Hair Mineral Analysis gives a long term reading that is unaffected by recent meals, activities such as exercise, or emotional states. Toxic metals rarely remain in the blood or urine for long, but often deposit in the hair where they can be measured over a three month period.

When mineral deficiencies occur, toxic metals often replace these vital minerals in the body. Various mineral imbalances are revealed by hair analysis. An affordable, non-invasive Hair Mineral Analysis can help practitioners establish a nutritional profile to be used by the patient to guide in the development of an effective wellness and nutritional balancing regimen.

Mineral Imbalances & Hair Analysis

Minerals in the body are involved in almost all enzyme reactions, metabolic activity, and detoxification cycles. They are vital for the effective absorption and proper function of nutrients and vitamins. Our bodies cannot utilize vitamins and other nutrients without a correct balance of minerals, even in trace amounts. Improper mineral balance has been linked to chronic fatigue, weight gain/loss, headaches, depression, osteoporosis, and malabsorption.

Various mineral imbalances as revealed in the hair analysis indicate metabolic dysfunctions before any physical symptoms manifest. An affordable, non-invasive Hair Mineral Analysis (HMA) can help establish a nutritional profile to be used to guide the development of effective wellness and nutritional balancing protocols.

HMA is a screening test that measures the levels of up to 60 essential minerals and toxic metals. With correct testing and interpretation, one can construct a complete metabolic profile of the human body.

Hair is an excellent biopsy material. It is easy to sample, easily preserved, and transported, represents a soft tissue of the body, and is a storage and eliminative tissue. As hair grows it forms a permanent record of the body’s nutritional deficiencies or excesses.

After analysis, you will receive a detailed report detailing nutritional assessment and risk factors based on the sample provided. Customized results will measure 15 toxic elements and 25 nutritional elements and are documented in an easy to read report, tabulated against similar control groups based on age/gender similarities.

Best results are obtained when hair has not been treated. Dandruff shampoos containing zinc (Head & Shoulders), selenium (Selsun Blue) and lead (Grecian Formula) or other medicated shampoos/conditioners should not be used prior to taking a sample. If hair is very short, clean thinning shears may be used.

Screening

Minerals screened include calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc manganese, selenium, iron, and cobalt.

Toxic metal screening includes lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum.

This information, along with dietary and nutritional evaluations, will provide the data needed for a nutritional balancing program to establish and maintain optimal levels of wellness.

By correcting tissue mineral levels and ratios with proper diet, supplementary nutrients and lifestyle modifications, many physical and behavioral health conditions can be prevented or reversed.

Who is hair mineral testing for?

Everyone! In clinic, I use it to help address the following health conditions:

• Adrenal fatigue, including unexplained fatigue, aches and pains, sleep issues
• Thyroid conditions
• Insomnia
• Infertility
• Headaches/migraines
• Weight gain/loss, appetite issues and blood sugar imbalances
• Hormonal dysregulation includes: oestrogen dominance, unexplained menopausal symptoms, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, etc
• Mental health issues: Pyrrole disorder, anxiety, depression, bi-polar depression, OCD, ADHD, etc
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Immune disorders including long term infections such as Epstein Barr virus (glandular fever), hayfever and allergies, histamine dysregulation
• Children’s immune disorders: asthma, eczema, allergies, intolerances
• Children’s developmental disorders: anxiety, ADHD, violent behaviour, tantrums/temper outbursts, dyslexia, poor school performance

How does the testing process work?

If I see you in person, I personally take your hair sample and mail it to the laboratory.

If you are consulting by distance:

1. please take a sample following the instructions below
2. mail it in a PAPER only envelope (no plastic zip lock bags or foil) to the lab

How to take a hair tissue sample?

Taking a hair sample is quick and easy if you follow these instructions

1. Cut hair with clean stainless steel scissors
2. To make the sample less conspicuous, cut small amounts of hair from the nape of the neck and/or several other locations on the back of the scalp
3. Cut hair as close to the scalp as possible- we need the most recent growth. Approximately 1 tablespoon of hair is required.
4. Note for men who shave their hair- collect 1 tbsp of shavings. The length of the hair is not important
5. If the sampled hair is less than 4cm long, keep all of it for testing. If the hair is longer than this, cut off and keep the 4cm of hair that was growing closest to the scalp (discard the excess)
6. Place the hair sample in a paper envelope and mail it to my postal address (this will be in your consult notes)

How to prepare your hair sample for Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

For accurate hair readings, the hair sampling process is very important. Be sure to read these instructions before beginning and follow them exactly. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. To help you understand why these instructions are so specific, it will help to know the goals of the hair sample and testing process. The number of each goal relates to that step.

1.Get an accurate reading of what’s happening in your body (not what’s on your hair).

2.Test the most recent mineral and metal activity.

3.Provide the lab with the necessary length and amount of hair, stored in a suitable way.

4.Provide the lab with all the necessary components.

1.Prepare the hair for cutting

What to do:

−Wash the hair with a non-medicated shampoo.

−Dry the hair (either air dry or with hair dryer).

Things to consider:

−Avoid conditioner.

−Don’t use styling products between washing and taking the sample.

−If you wash your hair with baking soda, stop at least 1 week before taking the sample.

−If you take Epsom salt baths, stop at least 1 week before taking the sample.

−If you use Selsun Blue or Head & Shoulders shampoo, make a note of that on your NewClient Questionnaire or Retest Questionnaire.

−If you only colour or bleach some areas of your hair, it’s fine to take the sample anytimefrom the non-treated areas.

−If you colour all your hair, take the sample before or wash the hair 4 times after.

−If you perm or bleach all your hair, take the sample before or wait at least 3 weeks after.

−If your home has a water softener, wash the hair 4 times with bottled water (can be boughtfrom a grocery store) or unsoftened tap water before taking the sample.

−If you are exposed to external contaminants occupationally (e.g. welding, mining), plan totake your hair sample on a day when you don’t need to be at work.

−If your hair will be sampled by a hair stylist, print out these instructions and give to thestylist.

2.Cut the hair

What to do:

−Cut the hair between 4 and 24 hours after it’s dry.

−Use clean scissors.

−Comb and lift a section of hair at the nape of the neck. If needed, either pin or clip thesection, or have someone hold it out of the way.

−Cut as close to the scalp as possible.

Tips:

−Although you can cut from anywhere on your head, cutting from the nape of the neck isoften less noticeable.

−To avoid bald spots, cut several small sections of hair from the nape of the neck (or differentplaces on your head) and combine them to make the sample.

−Head hair is preferred, but if you don’t have hair on your head then beard hair or underarmhair is also fine (use only one type of hair). Pubic hair is the least accurate so it’s acceptedonly if no other hair is available. If you’re not able to use head hair, make a note of wherethe hair is from on your New Client Questionnaire or Retest Questionnaire.

−If you shave your head, use a clean razor and save the clippings in a paper envelope. Repeatuntil you have enough hair.

−Keep track of which end of the cut hair is from the scalp. It’s the scalp end that’s needed.