I have had some hair mineral analysis done over the past few years. One thing that keeps showing up is a high level of barium. My ND has had me taking about 1000mg of both Ca and Mg. as well as 100mg/day of B6 to chelate it out of my system. Until the most recent test the levels seemed to be going down. The most recent test said I have 43ug/g and the referance range was 0.26 -3.0. The test six months previous was in ppm. reading 18.04ppm and the referance range as <1.5.ppm. Are these tests accurate? I have no idea where the excess barium is coming from. The usual sources of barium are not something I am exposed to. We are looking at doing water and soil testing. We are on our own well , but drink bottled water. We eat a lot of our own home grown vegetables from our garden. The site of our garden was used as pasture and hay and should not have been contaminated, unless it is naturally high in barium.
I would be a bit puzzled too as to why the barium is so high in your body, it is also a puzzle for me becasue I don;t know all that is going on...symptom-wise.
As far as Hair Mineral analysis....they are accurate, but there are a couple of things you need to be aware of as does the doctor. Each lab does it a bit different when it comes to testing...meaning some labs wash the hair when they get it others don't...this can alter the true numbers. As to why they changed their measurment indices from one format to another...I can't answer that.
I like Anyalytical Labs for Hair analysis. Something else to think about...could also be shampoos, conditioneers and dyes or coloring agents....they may be coming from their. Another thing could be from various cosmetics....Most people don't realize that many cosmetic manufacturers use things that aren't listed on the ingredient list, and that could be another source of your problem....
I wish I had some concrete answers for you, but depending on your symptoms....my first question would be....is Hair Mineral Analysis the best test to do to help figure out your problems? Maybe there might be better diagnostic tests to help figure things out? Have you checked our "Online Health Quizzes?" How did those come out?
Thank you for your reply to my question. It is a privelege to be able to have access to this kind of help. I listen to your radio program online. I have a nutritional background so I find your programs an additional source of information.
I took your online health quizzes. The results Stress 3-4, Blood Sugar 0 , Digestion 1, Hormonal or Chemical 4, Elimination 3.
My main reason for seeking an ND is that I am 53 years old and have been experiencing hotflashes and nightsweats for the past 15 months and have also had some trouble with insomnia and slight mood and depression problems through the winter months. I have tried a few different herbal preparation those containing such herbs as black cohosh, vitex, and dong quai for several months but with no change and have also taken various adrenal support mixtures, but with no change. I also take a good multi Vit/ mineral, fish oil, evening primrose oil,Calcium/Magnesium/ VitD supplement and have recently started to take a product called Femal by Flora to see if that helps my menopausal symptoms. I eat well as I understand the importance of what we eat. I also exercise regularly and don't feel I am living under a lot of stress. My weight is within the normal healthy range.
I also had quite a number of blood tests done by a MD.in October. Those tests that were out of the reference range were. Triglycerides 2.61 mmol/L normal range 0.6 - 2.3 DHEA 0.7umol/L, normal range 1.5 - 13, Immunoglobulin A .58 ,normal range 0.6 -4.2 Also my progesterone was 1.4/nmol/L and estradiol 54 pmol/L which was not out of range considering the range for postmenopausal women goes down to 0. He offered me bioidentical estrogen replacement which I turned down and DHEA supplementation 25mg/day which I filled but decided against when I read of possible side effects.
That should give you a better idea of how my body is functioning. I am concerned about the low DHEA and have been supplementing with sterols and sterolins 250mg/day. I have read they are a precurser to DHEA. I would also like to get rid of the hotflashes and night sweats about 6-8/day and 2-3/night.
Finding out about the bariun toxicity was just an aside but now has me trying to find an answer. I have wondered too if the barium is possibly only on the surface and not in the actual hair. The products I use on my hair are sold in Health Food type store so I am hoping that the elements they contain are good for our bodies. Our water is another possiblility, being a well, though we don't drink it, we use it for washing.
I would welcome your comments on any of the topics discussed. Thanks so much, Linda
Here are a few things that need to be checked. I would definitely have your adrenals measured first, especially if a blood test suspects your DHEA is low. Remember when menoapause hits...your adrenals have to pick up the slack that your ovaries used to do. And if the adrenals are exhausted, it makes the transition all the harder. This is where people usually just think of replacing progesterone....and a lot of times it helps, but keep in mind the adrenal glands need or more accurately...they steal progesterone in order to make cortisol, one of your primary stress hormones....and if your adrenals have been using lots of your progesterone it than throws off the balance of estrogen to progesterone and testosterone.
You just can't look at absolute numbers...you have to rely on symptoms as well as ratios. The fact that you are experience all these symptoms leads me to believe your adrenals aren't strong enough to handle the extra work. Add to the fact, you didn't score as well on the STress test as the others.
Also, if you are still perimenopause (still transitioning, and it sounds like you are) DON'T rely on a single blood test to accurately measure your progesterone. To get an accurate reading your probably need to do at least two samples that are at least two weeks apart....progesterone fluctuates and a one time read is not a good reflection as to what is going on.
As far as DHEA....NEVER use hormones that you have to swallow...the delivery system of a hormone is much better when it is done sublingually....it is a hormone and by the time you digest it and it travels thru your liver it is diminished and less potent. I give everyone sublingual DHEA...you get much better results. And if it is your adrenals, after you have had them measured with ours or anyother lab (Adrenal Stress Profile) and depending on if your adrenals are exhausted or over-stimulated, will also give us a little different therapy...but the best part is that ADrenal Fuel is formulated to help either person.
Hope that helps, and get the best advise is to measure your adrenal function and see how stress is Truly impacting your health and all the other systems in your body.
