Your Questions About Hair Mineral Analysis And Arsenic

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Joy

Carol asks…

Where could the Arsenic in our hair have come from?

We had our hair analyzed after a year of health problems within our family and the results were extraordinary. We all have very high levels of arsenic, and chromium. My four year old daughter has extremely high sodium and potassium, rubidium, strontium and vanadium. Actually, she is not low in any of the nutrient minerals. she is above the reference range of aluminum. Please somebody shed some light on our situation, even if its just an opinion. I have the Council coming tomorrow to test the water from our tap. We live by the Bog and when i contacted them about testing the soil, they laughed at me. The Department of Environment were nice but say they cant do anything to help find out where the arsenic is coming from. We had a Holiday in the USA in March. The hair analysis was taken last week. Thoughts/ information please….
Our house is three years old. We bought from the builder. The levels are dangerously high and the report suggested we use chealation to remove the toxic metals from our bodies. I am very worried because we dont know where its coming from and we continue to be ill. My daughter has behavioural problems, poor muscle tone and has had all the nasty illnesses including septecemia, shingles, and measles. They may not be as a result only of the minerals and heavy metals but looking at the hair reports scares me.

Joy answers:

It could be your water supply. Outside of that how old is your house? Is there a lot of treated wood around? Arsenic could be the in the wood preservative. Sorry to read you’re going through this.  I say get sneaky and take a soil sample, send it to a lab and get your results. Good luck and wish you well.

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Hair Mineral Analysis and Food Allergies

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Joy

Hair Analysis Testing in Allergies and Food Intolerances

I am often asked if I recommend Hair Mineral Analysis for food allergies and intolerances. The short answer is no. I do not!

Quoting from Dr Adrian Morris’s excellent website:

“Hair is analysed for allergies in two ways.  First of all, the hair is tested for toxic levels of heavy metals such as Lead, Mercury and Cadmium and then deficiencies of Selenium, Zinc, Chromium, Manganese and Magnesium. There is no scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that these heavy metals have any bearing on allergic diseases.  Hair samples are usually sent away for analysis and numerous studies have failed to find any accuracy in hair analysis diagnosing allergies.”

If you suspect a food intolerance you will find much helpful information and contact details on Dr Morris’s website: http://www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/

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Detecting mercury levels

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Joy

Very interesting article about mercury levels and sources of mercury in the paper today, by Kali Simmonds, ND, a doctor of naturopathic medicine.

As well as listing some of the sources of mercury (including amalgam fillings and excess tuna consumption) it confirms my own belief that hair mineral analysis is a better way to detect mercury than blood and urine analysis.

However, very wisely the article cautions against the hasty removal of amalgam fillings in the teeth without very careful planning.The procedure should only be carried out under the supervision of a dentist specialising in safe extraction of mercury fillings, otherwise you run the risk of worsening your exposure by freeing up mercury that was otherwise stable (even if it were best not to have been there in the first place!)

While it is wise to avoid further exposure to mercury, and to avoid releasing it – for instance by regular gum-chewing – before taking any action to remove it, you would be well advised to have a hair mineral analysis done, to assess levels of toxicity.

It may be that the levels can be controlled with supplements, or extraction could be advisable. However, without proper assessment, you are merely guessing.

The hair mineral analysis test I use for my clients is available worldwide; results can be delivered by email. You can learn more about mercury and hair mineral analysis in the ebook on my hair analysis website, or contact me with specific questions.

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Weight Loss and Hair Analysis

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Joy

Although I am very much in favor of Hair Analysis, I had never made the connection between mineral imbalances and weight gain – which is remiss of me really, because Hair Mineral Analysis is a great test for checking out endocrine activity.

Correct mineral balance is vital for the efficient functioning of the thyroid and adrenal glands, so if you are confident that you are following a sensible diet to lose weight steadily, yet having no success, it’s well worth having a hair analysis test to check on your mineral levels.

As ever, with minerals, it’s not the absolute levels that are the most important issue, but the ratio between pairs of minerals.  For a hypothyroid pattern in a hair analysis report, the important ratios are primarily calcium / potassium, but also calcium / phosphorous, sodium / magnesium and calcium / magnesium.

You can read a more technical analysis on the Doctors Hangout site, and if you are in South Africa do contact Dr Ellis-Lee as recommended. She uses the same laboratory that I use, and although I have clients world-wide, Dr Ellis-Lee will be better placed to help you in South Africa.

So next time someone tells you “I can’t lose weight”  and blames their glands or hormones, don’t dismiss it out of hand. Suggest they have a Hair Mineral Analysis, and if mineral imbalances are found, they can consider implementing the supplement program supplied as part of the report.

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How accurate are Hair Mineral Analysis results?

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Joy

Clients are often skeptical about how much information can be determined from a hair analysis – especially when they have previously specified their medical conditions and which medication they are using.

So, I was delighted to receive the following testimonial from A.N. of Norway, which she gave me permission to publish , when she ordered her re-test.

“When I sent my first hair sample I didn’t include any information about my health problems. This was because I didn’t have a diagnosis at the time and I also wanted to see if it was possible to identify my problems without me providing any facts to you.  Indeed it was!  I was quite amazed reading my report. Almost everything I had experienced was in it. And with an explanation!”

Click to download a sample hair analysis report or to learn more about hair mineral analysis and download an ebook with much more explanation about this powerful and amazingly accurate test.

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Infertility – How Hair Mineral Analysis Can Help

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Joy

When infertile / trying to get pregnant, nutritional status is very important and a Hair Mineral Analysis can check that you don’t have mineral deficiencies – or excesses.

If you are having difficulty conceiving your body may be “saying” that it isn’t healthy enough to carry a healthy pregnancy.

For example, consider these essential nutrients:

  • Zinc – For foetal growth and to maintain proper levels of vitamin A. Zinc deficient mothers may have more delivery complications, lower birth weights and birth defects. Copper and iron are Zinc antagonists so watch for their relative levels
  • Zinc is required for growth, the correct functioning of DNA and RNA and for forming neural connections. The foetus and uterus are all making huge demands of these activities during pregnancy.
  • Zinc is needed to use the liver’s stores of vitamin A, vitamin A being necessary for foetal growth and visual development.
  • Deficiencies of zinc have been associated with low birth-weight (putting the baby at a disadvantage in later growth rates), delivery complications and even still-births. Low zinc and high copper levels may contribute to post-natal depression.
  • Zinc levels fall during pregnancy, so supplementation may be required.
  • Deficiency of manganese can lead to birth abnormalities
  • Good iron levels are needed to oxygenate cells
  • Calcium and magnesium – in the correct balance – are necessary for foetal bone development, nerve and muscle maintenance. If the balance is incorrect they will not be correctly absorbed. A Hair Mineral Test will check the balance.

In pregnancy, the placenta passes nutrients to the developing baby, but beware that as well as nutrients, harmful substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium can also cross the placenta. Use a hair mineral analysis to check for excess toxic minerals before becoming pregnant.

Remember that it’s not just female nutritional status that needs to be good.

Male Infertility and Nutrition

Nutrition is important in male fertility for the production of healthy, mobile sperm which are capable of fertilising an egg.

Inability to maintain an erection has been linked to magnesium or zinc /B6 deficiency.

Testosterone is synthesised from cholesterol, and vitamins B-complex, C, E; also magnesium, manganese, zinc and lecithin are needed for cholesterol metabolism.

For both sexes, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine impair circulation and reduce mineral absorption so should be avoided.

Consider pregnancy as a twelve month program. BOTH partners should have a Hair Mineral Analysis three months before trying to conceive, and use that three months to correct any nutrient deficiences or imbalances.

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Your Questions About Science Behind Hair Coloring

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Joy

Lizzie asks…

Hair dye shows better only after a few washes. What’s the science/reason behind this?

My hair colour is dark brown, almost black and after dyeing it’s slightly lighter and brownish, the brown doesn’t show very well though and I was told (by my mum, her personal experience) that the colour would turn out more vivid after a few washes.
I have Asian hair, if that helps.

Joy answers:

Generally speaking it doesn’t make sense but it’s not the sort of problem I deal with I’m afraid. A hairdresser would be a better person to ask, or the product manufacturer.

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No Hair for a Hair Mineral Analysis

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Joy

I was asked by a client the other day if, instead of sending me hair for analysis, she could send me finger nails.

It was the first time anyone had asked me that, but on reflection it’s a completely sensible option because nails are made of keratin which is the same protein your body uses to create hair and the top layer of your skin.

A quick check with the lab confirmed that this would indeed be fine and that approximately 150 milligrams would be required, just like for the hair.

A hair sample is preferable because, when taken correctly – at the root end – it reflects the recent growth pattern, whereas nails – cut from the top – are NOT recent growth. But if hair is not available, then nails are fine.

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Treating Candida

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Joy

My earlier post about the relevance of Hair Mineral Analysis to Candida prompted some enquiries about the subject of Candida and people wanting more information. I’m pleased to recommend this ebook to all readers who wonder if they have a yeast infection and what to do about it.

Learn more when you click the banner below to visit her yeast treatment website:

Candida Information


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Candida and Mercury Toxicity

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Joy

Candida is the common term for an overgrowth of a yeast naturally present in the body.  Candida albicans is the most common of over 20 species of Candida. This is not the place for me to go into symptoms and treatment for Candida.  If you have reached this website because of an interest in Candida, that would not be news to you.

My interest is in finding the cause of your Candida.  Indeed are you really suffering from Candidiasis?  It is, unfortunately, one of the most over-diagnosed complaints by nutritionists who may be at a loss for what to suggest to explain the undeniably unpleasant symptoms a client may be experiencing.

The anti-Candida diet recommended by many nutritionists is a good healthy diet, albeit quite challenging!

As Candida appears naturally in the body, it is not straight-forward to work out what levels should and should not be present.  What is apparent, however, is that a healthy immune system can “handle” the natural levels of Candida, so one method of attack is to support your immune system – which is no bad thing whether you have Candidiasis or not.

So can Hair Mineral Analysis help Candida sufferers?

There is research linking a depressed immune system to mercury toxicity in the body resulting from amalgam fillings. It has been found that this extremely toxic metal can penetrate the body and “poison” the immune system, allowing Candida overgrowth.

A Hair Mineral Analysis test will assess the levels of mercury in your system, and also evaluate whether you have sufficient levels of the minerals that fight mercury toxicity.

Depending on the results of the HMA test you can determine whether mercury toxicity could be causing Candida overgrowth (or indeed whether this toxic metal could be just generally at the root of your ill-health).

The test result includes dietary advice and a supplement program recommendation designed to re-balance your minerals.  Following this alone may correct your symptoms of fatigue, bloating etc.

Alternatively you may prefer to investigate removal of your mercury fillings, in which case it is important to be treated by a properly qualified “Mercury-free Dentist”. This may seem expensive, but far better to pay for a properly qualified practitioner than to risk further exposure to mercury by someone not taking the correct precautions for your safety.

However, before taking such a drastic step as removing your amalgam fillings, it makes sense to check that your mercury levels are indeed excessive; and whether they could more simply and inexpensively be rebalanced by following a nutritional program specifically designed for your mineral levels.

In any case, even if your Candida turns out NOT to be linked to mercury toxicity from amalgam fillings, a good supplement program will support your immune system and help in the fight against Candida.

The above reasons mean that Hair Mineral Analysis is an excellent way forward for Candida sufferers.

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