I am sure you are wondering how I stop tics. Are there natural treatments for Tourette syndrome (also known as tic disorders)? The internet suggests that magnesium and B6 can help with tics, but they didn’t work for me. What gives? The first step to the answer is functional lab testing for tic disorders
Most diagnoses of ADHD, ADD, ASD, SPD, OCD, Anxiety, Tics, and Tourette’s are diagnosed using behavioral modalities. These diagnostic criteria are no more objective than a teacher’s observation.
When we only look from the outside, we are missing a big piece of the puzzle.
When your check engine light comes on, do you ignore it? No, most of us take our car to the mechanic. How mad would you be if the mechanic took a walk around your car, watched it for 20 minutes, and said it’s okay to go home?
I’m not sure about you, but I would be furious! Why didn’t he take it back and hook it up to all his diagnostic machines?
Why is it that when it comes to our health, this seems to be an acceptable approach?
Key Takeaways
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Functional lab testing reveals hidden biochemical imbalances that standard blood tests miss, including heavy metal toxicity, gut dysbiosis, nutrient deficiencies, and food sensitivities that may be triggering or worsening tic disorders in children.
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Root cause investigation trumps symptom management when addressing tics—rather than relying on generic supplements like magnesium or behavioral interventions alone, functional testing provides personalized data to create targeted treatment protocols based on your child’s unique biochemical fingerprint.
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The comprehensive test stack should include organic acids (OAT), stool analysis, food sensitivity panels, toxic element screening, and genomic testing to map the full picture of gut health, toxin exposure, immune reactions, and genetic factors affecting neurotransmitter production.
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A strategic testing sequence and professional guidance are crucial for interpreting results effectively, starting with foundational tests (OAT and stool), then layering in toxin and food panels, with genomics last to fine-tune protocols and avoid analysis paralysis.
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Results require 4-12 weeks to show meaningful improvement, depending on the underlying issues being addressed, with gut-related interventions showing faster results (4-6 weeks) while nutrient deficiencies and heavy metal detoxification take longer (8-12 months).
Table of Contents
Functional Lab Testing for Tics
Most of my clients have never undergone any testing, and many of them are unaware that it even exists. They think that a diagnosis is a gold standard for their child’s health.
Sadly, it isn’t… When my son was diagnosed with a neurological tic, we felt alone, scared, and frustrated. We wanted answers that one seemed to have. We were told to ignore it and move on.
Had we known about functional lab testing, we could have reversed his symptoms years ago. Our story isn’t unique; I hear this same story from clients all the time. They are told to ignore, take this med, and go home.
I am running a few minutes late;I am here to tell you that good health doesn’t come in a pill. Pills are like band-aids; they may cover up the scratch, but the scratch is still there. Prescriptions don’t heal the body; they merely suppress the symptoms, and over time, the body continues to break down because the root cause remains unaddressed.
The symptoms our children are experiencing are not normal; they are a check engine light telling you it’s time to look under the hood … enter functional lab testing for Tic Disordes.
Why Behavioral Recognition Is Only Half the Story
Your child’s teacher might notice the tics getting worse during math class, but that observation won’t reveal the candida overgrowth wreaking havoc on their neurotransmitters. Behavioral recognition captures what you can see—but it misses the molecular chaos underneath.
The brutal truth: Teacher observations ≠ of molecular data. What looks like a neurological disorder might be your child’s body screaming about toxic overload or nutrient depletion.
Core Test Stack (and What Each One Uncovers)
If you are looking to put the pieces of the puzzle together, you will want to conduct some functional lab tests to examine how the entire body functions. The functional lab testing we used is not typically found in a doctor’s office. I now teach doctors how to use and interpret these tests.
|
Test |
What It Measures |
Insights for Tics |
Big Mistake If You Skip |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stool Pathogen & Microbiome |
Digestion, inflammation, and toxin load |
Dysbiosis → neuro-inflammation |
Treating the gut unquestioningly |
|
Food Sensitivity (IgG/IgA) |
Delayed immune reactions |
Hidden triggers escalating tics |
Eliminating foods at random |
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Toxic Elements & Environmental Toxins |
Heavy metals, chemicals, and mineral status |
Metals deplete nutrients, excite neurons |
Assuming “clean home” = low toxin |
|
Comprehensive Organic Acid (OAT) |
Yeast, bacteria, mitochondrial markers |
High arabinose = Candida, impacts dopamine |
Relying on indicator questionnaires |
|
Nutrigenomic (SNP) Panel |
MTHFR, COMT, DAO, etc. |
Personalized nutrient & refresh roadmap |
One-size-fits-all supplementation |
Pro tip: Don’t let anyone talk you into “starting with just one test.“ Each piece connects to the others—skip the stool analysis, and you might miss the gut infections driving the food sensitivities.
Sequencing & Bundling for Maximum Clarity
Smart parents don’t order tests randomly. There’s a strategic sequence that saves you money and prevents data overload:
Phase 1: Start with OAT + Stool – This combo paints about 70% of your child’s biochemical picture. You’ll spot yeast overgrowth and bacterial imbalances, and gain clues about toxin exposure.
Phase 2: Overlay Toxin & Food Panels – These reveal the accelerants—what’s making everything worse. Heavy metals, such as mercury, can block enzyme pathways, while hidden food reactions can create chronic inflammation.
Phase 3: Genomics Last – Your child’s genetic blueprint fine-tunes the protocols. However, here’s the thing: knowing your child has MTHFR mutations won’t help much if you haven’t addressed the yeast producing toxins first.
This sequencing prevents what I call “analysis paralysis”—that overwhelming feeling when you have 47 different abnormal markers and no clue where to start.
Essential Entities You Need to Know
These aren’t just fancy medical terms—they’re the key players in your child’s tic story:
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Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin don’t just affect mood—they directly control motor function. When gut bacteria or yeast interfere with their production, tics often follow.
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Candida Albicans might sound innocent, but this yeast becomes a neurotoxin factory when it overgrows. It produces arabinose, which hijacks your child’s dopamine pathways.
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IgG and IgA antibodies reveal delayed food reactions that can trigger tics hours or even days after eating. Unlike immediate allergic reactions, these often go undetected.
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The gut-brain axis isn’t just trendy wellness talk—it’s a superhighway of communication between your child’s digestive system and brain. Inflammation in the gut can lead to inflammation in the brain.
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MTHFR mutations affect how your child processes folate and detoxifies. Children with these genetic variations often struggle to eliminate toxins and produce neurotransmitters efficiently.
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Mycotoxins from mold exposure can cross the blood-brain barrier and directly irritate neurological tissue. Your house may look clean, but hidden water damage can create invisible toxin exposure.
Understanding these entities helps you speak the same language as functional practitioners—and makes you a better advocate for your child’s improvement journey.
From Results to Action – The Functional Protocol Framework
You’ve got the test results in hand—now what? Here’s where the magic happens: transforming those lab numbers into a strategic action plan that moves the needle on your child’s tics.
The 5-R Roadmap
Think of this framework like renovating a house—you can’t just slap fresh paint on moldy walls and expect lasting results. The 5-R approach tackles tic disorders from the ground up, addressing root causes in the correct sequence
Remove comes first because you’re essentially clearing the debris. This means eliminating trigger foods (those sneaky culprits, such as artificial dyes or gluten), addressing pathogen overgrowth, like candida, and reducing the toxic load from heavy metals. It’s like finally turning off the faucet before you start mopping the flood.
Replenish focuses on restoring what your child’s system desperately lacks. We’re talking depleted minerals like magnesium and zinc, as well as methyl-nutrients that support proper detoxification. Remember Marcus from earlier? His zinc deficiency was sabotaging his neurotransmitter production.
Reinoculate rebuilds the gut microbiome with targeted probiotic strains. Not the generic stuff from the grocery store—specific strains that communicate with the gut-brain axis. Think of it as replanting a garden with the right flowers, not just any seeds.
Repair addresses the structural damage. This means improving leaky gut, supporting mitochondrial function, and reducing inflammation. Your child’s gut lining might look like Swiss cheese after months of imbalance—time to patch those holes.
Rebalance brings everything into harmony. We’re fine-tuning neurotransmitter production, optimizing sleep patterns, and creating sustainable lifestyle rhythms that support long-term improvement.
Example 90-Day Sprint
Here’s what a typical transformation timeline looks like in practice:
|
Week |
Focus |
Key Interventions |
|---|---|---|
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1–2 |
Refresh Lite |
Detox + liver support |
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3–6 |
Gut Reset |
Antimicrobials, low-histamine diet |
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7–10 |
Rebuild |
Mineral repletion, omega-3, zinc |
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11–12 |
Optimize |
Genomic-specific nutrients |
Tracking Progress
Data beats emotion every single time—especially when you’re in the thick of improvement and can’t see the forest for the trees.
Keep a simple tic severity log using a 1-10 scale, recording your daily observations. Write it down or use a phone app, but track it consistently. You’ll be amazed how patterns emerge—maybe tics spike on certain days of the week, or improve dramatically after specific interventions.
Re-test the Organic Acids Test and comprehensive stool analysis at 4-6 months. This isn’t optional—it’s your roadmap showing what’s working and what needs adjustment. I’ve seen families make significant progress only to plateau because they didn’t reassess and pivot their protocol.
The families who get the best results? They track consistently, stay patient with the process with a qualified practitioner, and resist the urge to add seventeen new supplements at once (yes, I’m talking to you, Amazon cart warrior). Trust the process, measure the results, and adjust accordingly.
Pitfalls & Blind Spots
Even well-intentioned parents stumble into testing traps that can derail their child’s progress. These common missteps often stem from misconceptions about how functional lab testing works—and what it can reveal.
Biggest Mistakes People Make
Testing one system at a time instead of considering the big picture: Testing individual systems in isolation often overlooks interconnected issues, resulting in incomplete solutions.
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Chasing supplements without lab confirmation: Using supplements without proper lab testing can worsen conditions and waste resources.
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Ignoring environmental toxins lurking in plain sight: Overlooked toxins, such as mold and pesticides, can significantly impact a child’s health despite other balanced factors.
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“Normal labs mean no problem.“: Standard lab results may overlook deficiencies that functional testing can reveal for optimal health.
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“Functional testing costs too much. Functional testing may seem expensive upfront, but it saves money and improves outcomes in the long run.
Implementation Guide for Parents & Practitioners
Transitioning from test results to fundamental transformation requires the right partners and approach. Here’s your roadmap for exploring the world of functional lab testing with confidence.
Working With an FDNP
Finding the right practitioner feels like dating—you need someone who listens more than they talk and doesn’t immediately reach for their recommendation pad.
Ask these red-flag questions during your consultation:
“How many children with tics have you worked with?“ (Anything less than 20 cases suggests you’re their guinea pig.)
“What’s your supplement philosophy?“ (Run if they mention their “proprietary blend” in the first five minutes.)
“How do you track progress beyond tic counting?“ (You want someone monitoring sleep, mood, and digestion, too.)
The best practitioners approach your child’s labs like detectives, not pharmacists. Dr. Sarah Chen, a functional medicine pediatrician in Austin, told me she spends 90 minutes reviewing results before recommending a single intervention. “Parents have usually tried everything by the time they reach me,“ she explains. “My job is connecting dots, not adding more supplements to their already overwhelmed routine.“
Look for data-driven decision-making. Your practitioner should reference specific lab values when making recommendations, not just signs. If they suggest removing dairy without looking at your child’s zonulin levels or inflammatory markers, keep shopping.
The gold standard? Practitioners who retest at strategic intervals (usually 3-6 months) to adjust protocols based on their child’s response, not their initial assumptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Think of standard pediatric labs like checking if your car’s gas tank is empty—they catch the apparent stuff. Functional labs? They’re more like a full diagnostic scan that spots when your engine’s starting to sputter before it completely dies on the highway.
Your pediatrician’s CBC and basic metabolic panel are effective in detecting diabetes or anemia. But they’re designed to catch condition, not dysfunction. Functional tests measure how well your child’s systems are working, like whether their gut can properly absorb B12 or if heavy metals are messing with their neurotransmitters.
The accuracy depends on the lab you choose. CLIA-certified labs (like Doctor’s Data or Great Plains Laboratory) use the same rigorous standards as hospital labs. The difference? Their reference ranges account for optimal function, not just “not diseased.“
Here’s what I wish someone had told me years ago: functional testing doesn’t hand you a neat little box labeled “tick cause.“ Instead, it’s like getting a detailed map of your child’s biochemical neighborhood, showing you where the traffic jams are happening.
Most children with tics have multiple factors that create a perfect storm. Perhaps it’s candida overgrowth, combined with low magnesium, food sensitivities, and a sluggish digestive system. The testing reveals these interconnected patterns that you’d never spot just watching behavior.
I’ve seen kids whose tics decreased by 70% after addressing gut issues that were revealed by their comprehensive stool analysis. Others needed their MTHFR mutation supported before anything else worked. The magic isn’t in finding the cause—it’s in mapping the whole world.
Most insurance companies assist functional testing, much like massage therapy—nice to have, but you’re paying out of pocket. This may change with the MAHA movement.
Some tests (like comprehensive metabolic panels) might get partial coverage if your doctor codes them correctly. But don’t count on it. HSA and FSA accounts usually cover these tests, which helps with the tax burden.
Here’s a workaround some families use: get your pediatrician to order the tests through a conventional lab first. If those come back “normal” but signs persist, you’ve got documentation that traditional testing wasn’t sufficient.
he honest answer? It depends on what you’re fixing and how broken it was to begin with.
Gut issues typically show improvement within 4 to 6 weeks of targeted intervention. I remember one mom whose daughter’s vocal tics quieted significantly after just three weeks of addressing candida overgrowth.
Nutrient deficiencies typically take 8-12 weeks to show meaningful changes. Heavy metal refresh? That’s a marathon, not a sprint. Think 6-12 months for substantial progress.
The key is tracking daily tic severity on a simple 1-10 scale. You’ll spot patterns and improvements that might otherwise get lost in the emotional roller coaster of parenting a child with tics.
This happens, and it’s frustrating. But “normal” functional lab results aren’t necessarily bad news—they help narrow down where to look next.
Sometimes the issue isn’t biochemical—it could be environmental (like mold exposure) or neurological. At other times, you may need different tests. Maybe you ran a basic organic acids test when you required the expanded version that includes neurotransmitter metabolites.
Think of it like detective work. Each “normal” result eliminates suspects and points you toward the real culprit. Plus, having baseline data becomes incredibly valuable if signs change or worsen later.
If you are looking to put the pieces of the puzzle together, you will want to conduct some functional lab tests to examine how the entire body functions. The functional lab testing we used is not typically found in a doctor’s office. I now teach doctors how to use and interpret these tests.
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- Stoolpathogen testing to assess digestion, internal inflammation, microbiome, and toxicity
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- Food sensitivity test to assess delayed food reactions impacting digestion and increasing inflammation
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- Toxic elements and environmental toxins to know if toxins are depleting the body and if adequate minerals are available for bodily functions.
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- Comprehensive Organic Acid Testing to have a snapshot of overall health and to get an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria. We know that abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue, and immune function.
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- Nutrigenomic Testing can help us predict with increasing accuracy which is more likely to develop certain diseases, who may respond positively or react negatively to a particular drug or supplement therapy, and finally, which nutrients are optimal for a specific individual’s health and well-being. Knowing where the cracks are in our foundation can tell us where we may need the most support. By supporting the cracks with the right diet, nutritional supplements, and lifestyle strategies, you can dramatically increase your child’s quality of life.
The body is a complex set of systems, and your child’s symptoms will never be isolated to or confined to one system; they are all interconnected.
Conclusion: Turning Data Into Well-Being
Your child’s tics don’t have to remain a mystery. Functional lab testing offers the roadmap you’ve been searching for: one that reveals the hidden biochemical imbalances driving their signs.
Remember, transformation takes time, but every slight improvement builds momentum. Your investment in understanding your child’s individual needs today creates the foundation for their healthier tomorrow.
This is why it’s essential to run a few tests simultaneously to assess the hormone, immune, digestive, detoxification, energy, and nervous system functions all at once, so you can see how they are or aren’t working together and gain a deeper understanding of your healing opportunities.
If you are ready to dig deeper into your child’s tic disorder, click here and start with the Tic Disorder Cheat Sheet.