Alternative practitioners claim to detect various problems using hair analysis

Whereas hair analysis is used by mainstream and conventional medicine steams, it is also used in alternative therapies and practices to make certain diagnostic evaluations such as exposure to certain chemicals, minerals and metals.

How hair analysis is thought to work

It is the understanding of many alternative practitioners that analyzing hair can detect toxins, metal and other substances being present in the body, which could be contributing to illnesses and ailments.

Often hair analysis is used when other dialogistic tools fail to identify what is causing a given set of symptoms.

According to proponents of this alternative method of diagnosis, the concentrations of toxins in hair are higher than the concentrations that can be traced in blood and this is why hair analysis can offer superior diagnostic information.

As metabolically active body tissue hair, is affected by one’s genes, hormone levels, perspiration and environment. It can have a predictive use; in the sense that if high levels of mercury are detected in the hair, this could predict that higher than normal levels exist in the liver and the kidney as well.

Examining the hair and its structure not only tells us what is, as in the case of a blood test, but also what was (your health history) and what will be (what you can reasonably expect your health to be in the future).

Alternative practitioners claim to detect various problems using hair analysis:

It is claimed that hair analysis can offer a solution for disorders such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The idea is that the analysis will reveal what vitamin or other nutritional deficiencies are responsible for a given case of ADHD and a suitable alternative protocol for treating it.

It is suggested that magnesium or calcium deficiencies or higher levels of potassium and sodium could lead to hyperactivity, sleeping problems, twitching etc, and that redressing the imbalance can help to ease ADHD symptoms.

Fibromyalgia and chronic pain are other ailments that hair analysis is supposed to help with by aiding diagnosis. Responsible factors such as toxic metals (copper, aluminum etc), food intolerances or allergies, nutritional deficiencies and so on can be detected by hair analysis it is believed.

The result of the hair analysis may suggest what kind of nutritional therapies may be suitable and which may help ease symptoms. For instance lower magnesium levels could what is responsible for the tiredness and extreme fatigue that is a hallmark of fibromyalgia.