WHY USE HAIR MINERAL TESTING TO DESIGN NUTRITION PROGRAMS
There are many ways to assess nutritional status including symptom questionnaires, iridology, kinesiology, diet sheets, computer analyses, blood tests, etc.
Why use a controversial tool such as measuring tissue mineral levels in hair? Here are 12 reasons:
A WINDOW INTO THE CELLS
Nutritional physiology takes place at the cellular level, not within blood or any other location. What you eat is not as important as what is reaching your body cells.
Tissue mineral analysis is unique in that it inexpensively provides information directly about cellular activity – the main site of nutritional metabolism.
DETECTING TOXIC METALS
Toxic metals are a serious problem today, contributing to many metabolic disorders and distressing symptoms including fatigue, infections, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. While routine blood tests cannot detect chronic heavy metal poisoning, tissue mineral analysis is one of the few methods approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for detecting toxic metals in the body.
UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONS
Biochemical imbalances can contribute to many mental and emotional conditions. I know of no other tool that even comes close to tissue mineral testing to predict, explain, and suggest nutritional solutions for such common complaints as anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, phobias, insomnia, etc.
REBUILDING THE BODY’S ENERGY MECHANISM
Having an adequate energy level is essential for health. All body activities including healing depend upon adequate energy synthesis. Tissue mineral analysis can be used to assess the efficiency of the energy system of the body including the glycolysis and citric acid cycles, and to recommend nutrients and foods that will assist in rebuilding the energy system.
DETERMINING OXIDATION TYPES
Dr. George Watson discovered that some people burn food at a more rapid rate than normal, and some at a slower rate. Knowing a person’s oxidation rate, as he called it, can help decide which foods are most needed, and which nutrients would be most helpful to restore balance. Giving the wrong nutrients can make your health problems worse. Tissue mineral analysis can be utilized to determine an individual’s oxidation rate with mathematical precision.
IDENTIFYING TRENDS
One of the most useful concepts in health care is to be able to identify trends before they occur, so that action can be taken to avoid them. Twenty or more trends can be identified from a properly interpreted tissue mineral analysis. The ability to identify trends alone makes tissue mineral analysis an invaluable test.
EXACT AMOUNTS OF SUPPLEMENTS AND PROPORTIONS OF FOODS
One problem in designing nutrition programs is determining how much and which nutrients and foods to recommend.
Because of its mathematical nature, hair mineral analysis offers a way to determine supplement dosage and proportions of foods with greater accuracy.
ASSESSING ORGAN, GLAND AND TISSUE FUNCTION
Levels and ratios of tissue minerals relate to the activity of specific organs and glands. By calculating ratios on a tissue mineral test, the function of major glands and organs can be assessed, often long before abnormalities appear on x-rays and blood tests.
CONSTRUCTING A PICTURE OF ONE’S BODY CHEMISTRY
Though not done by many who claim to understand hair analysis, the correct interpretation of the hair test allows construction of a metabolic picture of the way your body is functioning and the way it is responding to stress. I know of no other simple test that allows for the construction of this metabolic blueprint.
MONITORING PROGRESS
A common problem in nutritional therapy is determining if a person is actually improving, especially if some symptoms persist or new symptoms arise. Repeat tissue mineral tests and comparison with previous tests can often provide answers as to whether improvement is occurring, why some symptoms persist, and what to expect in the future.
SUPERIORITY OVER BLOOD TESTS
Blood tests will always be valuable to determine cholesterol, hemoglobin levels, and many other parameters. However, blood tests are incapable of providing the information provided by the hair analysis. There are several reasons why.
Mineral levels in blood are ten times less than they are in the tissues, making measurement difficult. Also, blood levels are kept within very narrow limits by the body for various reasons, so that readings vary but little and less information can be gleaned.
Blood tests are subject to daily fluctuation due to foods eaten the previous day, emotional states, etc. Hair analysis will not vary from day to day, and provides a long-term metabolic blueprint. Understanding this difference avoids much confusion and the long-term reading can be used to definite advantage.
ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY
While some criticism of the accuracy of tissue mineral testing has been made, procedures exist to make the test as accurate or more accurate than blood tests. No test is 100% accurate.
Tissue mineral analysis by atomic absorption is not new. It has been around for 30 years and is used in every industrial and university chemistry lab. New computer-controlled instruments make excellent reliability possible.
Results of tissue tests can vary because instrumentation and handling procedures differ from lab to lab. This is a problem with some laboratories, however, not with the test. I only use one laboratory, Analytical Research Labs, where the quality control procedures and handling of samples are excellent.
INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT COLLECTING THE SAMPLE
Washing.
After washing the hair, wait at least 4 hours and no longer than 20 hours before cutting the hair sample, this allows the hair to re-equilibrate after washing. Be sure the hair is dry. It cannot be weighed correctly if it is damp, or wet.
- If you blow dry your hair, you still must wait at least 4 hours before cutting the sample.
- Do not apply any kind of oil to your hair before taking the sample.
- Do not take the sample if you have been sweating after you have washed the hair
Retest samples
should be taken from the same general area as the original sample, if at all possible. This assures continuity from sample to sample. However, it is not necessary to find the precise strands of hair for the next retest.
Also, head hair cannot be compared to pubic hair so be sure that the retest hair sample is from the same origin as the previous sample. Retests must be performed within two years of original test for a comparison report.
Storing samples.
Since hair does not deteriorate with time, the samples can be stored in a clean/dry environment indefinitely.
Submitting the sample.
When submitting the sample, place the loose hair in the envelope provided in the kit, or in a clean paper envelope. Do not use tape, or staples to keep the hair together and DO NOT place it in a plastic baggie, or aluminum foil.
Animal samples.
Before sending in a sample for an animal, call Analytical Research Labs for specific instructions.
HAIR TREATMENTS
Most shampoos, rinses, conditioners, sprays and other hair products do not affect the test. Most of these products do not contain minerals, which is all the hair test measures.
Exceptions include: products like Grecian Formula which contain lead and should be avoided. Head and Shoulders shampoo which contains zinc and could elevate zinc readings. Selsun Blue Shampoo which contains selenium and could elevate the selenium reading.
Hair Dyes. ‘Home’ dye/color products do not alter the test appreciably. However, it is best to wash the hair at least 10 times after a color treatment before sampling.
After a salon permanent or bleach treatment, ideally it is best to let the treated hair grow out completely before testing.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Since copper possesses algicidal (anti-fungal) properties, copper sulfate is often added to many swimming pools. Inasmuch as copper can be absorbed by the hair, it is common for avid pool swimmers to exhibit excessively high copper levels on a tissue mineral analysis. We suggest that anyone who uses a swimming pool on a regular basis to be sure and shampoo the hair thoroughly after swimming.
- If a salt, or potassium based water softener is used in the home, hair sodium and potassium levels may be affected.
- Heavy sweating just before sampling can increase sodium and potassium readings.
THE HAIR SAMPLE
The accuracy of a mineral analysis depends upon many factors. While the laboratory is responsible for the technical aspects of the test, the results will only be as good as the sample that is sent. The more care that is exercised by the person taking the sample, the more accurate the results will be.
HAIR SAMPLE GUIDELINES
- Head hair taken from the nape of the neck will provide the best sample. Take several small samples from the same general area (nape of the neck) in order to eliminate bald spots.
- Wait at least 4 hours after washing the hair to take the sample, no longer than 20 hours.
- If you blow dry your hair, you still must wait at least 4 hours before cutting the sample.
- We need 125 milligrams of clean hair (approximately one (1) tablespoon).
- When possible, use the weigh scale provided in the kit for accuracy.
- Hair sample should not be any longer than 1½ inches in length (3.81 centimeters).
- Cut long hair to 1½ inches, using the end closest to the scalp (see back of order form).
- Cut long hair to 1½ inches, using the end closest to the scalp (see back of order form).
- Longer is NOT better.
- Shorter is fine (It is the quantity that is important – 125 milligrams).
- Do not apply any kind of oil to your hair before taking the sample.
- Do not take the sample if you have been sweating after you have washed the hair.
- Hair shaved off by an electric shaver is definitely not acceptable.
Put the hair in the envelope provided, or other clean paper envelope
- Do Not put hair into a plastic bag.
- Do Not wrap hair in aluminum foil, or staple or tape to paper.
- Do Not mix hair sources, i.e., half head hair and half pubic hair.
- Since hair does not deteriorate with time, the samples can be stored in a clean/dry environment indefinitely.
Please print clearly on both the order form and the hair sample envelope
- We need all information in Part 2 filled out.
- If name is misspelled due to illegible printing, a charge will be assessed for a corrected copy of the report.
- Be sure to fill in patient’s statistics; age, weight, etc. (This is very important especially for children).
- The patient’s lab number will be assigned with the initial test and will follow the patient through retesting.
- When sending in a ‘retest’ sample, the patient’s previous lab number should be written on the order form in the designated box and on the top line of the hair sample envelope. If you do not know the patient’s previous lab number, leave these areas blank.
- Do not write special requests, or credit card information on the hair sample envelope. Write any additional information on the front of the order form in any blank area, or attach a separate note to the order form. The hair envelope and order form are separated once we receive them.