Episode 164

Published August 4, 2026

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Dunlop joins host Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton to discuss the gap between “normal” and “optimal” lab reference ranges, commonly missed labs, and the importance of root cause assessment over treating isolated markers.

Dr. Dunlop and Dr. Smeaton also discuss:

• How “normal” does not equate to “optimal” when it comes to standard lab ranges
• Addressing the foundations before testing, like nervous system regulation, gut integrity, and sleep hygiene
• The importance of treating the root cause rather than treating markers in silos
• Other labs worth requesting, such as ferritin, homocysteine, and fasting insulin
• The impact of simple nervous system regulation tools

Key Moments

0:47 Episode Introduction

2:45 Dr. Dunlop’s Transition from Conventional to Functional Medicine

4:25 The Missing Links in Standard Labs

8:03 Standard vs. Optimal: What is the Definition of Health?

11:58 Catching the Early Red Flags of Dysfunction

16:49 The Priority of Dysfunction Pyramid

21:29 DUTCH Courses: Mastering Functional Hormone Testing

22:17 Labs and Data: Where to Begin with Your Patients

27:48 Foundational Elements: Nervous System Regulation

31:58 Looking at the Whole Person: Navigating Conflicting Problems

33:57 Understanding Testing: What to Order and When

41:22 Comprehensive Health Care: Ticking the Boxes

43:30 Who Should Order A DUTCH Test?

47:31 Learning the Functional Medicine Approach

About our speaker

Dr. Stephanie Dunlop, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician, functional health coach, and founder of Root Rx™, a doctor-led program that has helped over 500 high-achieving women get to the root cause of fatigue, bloating, hormonal chaos, and stubborn weight. Trained inside the conventional system and frustrated by its 12-minute answers, she built Root Rx™ to deliver what a hurried clinic visit can't: comprehensive lab testing, individualized protocols, and a physician in the room. She also leads The Clarity Circle, her own community of over 23,000 women. Her audience of over 500,000 women turns to her when "your labs are fine" isn't an answer. 

Show Notes

Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Dunlop and Root Rx, and follow her on Instagram @docstephaniemd!

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