There are several objectives of the Laboratory Interpretation Reference Manual:
1. Provide insights into the functional state rather than just the pathological condition. However, it is useful to understand the endpoint pathology in the spectrum of health versus disease.
2. Explore the integrated physiology that explains blood values. Memorizing numbers or looking for an “H” or “L” next to a lab value may alert you to a significant deviation, but it is far more useful to know if and why the body is compensating.
3. Foster an approach that addresses fundamental issues using objective measurements as guideposts. Functional medicine is a not a set of facts to consider but is rather a process of understanding structure and physiology.
4. Stimulate inquiry and empower the reader to not only reduce symptoms and “treat” disease but build health through optimizing biochemistry. Optimal biochemistry leads to metabolic, hormonal, immunologic, endocrine, and autonomic balance and increased vital reserves. All of this leads to an increased and adaptive capacity. Whatever unplanned or inevitable events occur in life, the best outcome is possible for those with optimal structure and biochemistry.
