WHAT YOUR RETESTS REPRESENTS
The process of correcting body
chemistry through hair mineral analysis is somewhat like
peeling off old layers of wallpaper so that the walls can be
repaired. In
this analogy, your previous hair mineral analysis
corresponds to the top layer of wallpaper showing at the
time of the test. Your
current retest, after following a nutritional rebalancing
program for several months, represents a ‘peel away’ of
the top layer and the exposure of another layer of mineral
patterns beneath. Your
previous nutrition program was designed to remove the top
layer of mineral patterns, and the purpose of the retest is
to reveal and correct the under lying mineral patterns that
are now coming into view.
REASONS WHY INTERPRETATION OF
RETESTS IS COMPLEX
Many types of changes in your chemistry may have
occurred since your initial hair mineral analysis. These changes may include:
Retention of a
Mineral. The
body may retain a mineral in an organ or tissue for varying
reasons, such as an increased requirement of that mineral in
the rebuilding of tissues or organs. When this occurs, the level of that mineral will
decline on the retest.
Excretion of a
Mineral. The
body may release or eliminate a mineral from the body. The mineral is eliminated first into the blood, from
which it goes to the liver, kidneys and hair to be excreted.
Mobilization of
a Mineral. A
mineral may move out of tissue storage, into other areas of
the body where it is needed. It is in this way that a
mineral is thus made ‘bio-available,” or available for
use.
Mineral
Compensation. As
minerals are retained, incorporated, excreted and mobilized,
other minerals will balance and compensate for these changes
in order to maintain critical mineral levels and ratios.
Test Mineral values generally go up, or increases,
during excretion and mobilization. Test
mineral values generally go down,
or diminish, during retention and after excretion. Test mineral values may go up
or down during replacement or compensation.
The
reason for the complexity of the interpretation of the
retest is that all these phenomena are occurring
simultaneously in your body.
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 improvements, yet
one feels the same.
To understand this phenomena, 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 changes
take longer to occur. Since
the hair tissue mineral analysis 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 of
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.
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 tissue mineral analysis 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 often corrects the most important
imbalance first. The
most important imbalance may not be related to 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 imbalance 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. Therefore,
one might think that nothing has occurred after a few months
on a program, when in fact an important healing process has
occurred. The hair tissue mineral 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, ones 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 a hair tissue mineral analysis. The main reason is that imbalances in the 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 during the process of
uncovering, and correcting deeper imbalances. Usually one feels better as these are uncovered as it
means one must no longer spend energy compensation 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 proceed. 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 due to 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 de-compensation in
which metabolism slows or the healing of some other previous
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 their 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 oxidize4rs may feel tired or “ too relaxed”
when their oxidation rate slows down to normal.
WHY A RETEST MAY LOOK WORSE THAN THE
ORIGINAL TEST
Sometimes, when a person begins a nutritional
correction program as derived from hair analysis data, their
mineral levels may appear quite balance, when actually such
is not the case. This occurs because the individual has unknowingly
developed various coping mechanisms and compensating
mechanisms that ‘cover up’ or ‘mask’ nutrient
deficiencies and imbalances. These coping mechanisms may include the accumulation
of toxic metals, use the various stimulants such as coffee,
alcohol and strenuous exercise, food habits, and sleep
habits, emotions and other subtle mechanisms. On the retest analysis, some of the toxic metal
levels and glandular functions have changed as a result of
the nutrient and diet program, and thus previous underlying
mineral imbalances are exposed. Stated simple, the original test was not the true
picture of balance, but instead was picture a precarious
balance maintained by compensating mechanisms.
WHY YOU MAY FEEL BETTER THOUGH THE
RETEST LOOKS WORSE
When underlying nutrient imbalances are brought to
light on a retest, some mineral levels and ratios, as viewed
by an untrained observer, frequently look worse. However, you may feel better because other imbalances
that were present have improved or have been corrected. Also, although your oxidation rate may appear to
worsen temporarily, energy pathways may have been improved
as a result of the program, and account for your improvement
in general well being.
WHY YOU MAY FEEL WORSE OR THE SAME WHEN
THE RETEST INDICATES IMPROVEMENT
You may feel worse if, as a result of undoing certain
mineral imbalances, your body begins to use it newly
developed internal energy to re-establish more favorable
coping and homeostatic mechanisms. That energy will be temporarily unavailable for
external use and, as a result, you will feel fatigued,
Oftentimes, mineral levels, while they appear to be
improved, will be associated with increased discomfort due
to elimination of excessive toxic metals. For example, if cadmium (a toxic metal) is being
eliminated, a temporary rise in sodium levels may occur in a
slow oxidizer, causing the sodium level to appear more
normal. However, the individual may experience the detrimental
effects of cadmium elimination more than the beneficial
effect of the more balanced sodium level.
LIFESTYLE AND PROGRESS ON RETESTS
Lifestyle factors can enhance or impede
the rate of progress of the nutritional correction program. Good eating habits, adequate sleep, moderate
exercise, avoiding adverse types of stress, and dealing
realistically with emotions such as fear and worry, will
greatly improve your response to the program.
On the other hand, negative lifestyle factors can
interfere with progress on the program to the extent that
they can counteract the benefits of the diet and
supplements. This
is often the case with people who show little improvement
over several hair analysis tests.
A Positive
Attitude goes a long way toward change - bio-chemically,
physically and emotionally. Have faith in yourself that you can do this, a
commitment to yourself, and know that your value as a person
matters. This
is the greatest gift you can give yourself, a move toward
self-commitment to a healthier body and mind. This is not an easy commitment to make. It takes time and patience to peel away the layers of
toxicity that have accumulated over the years. If you really want to become healthier, this program
works. Do this: Wake up each morning, face the East, watch
the sun rise, smile, hug yourself, take a deep breath from
deep inside you, and know what you are doing for yourself is
the best gift you can give yourself – a healthier body,
mind and spirit! Katé
Montgomery, ND
WHY SOME
PEOPLE DON’T IMPROVE
There are three major reasons if minimal or no
improvement has taken place.
1. The program, including diets and supplements,
wasn’t followed faithfully or as specifically outlined.
2. The nature of the condition is such that it is not
amenable to biochemical correction.
3. Other factors, such as lifestyle, have overridden and
negated the effectiveness of the diet and supplements.
HOW MANY
RETESTS ARE NECESSARY
Several other questions must be addressed to answer
this question, which will clarify the question of how many
retests are necessary.
1. How long have
you not been feeling well? The longer a problem has been present, generally the
longer it will take to effect correction.
2. How sick or
well are you? We
all hear of people who were never sick a day, who then
develop cancer or experience a heart attack. These people were much sicker than they thought they
were, and this is the case today with many people. The body is capable of compensation for a long time-
similar to running a car on the reserve gas tank.
3. What level of
health do you desire? The standard of definition is that health is an
absence of symptoms or diseases. However, it is possible to go beyond this concept,
and have abundant energy and high resistance to nay illness. This will take longer to achieve, naturally, than
just getting rid of your symptoms.
4. How many of
your lifestyle habits are supporting the goals of the
program, and how may are opposing it- wearing you out? The more support there is for the program, the faster
your progress.
5. The body
proceeds at its own pace. Perhaps this is the most important point. We can’t set time limits because the kind of
biochemical changes that must occur are complex, involving
r3egenergation and repair of major organs and systems, and
replacement of toxic elements with physiological elements in
many enzyme systems. If
this process were to occur too fast, the eliminative organs
of the body would be overloaded and serious problems would
arise. The body
therefore regulates the correction process, and it is not
unusual for several years to be required to rebuild bodily
health. IN
fact, the slower you get well, the better, because getting
well is a form of stress on the body, requiring biochemical
energy. That
stress is minimized when the process is slow and even. Your program is designed to derive the most rapid
results without over stressing your body’s coping
mechanisms.
WHEN TO
RETEST
If you follow the diet and supplement program,
another retest should be requested in approximately three
months. In case
of severe illness, or if you sense significant changes in
your chemistry sooner, such as dramatic changes in food
cravings, your doctor may wish to order a retest in 4-6
weeks. Retests
are important because significant change occurs in the body
chemistry within several months, which may necessitate
adjustments in your nutrition program. The objective is to keep supporting and balancing the
body chemistry, and this can be accomplished most
effectively by periodically assessing body chemistry through
a retest.
Copyright@Analytical Resource Labs. Material is for educational purposes only.
