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Why Hair Analysis Changes May Not Correlate
With The Way One Feels
At times, a retest hair mineral analysis may show little change, yet one may feel significantly
better, or perhaps worse. On other occasions, the test shows dramatic improvement, yet one
feels the same.
To understand this phenomenon, it is important to realize that a hair analysis represents: 1)
deep metabolic patterns, 2) the body’s response to stress and 3) an average of several months of
accumulation of minerals in the hair tissue.
Symptoms Improve, Yet The Retest Changes Very Little
The main reason one occasionally sees little change on a hair test when symptoms improve is
that symptomatic improvement may occur first, while deeper metabolic change takes longer to
occur. Since the hair test reveals the deeper patterns, one must wait - perhaps six months or
more - for the deeper changes to be revealed on a tissue mineral analysis. In other words, a lag
occurs between the symptomatic change and the deep correction of body chemistry.
Another possibility is that a particular nutrient or a change in the diet has corrected a
deficiency, allergic condition or other type of imbalance that results in a noticeable improvement
in one’s symptoms. However, this does not necessarily mean that deep correction of body
chemistry has occurred. In this case, while one feels better, underlying biochemical patterns may
not have changed significantly. This occurs often with drug therapy and with other symptomatic
approaches to health care. It can also occur with nutrient therapy.
A hair tissue mineral test reveals the way the body is responding to stress. The test is a
metabolic blueprint of a homeostatic state or stress response. It is possible to have symptomatic
change, yet the basic way in which the body responds to stress may remain the same.
Symptoms Remain The Same, Yet The Retest Shows Improvement
Occasionally a retest mineral analysis reveals significant or even dramatic improvement, yet
one feels the same. One reason this occurs is that at times deep metabolic change precedes
symptomatic improvement. The hair test is acting like an early indicator of correction.
Improvement of symptoms will follow.
A related reason is that with a nutritional balancing program, the body corrects the most
important imbalances first. The most important imbalance may not be one’s main symptom,
however. Therefore, one may not feel better immediately, even though positive change is
occurring. Some understanding of the correction process is required in order to continue with the
program in spite of little apparent symptom change.
For example, often the first thing to be corrected is a latent and perhaps serious health
condition such as a threatened heart attack or the beginnings of a cancer. These conditions
usually have no obvious symptoms and one is unaware of the developing pathology.
Since there are no obvious symptoms of pathology, one is also often not aware of the
correction of the latent pathology either. Therefore, one might think that nothing has occurred
after a few months on a program, when in fact an important healing has occurred. The hair
analysis may be the only indicator of the healing.
For instance, a tissue mineral retest may reveal the elimination of excess cadmium or mercury.
This is an excellent event, as either of these can contribute to severe illness. Yet at times one may
not feel the benefit, as the changes in body chemistry may be subtle, especially at first.
Meanwhile, one’s more ‘pressing’ symptoms may not change. In reality, these may be much
less important, however, than the elimination of a toxic metal and will be dealt with later.
Symptoms Improve, Yet The Retest Looks Worse
This occurs often on hair mineral tests. The main reason is that imbalances in body chemistry
are unwound or uncovered layer by layer. Often, a superficial layer does not appear that
abnormal. However, a deeper layer reveals hidden toxic metals and other imbalances that are
more aberrant.
This is not a cause for alarm, but for gratitude that one is uncovering and correcting deeper
imbalances. Usually one feels better as these are uncovered, as it means one must no longer
spend energy compensating and adapting to underlying imbalances. Adaptive energy that was
tied up in this way is now freed and one often feels better.
In those following a nutritional balancing program, blood, urine and other tests may also be
skewed temporarily as the unwinding of layers of adaptations proceeds. One simply addresses
the imbalances that are present without placing too much emphasis on the seemingly worsened
appearance of the mineral or other test.
Symptoms Are Worse, Yet The Retest Shows Improvement
The most common reason a retest reveals improvement when one feels worse is a healing
reaction or retracing reaction. This may be a temporary flare-up of an old infection or due to the
removal of a toxic substance. A healing reaction may also be a decompensation in which
metabolism slows, or the healing of some other old condition that causes a temporary
aggravation of symptoms.
Many people are very out of touch with the messages the body is sending. Many are not in
touch with the severity of their biochemical imbalances. Either they are used to the way they feel,
or they are used to ignoring or minimizing their symptoms. As body chemistry begins to improve,
often one becomes more in touch with one’s condition, and this may be perceived as feeling
worse. For example, giving up coffee, soda pop or sugar can cause one’s true fatigue condition
to become apparent. One may feel worse for a while, although in fact health is improving.
Emotional Changes
Mental and emotional changes that accompany an improvement in body chemistry can also
cause annoying symptoms at times. These may include increased awareness and increased
emotional sensitivity. This can lead to temporary symptoms of anxiety or fear as one sees aspects
of one’s life more clearly.
Also, changes in the oxidation rate may be healthier, but not necessarily more comfortable.
For example, many slow oxidizers feel anxious when their metabolism speeds up to normal. Fast
oxidizers may feel tired or “too relaxed” when their oxidation rate slows down to normal. I have
had patients go so far as to quit the nutritional balancing program due to this type of discomfort
even though their hair tests clearly showed they were functioning better. In one case, the patient
admitted feeling better but was uncomfortable with the change.
Copyright © 2004
This material is for educational purposes only
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
