I am considering having a hair analysis for minerals and heavy mental elments. But some others think it is not as reliable as blood tests (blood tests for minerals are limited, less than 10 kinds of minerals as far as I know) What is your thougt?

I am also thinking of test for bone density, but worried about the radiation of X rays!

And for the tests, do you think we should stop taking the supplements 1 day before the tests? I heard that 24 hours of fasting is good for tests. Since taking different minerals/vitamins, would it interfere the accurate result? (I am thinking stopping taking iron/magnesium..etc 1 day before testing them)

Any thoughts? Thanks!

We're exposed to radiation all the time. The only time it is a concern is if you get too much (over a lifetime or all at once) or you're pregnant or perhaps wanting to conceive. If people were generally getting too much radiation they'd probably be dying a lot younger with all sorts of weird cancers.

I don't know how accurate hair testing is but hair records what your status was at the time the hair was formed, so I doubt stopping the supplements 1 day ahead of your test is going to alter anything, since your hair is probably many months old.

Don't forget that your hair could have absorbed and retain traces of minerals or chemicals from shampoos etc. Zinc for instance is a common ingredient in shampoo. Plus, as Nancy says, your hair records information from when it was formed. In some cases, that could be years ago.

There is another way to check for hevy metal and minerals. The urine challenge test. You are required to take edta which is a mineral chelator about 12 hs before and collect urine for the next whole. The mineral which comes out the most probably has accumulated in your body.

It is very reliable IMHO.

I've seen places that offer the hair test and was curious myself, but also skeptical. Have you decided to go forward with it? If so, what did you find out? How much did it cost? Is it affected by hair coloring? Sorry, I know that is probably too many questions, but I am curious.

I know this is very old, but had to post as I had a hair analysis test done recently. My doctor wanted to do it because she is into heavy metals causing all types of problems and wanted to see if they were causing me any of my ills. I went to her thinking I had hypothyroidism but turns out that I have adrenal fatigue. It was confirmed with the hair analysis. What she said about the hair anaylsis---it is good enough to tell if someone died of arsenic poisoning and such in the forensic sciences so why not tell us some good stuff while we are alive. I read the report (and still have it) that came back and found it fascinating. I am now on some of the supplements they suggested I take to get my minerals back into a proper range. The doctor also told me that the hair will hold minerals and heavy metals for about 3 months. Truly fascinating stuff. And it was cheaper than a saliva test, which is the norm for adrenals. Oh, the report also said that I only have detectable levels of aluminum. She said those are from deodorant, cans of soda, aluminum cooking ( I bake my bacon in the oven on aluminum foil!!).....I am not sure about the hair coloring as I don't color my hair so it wasn't a factor in my test. As far as cost, it is not covered by insurance which is a shame for what my doctor states about it being a very useful tool it should be!! I paid $130 for it, like I said much cheaper than a saliva test. McKi--my doctor is in Traveler's Rest--Greenville area. If you want to go see her I could give you her name. She is simply fabulous and I drive 2 hours one way to see her!!

This is a fascinating subject. I am a little confused though. Does mineral concentration affect autoimmune disease? I was considering selenium supplementation, but I don't know too much about supplements yet.

Oh yeah - I did quite a few fitness workshops in Greenville, SC! That's not too far and I'd consider driving that distance. Please email me or PM me with that information!

Any reason why you think you need selenium? My doctor want me to start supplementing for that, but she told me to eat brazil nuts. Now I just need to find a store that sells bulk nuts. I will be out and about on Tues. so I will wait until then to go to the health food store. Also, another mineral I need is molybedemium (or something like that) but we let that pass for now. I do have a budget!! And yes, my doctor does believe that mineral concentration, or rather metal toxins, CAUSE not only affect autoimmune disease. My doctor got into med school to cure her rhumatoid arthritis. Not just find a way to manage, but cure, her disease. She did it through metal detox and mineral supplementation. angie--I will PM you her website. She really is fascinating to talk to. I love seeing her!! I wish I could have found her years ago.

Thank you very much, dawn, It is said that chelation therapy for heavey metals is still controversial? I have had hair tested, found some of heavy metas are very high,, but I am not sure if the chelation therapy is safe or not.

PS.what about your lab results of hair test?

I don't think chelation is unsafe, there's a question as to whether it is effective or not or even necessary. Probably best to google about it and read up.

joy

Since my hair analysis didn't show any concentrations of heavy metals my doctor didn't suggest doing a detox. So I don't know what she recommends to do a detox. I wish I did to help you. I don't even know what it entails. Didn't Atkins write a book on chelation? Am I wrong? I thought he wrote something about it. I would follow Nancy's advice and research it as much as I could. What does your doctor say about chelation? If he is for it, maybe he has some resource materials you can look at.

As far as results of my hair analysis---I am taking the supplements they suggested taking in the report. I am on chromium pic for blood sugar regulation; betaine HCL peptain for digestion; adrenal formulation for the adrenals; along with brazil nuts for selenium. Haven't done anything about the B12 yet though! Those along with the other vitamins she has me on keeps me on my toes!! It is quite a lot of things to be taking with all my meals, but it won't be forever, just until the levels are up. I had a repeat on my Vitamin D levels and after 3 months of supplements the numbers are increasing. I also did a repeat blood glucose and while that number is going down, it is still too high. So, hopefully the chromium will help that.