Hair Analysis :: Beauty

Hair Analysis
by author Zoltan Rona, MD

Doctors criticize the validity of hair mineral analysis as unscientific, and some alternative health-care providers have even been disciplined by medical licensing bodies for ordering hair mineral analyses. Despite the negative publicity and medical antagonism, an ever-growing number of people are getting this test done. What does hair analysis tell us and why the confusion over its validity?

Hair mineral analysis has its main value in determining excessive levels of toxic heavy metals, particularly lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and nickel. This fact is supported by voluminous amounts of scientific literature as well as by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Excesses or deficiencies of nutritional and toxic minerals correlate well with many important health conditions. For example, low chromium has been seen in diabetes or hypoglycemia. Low levels of magnesium and selenium can be seen in heart disease, while high levels of lead and mercury can cause headaches, fatigue or forgetfulness. Hair will show accumulation of toxins long before they appear high on conventional blood and urine tests for most toxic heavy metals.

Hair mineral analysis is valuable in cases of behaviour problems because there are distinct mineral patterns in such individuals. Since hair is a projection of a body cell that closely represents the mineral content of most other cells in the body, it is the next best thing to doing a biopsy.

Most experts would say that it is not possible to interpret hair mineral analysis without correlating the results to the findings of a thorough history, physical examination and other laboratory tests (blood and urine). Hair mineral levels do not reflect the mineral levels in the blood. Rather, they represent intracellular mineral levels that could alert a person to early signs of potential health problems.

Hair can be assessed for several key nutritional minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, selenium, lithium, vanadium, boron, germanium and at least a dozen others. The clinical significance of hair levels of nutritional minerals is controversial and not diagnostic of any specific disease. Hair levels of potassium, sodium, molybdenum and cobalt often do not reflect the correct nutritional status.

To properly interpret hair mineral analysis requires a great deal of clinical experience and the ability to correlate the findings with other objective tests of nutritional status. When hair analyses are performed in conjunction with an experienced health-care practitioner, such as a medical doctor, naturopath or chiropractor, people need not be concerned with misinterpretations.

Dr. Rona is the author of several best-selling books, including Return to the Joy of Health, available at health food stores or from alive Books 800-663-6513.

Source: alive #232, February 2002

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