confused to understanding how to listen to my body — and now I help others do the same.
Lab tests are not verdicts.
They are conversations.
They don’t define you — they guide you.
And when we remove the blocks and give the body what it needs, healing becomes possible — just as God designed it.
A Simple Next Step
If you’re tired of guessing and want clarity about what your body has been dealing with, the
Root Cause Landscape test is a simple place to begin. It offers a big-picture overview so you can understand what to focus on first — without labels, pressure, or overwhelm.
👉 If you’re ready to understand why you feel this way, this is the place to start.
Check out the Root Cause Landscape $99 blood panel HERE.
Your body is designed to heal—when we remove the blocks and give it what it needs.
I’m here to walk with you each step of the way.
Guided by faith. Grounded in wellness.
I’m praying for you.
DISCLAIMER: This information is for education purposes and not intended as medical advice.
