FAQs

What genetic tests and lab tests do you commonly use?

For genetic testing, I can use what the client currently has, but if we are starting from scratch I prefer two kits that I use together. Your Genomic Resource kit, for $315, and 23andme (retails for $119), their basic ancestry service. This gives me access to about 1,400 genes across 100,000 locations (400,000 SNP’s).

For lab tests, I commonly use : micronutrient panels, stool tests, organic acids, porphyrins testing, oxidative stress panels, toxin panels (mycotoxins, chemicals, heavy metals, forever chemicals), Oligoscan, hair mineral/metals tests, and amino acids panels. I also routinely do food sensitivity panels, neurotransmitter panels, hormone panels, neural antibody panels, immune and cytokine panels. Simpler ones like : methylation panels, lipid panels, iron/ferritin, homocysteine, CMP, CBC, are also used. These are all a mix of blood, urine, stool, and saliva.

What does the typical appointment length and frequency look like? 

Typically the first comprehensive appointment is 60-90 minutes, follow up appointments every 4 to 8 weeks that are usually 30-60 minutes based on the clients desire to get into the details.

How is your work different than other alternative care practitioners ? 

I use a combination of :

• A thorough intake process and symptomatology profile

• Genetics

• In depth lab work

I don’t view these elements separately – they are all integrated. I use quantitative data from various angles to understand the root causes of physiological dysfunction. For instance, if we imagine a physiological pathway with a dozen genes, and a lab marker somewhere in that pathway indicates dysfunction, we need to pinpoint where the issue is occurring and why. Almost every gene requires at least one cofactor (such as B6) to function properly. Without it, the gene will not function. There are about 20,000 genes for humans, and ~200 different cofactors. That means, when you become deficient in a single cofactor (e.g. B5), 100 different genes stop working. For the most common cofactors : NAD (B3), Magnesium, and B6 this gets much higher, 200-300 different genes stop working. Nutritional sufficiency is very important. Additionally, contaminants like heavy metals, mold, and chemicals can disrupt a genes function. Understanding which contaminants affect which genes is critical. There are also genetic mutations which effect a gene’s functioning, by inhibiting it or causing it to be upregulated. Understanding which locations on a gene effect the genes functioning is critical as well.

Most genes can also be stimulated (upregulated) or inhibited (downregulated) by specific herbs and nutrients. Knowing which herbs and nutrients impact which genes allows us to create precise solutions for specific problems. I integrate lab results with patient intake (history, exposure, symptoms, historically helpful interventions, etc.) along with genetic data to get a comprehensive view of what’s happening physiologically. I triangulate this information from multiple perspectives.

Some pathway maps I use involve over 100 genes, including cofactors, genetic mutations, and contaminants. It’s a complex process, just like our physiology. Currently, I work with around 40 different pathway maps, ranging from simple (a dozen genes) to highly complex (200+ genes). Many of these pathways are interconnected, and my work focuses on teasing out the root causes of dysfunction, understanding where it begins, and why it is occurring.

This approach sounds incredibly detailed and powerful—why don’t more practitioners adopt it?  

This work is incredibly time-consuming and highly detailed. It requires extensive knowledge of genes, herbs, nutrients, toxins, and how various systems in the body interact. There is no school, course, or workshop that teaches this in such a comprehensive way. For each client, I develop a unique plan—this approach isn’t scalable for generating large profits or treating many people the same way. Most practitioners seek easy solutions they can apply to many patients, aiming to scale their business or sell a one-size-fits-all protocol. Essentially, they are entrepreneurs who have chosen alternative healthcare as their platform. Working at this level of detail requires a unique combination of interest, aptitude, and a deep desire to solve the most challenging cases.

When you take on a new case and hit something you haven't seen before—what do you do? 

One of the beautiful things about our education system is the wealth of research it produces—thousands of PhDs are awarded each year, each requiring a specific thesis. This results in a vast library of published papers on countless topics, providing an incredible resource, though it takes effort to sift through it and find the right ones. When I encounter a new issue with a client, I may read 25-75 papers on PubMed to gain a solid understanding of the situation. Future clients, of course, benefit from this accumulated knowledge.

Curiosity, tenacity, dedication, hard work, and creativity are invaluable in this process, along with my practitioner network. I’m involved in multiple networks, each with 50+ practitioners specializing in various areas. Whenever I feel like I’ve learned a lot, I remind myself of how much new information I’ve absorbed in just the last two weeks, what i learned from somebody else, and how much I didn’t know before that.

How did you arrive at this way of working ?

I will share a quote from somebody who has known me for a while, and observed me personally, and professionally.

“I met Mike in 2010, at Level 3 Communications, where we both worked, he was in the Corporate Strategy group, and I was a Data Scientist, in the Marketing organization. I have seen Mike go from putting together patterns about industries, customers, buying patterns, to becoming a Neurofeedback practitioner, to developing a deep commitment to healing complicated chronic illnesses using genetics and advanced labs. I was with Mike, mountain biking, when he had his first Traumatic Brain Injury. I witnessed him dig himself out of a hole that hurts to remember. His story is about somebody finding their magic from healing himself, and offering that to the world. I have a graduate degree in Data Science, and I could not develop code to see the patterns Mike found at Level 3. He just understands the core drivers of issues that give him a fundamental understanding of how things work. His boss at Level 3 could not understand his ability to uncover the drivers of business issues nobody else could see. His boss, had a PhD, from MIT, in…..Rocket (Propulsion) Sciences. When Mike was a neurofeedback practitioner, we would chat about the patterns he would see in the brain wave data and he could link that to Myers Briggs personality types; it was crazy. As I watched Mike develop his health coaching practice over the last few years, it was like the same story all over again, but this time using data from Genetics, Labs, and Biochemistry. Mike’s brain is just wired in a way that makes what he does so inherently natural for him.” Tully, Data Scientist, Colorado.

Do you work with international clients?

Yes, for most of the labs I use I can ship them overseas and have them shipped back. For some specialty labs I will have the client source it locally to them. Genetic test kits can be shipped overseas as well. I also have very early am, and later pm office hours to accommodate these folks.

Do I have to order all new labs, and new genetic kits if I have done much of this in the past? 

The simple answer is no. I will take the entire history of lab work, including genetics, along with the intake forms and make specific recommendations if gaps exist. New labs do not have to be ordered all at once either.

Can you work with somebody who has financial constraints and can only afford a limited amount of spending on labs and genetic testing? 

Yes, I can. We can design a program that works within your financial constraints by ordering the most important labs and genetic tests first. We’ll prioritize and use the initial data to guide our interventions and decisions, then gradually order additional labs over time as needed.

Do you work with people who are vegetarian, vegans, or who have specific constraints with their diet? 

Yes, of course. 

Do you sell supplements and can you order labs for me? 

I have access to a line of practitioner supplements, and I can also create custom formulations for clients.  For existing clients, they get access to all of this at cost. I do not push a particular supplement brand, nor do I have any financial relationship or interest in any supplement or laboratory organization.

Where do you suggest I purchase the supplements you will recommend?

90% of what I recommend will be available on amazon. A small number will need to be order from either specialty retailers like DigestiveWarrior.com, PureFormulas.com, or directly from the manufacturers website in a few cases.