Hair Mineral Analysis

Hair Mineral Analysis is a screening test to measure the levels of up to 60 essential minerals and toxic metals. With correct testing and interpretation, one can construct a comprehensive metabolic profile of the human body.

Benefits of Hair Mineral Analysis

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.

Hair Mineral Analysis helps to determine Mineral Deficiencies and the presence of Heavy Metal Toxicity in the body which can offer insight for many issues:

Chronic and frequent general feeling of fatigue, illness and discomfort
Chronic pain, mainly in the tendons, throughout the muscles or soft tissues of the body
Brain fog like being confused or forgetful
Digestive issues like constipation, bloating, gas, diarrhea, heartburn or indigestion
Dizziness
Migraines or headaches
Mood swings
Visual disturbances
Depression or anxiety
Nervous system disorders, including numbness, tingling, burning or paralysis in the extremities
Female reproductive issues like infertility, miscarriage and menstrual problems
Speech problems

ADD/ADHD
Autism
Allergies
Alzheimer’s
Miscarriage
Arthritis
Blood Sugar
Digestive Disorers
Headaches / Migraines
Hair Loss
Parkinson’s Disease
Osteoporosis [Brittle Bones]
Heart Failure

Hyperactivity
Hypertension
Inability to Lose Weight
Infertility and Miscarriage
Insomnia
Learning Disabilities
Lethargy or Weakness
Muscle Weakness

Hair vs. Blood Analysis

Data have been compiled from the available world literature on the accumulation and bioconcentration of selected toxic trace metals in human hair and nails and other mammalian hair, fur, nails, claws, and hoofs. The toxic trace metals and metalloids include antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tin, and vanadium.

These have been tabulated by toxic metal, geographic area, subjects, sex, age, exposure gradient, analyses in ppm, and authority, from over 400 references. . . The various uses of hair for biological monitoring are reviewed for correlating with environmental exposure gradients, diseases associated with excesses and deficiencies, geographic distribution, and historic trends . . . . It appears to be that if hair and nail samples are collected, cleaned, and analyzed properly with the best analytical methods under controlled conditions by experienced personnel, the data are valid. Human hair and nails have been found to be meaningful and representative tissues for biological monitoring for most of these toxic metals.

Jenkins, D. TOXIC TRACE METALS IN MAMMALIAN HAIR AND NAILS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/4-79/049 (NTIS PB80103997), 1979

Research shows that trace minerals and metals are accumulated at concentrations that are 10-50 % higher in hair.
Blood and urine tests give an instantaneous reading that may be affected by many factors. Urine screening is a most effective tool in measuring the progress of detoxification/chelation treatments.
Hair 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.

HMA – An Effective Tool in Patient Assessment:

Screening for essential minerals and toxic elements will help provide a comprehensive, metabolic profile of the human body.

Toxic Metals

When essential trace minerals are absent, toxic metals will replace them. Toxic metal presence in the body may interfere with proper vitamin and mineral utilization. Toxic metals may contribute to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, fatigue, depression, anxiety, infections and many other conditions.

Glucose Tolerance

Minerals are vital for the metabolism of carbohydrates. Ratios of sodium to potassium and calcium to magnesium also provide information about glucose tolerance. Inefficient carbohydrate metabolism drastically reduces cellular energy production.

Organ and Gland Activity

Mineral levels and ratios reflect the activity of the thyroid and adrenal glands. By calculating these ratios organ and glandular activity can be assessed.

Metabolic Rate

Each chemical reaction in the body has an ideal rate of metabolism. Hair mineral analysis can help determine this rate, and identify which foods and supplements would be most helpful to optimize the metabolic rate.

Oxidative Stress

An excess of elements in the cells, such as iron, in an oxidative state can result in excessive free radical formation. This causes damage to the DNA that can be linked to many diseases and cancers.

Identifying Disease Trends

Prediction and prevention are important concepts in health care. Over thirty disease trends can be identified from a properly interpreted trace mineral analysis.

Understanding Behavior

Tissue mineral analysis is a powerful tool to identify and correct biochemical causes of mental and behavioral conditions.

Improving Energy Efficiency

When the metabolic rate is too slow or too fast, energy efficiency declines. Restoring minerals and adjusting their ratios allows thousands of chemical reactions to proceed at their optimum rate

Monitoring Progress

Urine Analysis is the recommended method of tracking the immediate progress of detoxification/chelation therapies. Comparing the results of repeated hair mineral tests over a period of months is an excellent way to monitor subtle changes in body chemistry.

Reducing the Guesswork In Nutritional Therapy

The precision nature of hair mineral analysis offers a method of reducing the guesswork in recommending diets and supplement dosages.

Hair Collection Protocol

Hair that has been dyed, bleached, straightened or otherwise chemically treated is vulnerable to contamination or removal of hair mineral content. 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.

Hair from the head is preferred, however, pubic hair can also be used, but is best reserved for situations where head hair is unavailable. Do not combine head and pubic hair.

Wash hands and ensure scissors are clean and in good condition.
Collect hair samples from the nape of the neck.
Cut hair as close to the scalp as possible. It is best if small amounts are cut from four to six areas.
Save only new hair growth, about 2.5 cm from the scalp.
1 gram or approximately 1 Tablespoon is sufficient for analysis.
Seal tightly in a zip-lock bag.
Label the bag and complete sample submittal form

Pricing

$195.00 includes collection, hair analysis, and consultation with Maggie to discuss results and to offer suggestions to help with imbalances and dealing with heavy metals.

Contact Maggie email: Connect@MaggieHolbik.com or MaggieHolbik@gmail.com

MaggieHolbik.com, CHN, NNCP, CLC

Maggie Holbik, CHN, CLC, NNCP, RNT

Board Certified Nutritionist

Registered Nutritional Therapist,
Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner

Certified Life Coach

Superior Shores Wellness Centre
Suite 305, 17 North Cumberland Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4K8