About Us
Dr.Karen Krahl has been in chiropractic practice for over 30 years and uses the Functional Medicine approach to help those with chronic illness through nutrition and lifestyle change. Certified by Metagenics as a First Line Therapy health care provider, her clinic has been chosen as a Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) Center of Excellence. Dr. Krahl has an extensive network of allied healing professionals with whom she networks both locally and nationally, when she refers patients to specialists for concurrent therapies or additional work-up. Her clinic, Synergy Health Group is dedicated first to solving neuromusculoskeletal problems; the foundation for a healthy life, and then to preventing the development of chronic disease.
Dr. Krahl, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, conducted undergraduate studies at Boston State College, and also studied Zen Macrobiotics and ancient Eastern Healing methods with Michio Kushi at the East West Foundation. She graduated in 1979 in California from Pasadena College of Chiropractic with a Bachelors in Human Biology and her Doctorate in Chiropractic.
Dr. Krahl holds membership in the California Chiropractic Association , the American Chiropractic Association, and the Institute for Functional Medicine, along with other local civic organizations. Her studies continued every year since graduation through frequent seminar attendance including topics on radiology, nutrition, differential diagnosis of disease, preventive wellness, alternative healing, rehabilitation, laboratory science, brain chemistry/anxiety/depression, longevity, anti-aging, allergies, lower back pain syndromes, disc injuries, and Functional Medicine; certified by the Applied Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice course, she was recently asked to participate as faculty by the Institute of Functional Medicine. She is a member of the local SLO Chamber of Commerce, SLO FOOD USA, the SLO Art Museum, and Arts Obispo.
Lab Testing
Conventional laboratory testing is available here at our clinic. We often use Central Coast Pathology for routine testing of things like your vitamin D levels, cholesterol levels, hematocrit ( iron deficiency), complete metabolic panels, kidney function testing, liver function tests, thyroid and many other levels that can help create a more complete health picture. If you are restricted by your insurance company as to where you may be tested, we can also fill out the lab slips and you can take them to French Hospital, or wherever your insurance says you must go. Several genetic tests are available also that can indicate a risk for celiac disease, breast cancer, melanoma, or neurologic illnessess such as Parkinson’s disease.
In addition to our local labs we offer testing by Genova Diagnostic Laboratories, Spectracell, and Metametrix. Salivary hormone testing, genetic testing for risk of neurologic, cardiovascular, and immune disorder risks, testing for toxic metal and mineral levels, allergy testing for food and airborne allergens, comprehensive digestive stool analysis for gut pathogens/or gut dysbiosis/celiac disease, and detoxification profiles are just some of the things we offer. Those of the above tests that require a blood draw, are handled by Central Coast Pathology, while we supply the kits, and the orders. Some insurance companies cover these labs, others do not. Always a good idea to check with your insurance company, but many of the tests are reasonably priced, regardless.
Spectracell has some new technology that allows us to measure the intracellular function of selected vitamins, minerals antioxidants, and other essential micronutrients. Historically these levels were measured only in the serum as assays, which can be transitory, only letting us look at a patient’s nutritional status over a narrow window of time. Another, that has gone a step beyond most in assessing heart disease risk is Spectracell’s LPP. It tests not only HDL and LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, but also measures the particles’ density/buoyancy, which is more predictive of heart disease risk than just the actual numbers. Also included in this test is highly sensitive C reactive protein, (an inflammatory marker which can be predictive of increased cardiovascular risk), Lpa, remnant lipoprotein, homocystiene, metabolic syndrome factors and gives a good visual presentation for patients so we can sit down together and go over which lifestyle and dietary interventions can change your health risks and those which are of the heritable kind unlikely to be changed by diet and exercise.
Locally we use Central Coast Pathology
Getting a baseline before starting a body composition change/weight loss program, a detox program, or beginning a fitness program is very important. Also, many medications cause nutrient deficiencies, including statin drugs, birth control pills, diuretics, blood pressure medication etc. Drop by the office for our handouts on what nutrients do, and which medications cause deficiencies.