having a hair analysis?

[fragrance850]

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). How about urine tests for them? Which tests are more reliable?

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!

[DrIvan]

Blood analysis is definitely much better and more accurate. However you are correct that hair will test a longer time period while minerals in blood can disappear very fast (within a day). Hair analysis does not provide information which you can make a diagnosis from. It is too prone to contamination and so far it is impossible to relate hair concentration to a blood concentration (i.e. how much of a mineral you consumed or were exposed to). Thus it is not possible to deduce what the hair analysis actually means and should only be used as more of a novelty rather than glean diagnostic information. Assessment of hair analysis laboratories show they are not capable of providing accurate data or interpretation - use it by all means but do so for interest and be very skeptical of the results and especially any recommendations of products you should buy.  

[Lori707]

Can these tests be covered by insurance if you have a doctors script?

[fragrance850]

Thank you Liz.

Do you know how many kinds of minerals/elements your husband's friend had tested for hair analysis?

The insitution near me has 35 kinds of element tests.

[fragrance850]

Thanks, laura for your info!

I am taking vitamin B complex, C, and iron supplements now. Do you think I should stop taking them before cutting the hair samples? BTW, How many minerals/elements did you have them tested for hair analysis? Did you supplement the specific lower levels of minerals after getting the reports?

In labs of hospitals, they test patients' blood for just 6 minerals,that is Calcium, Mg, Iron, Zinc, Copper.

In public institutions there are tests for toxic elments, e.g. mecury. Instead of blood, they use urine samples.

What is the difference between urine and blood tests? For diagnosing the adrenal fatigue, the urine tests seem more sensitive...

[laura1967]

If you are going to do a hair analysis, you have to follow the rules to a tee. No highlighting, dyeing, perming, etc for a period of time.Also you need to use baby shampoo for a little while as well....often they don't tell you these things when you order the test. Any chemical from shampoos....conditioners....product.....etc, can alter the results, so you have to be diligant. I have had a couple over the past 5 yrs and they are very informative. They will show average over the past 6 mos or so. Blood testing shows active results now.  Both are good because the hair analysis will also show toxic levels of mercury, nickel, tin, aluminum, etc.

[Liz94]

I've also pondered getting the hair analysis.  There is a holistic market near my house that has a detailed hair analysis that takes about 3 months to complete. It tests all  levels of everything.  My husband's friend had it done and he found it very informative.  It showed him what minerals were highly concentrated in his body and what he was lacking. This was good for him as he was supplementing and he wasn't aware of the high levels of certain minerals in his body.  It's quite costly to have done but I'd be interested in doing it.  As for the bone density test, I don't think the levels of radiation are that high that you need to worry about it. I had one and I'm glad I did. I think it's important to know where you stand as far as your bone density, it's something you can tackle early on if problems show up. Can save you some big problems later in life.