Unlocking the Power of Blood Tests: Expert Insights from Carrie Jones, ND

Most people don’t think much about blood tests. They’re often something your doctor orders periodically, and that’s the end of it. However, there’s a vast array of blood work tests that can reveal important information about your health, from hormone imbalances to chronic disease risks. Figuring out which tests you need—and understanding the results—can be confusing. That’s why we turned to Dr. Carrie Jones, a functional medicine practitioner, to break it down. Here’s everything you need to know about blood tests, the difference between naturopathic doctors (NDs) and medical doctors (MDs), and much more.

*This is a short clip from our interview with Dr. Carrie Jones. Click here to watch the whole thing!*

You can also listen to an audio version of this interview on The WellBe Podcast.

ND vs. MD: The Key Differences Between a Natural Medicine Doctor and a Medical Doctor

When it comes to NDs (naturopathic doctors or natural medicine doctors) versus MDs (medical doctors), there are both similarities and significant differences.

Both NDs and MDs attend medical school for four years. Naturopathic doctors, however, take a unique path after that. They often choose to pursue additional training in alternative and natural medicine, with a focus on holistic healing practices. Many NDs also complete a two-year residency, just like MDs. But the approach to patient care is where the difference truly lies. Dr. Carrie Jones explains: “A naturopathic doctor definitely has the bigger view of the healing power of nature, a more vitalistic approach, really getting to the root cause.”

Naturopathic doctors follow a philosophy that prioritizes the body’s inherent ability to heal itself, and this guides their treatment protocols. One essential principle that guides NDs is the “therapeutic order.” “One of the most important guiding principles for a natural medicine doctor is something called the therapeutic order, which stipulates that a doctor’s interventions should go from least invasive to most invasive, in that order,” says Jones.

This principle means that a naturopathic doctor will generally look at lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, herbal treatments, and other non-invasive options before turning to pharmaceuticals or surgery. While Dr. Jones wishes that more conventional doctors would follow that order, it’s much more common for MDs to jump straight to the most invasive option: the pill or the surgery.

“It’s about risk mitigation. The naturopathic approach emphasizes using the least invasive treatments first, while avoiding the risks associated with medications and surgeries, which often come with side effects or complications,” says Jones.

The Moment Dr. Carrie Jones Chose Natural Medicine

Dr. Jones’ journey to becoming a naturopathic doctor wasn’t a straight path. Initially, she entered medical school with the intention of becoming a traditional MD. But during her education, Dr. Jones had an eye-opening experience that led her to change course. 

Dr. Jones had the opportunity to work in two very different hospital settings. The first was a sterile pediatric wing, which she describes as “very impersonal” and focused on quick, clinical interventions. “I thought, if this is medicine, if I’m just going to prescribe and it’s going to be very scrubbed down, very impersonal, very fast — that’s not the kind of medicine I want to practice,” she says.

The second was an outreach program where she worked with individuals on blood pressure checks, weight management, and diabetes education. Dr. Jones found this approach more aligned with her values. “It was very education-based, and I loved it,” she says.

It was the stark contrast between these two experiences that led her to rethink her career. She wanted to practice a more personalized, holistic form of medicine. Ultimately, she moved to Oregon to pursue her naturopathic medical education, focusing on functional medicine. “I just got really disillusioned, and I’m really happy that I found naturopathic medicine,” Dr. Jones says. “It’s the medicine for me.”

Today, Dr. Jones has over 12 years of experience in the field of naturopathic and functional medicine. She specializes in women’s health, and has taught courses in gynecology and advanced endocrinology.

The Two Key Problems with Conventional Blood Work

While conventional blood tests are essential for detecting certain health conditions, Dr. Jones highlights two major problems with the standard tests that most MDs run.

1. Routine Blood Tests Don’t Tell the Whole Story

The most common test performed during routine checkups is the Complete Blood Count (CBC), which gives insights into red and white blood cell levels. It’s helpful if you have an obvious infection or other clearly diagnosable condition, but Dr. Jones argues that it doesn’t offer much information about subtle or chronic health issues.

“If you’re experiencing health issues like hair loss, fatigue, brain fog, whatever — and go into a conventional doctor asking them to run a full panel, they’ll do something called a CBC. Though a CBC looks at your red and white blood cells and gives you some good information, it’s not super helpful unless you’re outright anemic or have an outright infection,” she explains.

Dr. Jones adds that doctors may only run a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which provides markers for kidney and liver function, glucose, and other basic levels. But this is still a minimal approach. “A lot of times, conventional doctors will see that the results come back within the normal range for these tests and declare that everything is fine,” she says. “Unfortunately, these one or two tests are generally not enough. Doctors need to look at more specific and subtle indicators, like the thyroid.”

2. Broad Reference Ranges Make Interpretation Less Accurate

The second major issue with conventional blood tests lies in the broad reference ranges that many labs use. Dr. Jones emphasizes that these ranges can be misleading, as they often label individuals as “normal” even when they are close to the extremes of these ranges. This can prevent doctors from detecting issues early enough to make proactive changes. She gives the example of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):

“With TSH, the healthy range might go up to 4 or 5, but, functionally, we might want it down around 2.0 or 2.5. But if you’re at 4.9 and 5 is the cutoff, you might get told you’re fine, and you’re not fine,” says Jones. “You’re almost out of range. Why wait to get to abnormal?”

Dr. Jones illustrates this point further with the example of ferritin, a marker for iron storage. “The range for ferritin is anywhere from 10 to 200 — that’s a 190-point spread that’s still considered healthy and normal by most doctors,” she says. “We can optimize this. Why wait until you fall off the cliff to do something about it?”

Which Blood Work Tests Matter Most?

So, which lab tests should you be prioritizing? Dr. Jones recommends focusing on the following key tests:

1. Advanced Lipid and Cholesterol Testing

While total cholesterol is often measured, it doesn’t tell the full story. Dr. Jones suggests looking at advanced lipid tests that evaluate the size and composition of cholesterol particles, as well as markers of inflammation. By tracking these numbers annually, you can detect trends and address potential cardiovascular risks before they become serious.

2. Blood Sugar Markers

Diabetes is another growing concern. Dr. Jones advises testing for fasting insulin, glucose, and hemoglobin A1c to catch early signs of insulin resistance or prediabetes. Waiting until someone is officially diagnosed as prediabetic makes intervention more difficult. Catching it early allows for more effective lifestyle changes.

3. Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune health, mood, and bone density. Dr. Jones notes that deficiency is common and that most conventional doctors follow a range that’s too broad. Maintaining optimal vitamin D levels is essential, and a “normal” range doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the ideal level for long-term health.

4. Thyroid Function Tests

A full thyroid panel is key. Dr. Jones explains that many doctors only test TSH, but this doesn’t provide the complete picture. Free T3 and free T4, along with thyroid antibodies, are necessary for understanding thyroid function. As thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease become more common, early detection is critical.

The WellBe Takeaway on Laboratory Tests

Navigating the world of laboratory tests can be overwhelming, but as Dr. Jones explains, it’s really about understanding what’s behind the numbers and how they relate to your health. Here are the key takeaways:

• Functional medicine practitioners or NDs will interpret your blood work with a focus on optimizing your health, considering long-term risks, rather than just looking at the “normal range.”
• Conventional blood tests are often basic and insufficient for a comprehensive understanding of your health. Seeing a functional medicine practitioner can help you access more specific, advanced tests.
• The reference ranges used by many labs are often too broad, and you should be mindful if your results are near the edges of these ranges. It’s important to address potential health issues before they become critical.
• Dr. Jones recommends focusing on advanced lipid tests, blood sugar markers, vitamin D levels, and a full thyroid panel as essential components of a well-rounded health strategy.
• Keep track of your results over time. Dr. Jones advises maintaining an organized record of your lab tests so you can monitor trends and catch issues early. You can download WellBe’s chart, below, to help you organize and keep track of your results.

By staying proactive and informed, you can take charge of your health and catch potential issues before they become serious problems. Whether you’re interested in hormone testing or improving your cardiovascular health, working with a healthcare provider who understands the nuances of functional medicine can make all the difference.

Watch the rest of our interview with Dr. Carrie Jones to learn what conventional doctors miss in hormone tests, the best types of laboratory tests to diagnose inflammation or gut issues, what she thinks about at-home diagnostic testing kits, how to find a doctor who will give you the types of laboratory tests you want, and much more. You can also listen to an audio version of this interview on The WellBe Podcast.

The information contained in this article comes from our interview with Carrie Jones, ND, a Naturopathic Physician with a Master’s in Public Health. Her qualifications and training include graduating from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), School of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon where she also completed a 2-year residency in women’s health, hormones and endocrinology.  Later she graduated from Grand Canyon University’s Master of Public Health program. As an Adjunct Faculty for the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), she has taught courses in both Gynecology and Advanced Endocrinology. She has been the Medical Director for two large integrative clinics in Portland, Oregon and currently is the Medical Director for Precision Analytical, Inc. You can find more information about her here. 

Citations:

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2. Schloss, Janet et al. “Lessons from Outside and Within: Exploring Advancements in Methodology for Naturopathic Medicine Clinical Research.” Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) vol. 25,2 (2019): 135-140. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0403
3. Seo, In-Ho, and Yong-Jae Lee. “Usefulness of Complete Blood Count (CBC) to Assess Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases in Clinical Settings: A Comprehensive Literature Review.” Biomedicines vol. 10,11 2697. 25 Oct. 2022, doi:10.3390/biomedicines10112697
4. Freeman AM, Acevedo LA, Pennings N. Insulin Resistance. [Updated 2023 Aug 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507839/