Mineral Analysis
Mineral analysis of the hair is used to establish levels of minerals in the hair, which relate to body tissue levels. Minerals are considered essential to our wellbeing, it is the lack or excess of minerals that can cause health problems, the first sign often is hair loss.
Over a thousand foreign chemicals have been introduced into the food chain thus distorting the balance of our cells, hair
loss can be a sign of a mineral deficiency or mineral overload due to health problems or a toxic environment. Mineral deficiency and disease are directly related.
Because our hair is easily obtained it is an easy and reliable method of testing. Hair stores and concentrates many of the minerals, more than other tissues or fluids. Blood tests are often inaccurate as a guide to nutritional status. Minerals such as lead, for example, may pass quickly from the blood to other body tissues. So hair reflects lead levels far better then blood. Levels of other minerals in the blood may only change in extreme cases. So if calcium intake is too low, calcium will be transferred from the bones or teeth into the blood to maintain normal levels in the blood.Therefore, serum calcium levels may be normal even though calcium intake is poor. The same applies to magnesium and potassium.
The minerals that can be measured in hair include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, sulphur, selenium, silicon iodine and cobalt.
Toxic minerals that can be assessed include lead, mercury cadmium, arsenic and aluminium.
The hair follicle can live for a few days after being taken from the scalp so under a microscope cell changes can be seen. A small sample from the back area of the scalp is taken, about 0.5 grams is required for all relevant tests to be administered.
Nutritional therapy can be offered if required.