PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS

PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS

FOR HAIR ANALYSIS INTERPRETATIONS FROM THE ARL LAB COMPUTER

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

I strongly recommend using Analytical Research Laboratories or ARL for hair tissue mineral testing. They appear to be the most reliable and accurate lab for this testing. They are the only lab that automatically repeats the test at no charge if a reading is far outside the normal range.

Also, their interpretation and dietary suggestions are the best I have seen. I am biased, however, as I consult for them at times, and helped to design their interpretation and diet profiles.

However, I have moved away from a few of their supplement recommendations, as I feel they can be improved, at times. I have discussed this with them, and some day I hope the changes will be made in the computer as they are mainly minor ones. In the meantime, the main changes are discussed in this article. I am also available to assist doctors and nutritional consultants to interpret hair analyses that are performed by Analytical Research Labs, in particular. Anyone interested may call me at (928) 445-7690.

The following suggestions are divided into changes for all programs, followed by specifics for fast and slow oxidizers and a few other situations.

CHANGES FOR ALL HAIR ANALYSIS CHARTS

1. Dietary Aids. Give GB-3 at all times unless it causes diarrhea or severe cramping. There are at least 6 or 7 reasons why this product is superior to Betaine Hcl-pepsin that the computer recommends currently, at times. Sometimes the computer fails to recommend any digestive aid. Always give GB-3, if possible. To read more about GB-3, click here.

Children: Most children do not get a digestive aid, though it would help some of them. This has to do with its taste and smell.

Exceptions: If a client cannot tolerate even 1/2 a GB-3 per meal, substitute Enz-aid or Betaine Hcl-pepsin. These could also be used along with GB-3, but this is not necessary in most cases. Eventually, give GB-3 to everyone, if at all possible, as it has many benefits.

2. Always replace Ova-adren with Thyro-complex or Endo-dren. The ARL computer currently recommends Ova-adren in some cases of PMS or menopausal symptoms. However, I much prefer Thyro-complex if the potassium level is between 1 and 4 mg$%, or Endo-dren if the potassium level is above 4 mg%.

The problem with Ova-adren, a product designed to increase estrogen production, is its high copper content which upsets some people’s bodies. Also, the herbs it contains a little toxic.

Most cases of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes will respond to enough Thyro-complex in younger women. In women over 45, however, they may need other support such as adding boron, 3 mg, at 1 to 3 daily. Only if this fails, would I suggest adding Ova-adren, which is excellent for this problem.

Lifestyle is also critical for menopausal symptoms More rest and sleep can be excellent as well, along with an excellent diet and a low-stress lifestyle.

3. I omit Endo-C-1000, Endo A-C, Super Vital E, Pyridox, Thym-adren and Magnesium in almost all cases.

Although Dr. Eck recommended these in most cases, they add many tablets and I think they are less needed. Some of all these are in Megapan and other Metabolic Paks. All these products are helpful in certain circumstances, however.

4. Add EPA-DHA 300 at a dose of 1-1-1 to all adult programs. Everyone needs essential fatty acids or omega-e fatty acids today. This has to do with farming and livestock practices, the widespread use of vegetable oils and other factors. This is not an optional product for many people today, in my view.

Children need less depending on their size or age. However, it is very important product for children.

Exception: If the patient eats oily, cold water fish twice each week, such as salmon or sardines, then fish or flax oil are less important. Tuna is an oily, cold water fish, but is not recommended due to its mercury content.

Also, one can omit EPA-DHA 300 if the patient is taking flax oil, hemp oil or an oil blend in liquid or capsules.

5. Add vitamin D3 or cod liver oil at a dose of 4000 iu of vitamin D3 daily for all adults. Most people need far more vitamin D than is contained in foods, most supplements including those from Endomet Labs, and that which one can get from sunbathing or living out of doors. This is newer research since Dr. Eck’s death and needs to be added to the nutritional programs. Endomet Labs sells an excellent 4000 iu vitamin D3 capsule. However, the computer does not recommended it for anyone at this time.

Children need a little less, but also need a supplement every other day or every third day, perhaps.

Exceptions. I have seen no exceptions to the need for vitamin D3.

6. Kelp – Add three capsules or a tablespoon of granules to all adult programs, if possible. Kelp is a wonderful source of all the important minerals to help remineralize the body. It is also an excellent natural source of iodine, a mineral most people are deficient in due to their diets and mainly due to exposure to excessive chlorides, bromides and fluorides. Kelp will help correct a low thyroid condition faster than any other single product. While it is found in several other products often used on nutritional balancing programs, there is simply not enough of it found there and a supplement is helpful for most people.

This product is unfortunately not sold by Endomet Labs at this time. It is available at most health stores and comes in capsules, granules or tablets. Capsules or granules are the best ways to take it because the tablets are too small a dose so many would be needed. The granules may be cooked with other foods, if desired.

Children. Children do not need kelp as much. One capsule daily is good, but not essential if giving supplements to children is difficult. Exceptions: Reduce kelp if the client feels jittery or nervous on three capsules per day. If the patient is taking medication for hypothyroidism, the dose of medication may need to be reduced if kelp causes nervousness. If kelp interferes with sleep, do not take the evening capsule or take more in the morning or at noon.

7. Paramin – Give extra, if needed, in these conditions:

a. Muscle cramps or muscle tightness.

c. anxiety, nervousness, irritability.

d. Insomnia or trouble sleeping. More at supper and at night, even in the middle of the night, is most helpful for many people. Too much just causes diarrhea and is not very toxic at all.

Children: Children can often tolerate more Paramin than their size or age would indicate. Therefore, it is an excellent product for all hyperactive, anxious, nervous or tense children, and may help with insomnia as well.

Exception: Do not give as much Paramin during the day if it makes the client too sleepy.

8. Endo-pan or Zinc – Give more if the sodium/potassium ratio is greater than about 6:1.

Dr. Eck always gave more zinc or Endo-pan to those with a high ratio of sodium/potassium, regardless of the zinc reading on the hair chart. The computer program was changed after his death. It now only recommends up to 1-1-1 Endo-Pan.

Dosage Changes: If the sodium/potassium ratio is between:

6 -10 give 1-1-2 Endo-pan.

10 – 25 give 2-1-2 Zinc.

25 or higher give 2-2-2 Zinc.

Endo-pan contains a lot of pantothenic acid. This is why I suggest using Zinc if one is giving large doses. Also, give zinc instead of Endo-Pan to all fast oxidizers who do not need the stimulation of the pantothenic acid.

9. Optional - Add Renamide 1-1-1 or 2-2-2 and Selenium 1-1-1 for elevated toxic metals, especially mercury, cadmium, nickel and perhaps lead.

This is always an optional addition, as these are not critical in almost all cases. Renamide, in particular, is an excellent kidney support formula that will assist most people to remove all their toxic metals and may also help a person with other imbalances such as a very low Na/K ratio, on occasion. It is therefore option for most people, but particularly helpful for elevated toxic metals.

Children: reduce the amount of Selenium and Renamide according to age and size.

Exceptions: none.

10. Optional - Replace Paramin with MCHC plus magnesium if the client is over the age of 50-60, especially women. This is because MCHC is specifically designed to help build strong bones. However, it is more costly and one must give magnesium with it, so the number of pills is higher as well. This is why it is optional only.

Dosage: Give 1-1-1 or 1-1-2 MCHC instead of an equal number of Paramin tablets. Add Magnesium with MCHC to balance the calcium/magnesium ratio. This usually means giving one tablet let of Magnesium from Endomet Labs. I hope some day the magnesium will be added to the MCHC, which is otherwise a superb formula.

Note: If the client is taking more than 3 or 4 Paramins daily, only replace three or four of them. Keep the rest as they may be better than all MCHC for some people.

Exceptions: none.

CHANGES FOR ALL CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Children’s supplement programs are often done by hand by the lab staff because of the difficulty in dosing for children. This is a specialty area that is not always easy to judge by a computer or a consultant who is unfamiliar with the situation. Here are some guidelines that I recommend you follow:

1. I do not use Endomins too often (children’s chewable multiple) unless there is a great need for zinc and little need for copper. Endomins is rather unbalanced with excessive zinc for small children. It can be balanced with other products, by adding copper. However, this is tricky to do correctly.

Therefore, I usually use adult products in very small doses for children. Since the laboratory is receiving more and more children’s hair samples, I hope they will eventually have a line of liquid or tablet products for children.

PROGRAM CHANGES FOR SLOW OXIDIZERS

1. Use Megapan all the time instead of Hi-B. The ARL computer used to give Megapan to all slow oxidizers. This was changed after Dr. Eck’s death. At present, some slow oxidizers receive Hi-B instead. This is unfortunate, as Megapan is far preferable. It contains far more nutrients, is less stimulating and was a very intentional design by Dr. Eck.

Dosage: Use 2-2-or 3-2-1 except:

a. sympathetic dominance (potassium between 1 and 4 mg%)

b. very mild slow oxidation (Ca/K ratio between 4 and 6) with a Na/K ratio greater than 2.5:1. Use 2-2-2 if the Na/K ratio is less than 2.5:1.

Perhaps give Hi-B along with Megapan if the calcium/potassium ratio is greater than 200:1 or if the Na/K ratio is less than 1:1 and the patient is extremely tired.

3. Give either Endo-dren or Thyro-complex, but not both. The computer sometimes recommends both products. They are both excellent, but it is not usually needed and adds cost and inconvenience.

CHANGES FOR THE FOUR LOW ELECTROLYTE PATTERN

Dr. Paul Eck’s original concept for this difficult pattern of body chemistry consists of ONLY:

1. Paramin 3-3-3

2. Endo-pan 2-2-2 if the sodium/potassium ratio is greater than 2.5:1 or Limcomin 2-2-2 or 3-3-3 if the sodium/potassium ratio is less than 2.5:1.

3. GB3 (work up to 3-3-3 or Enz-aid, 2-2-2 if GB-3 is not tolerated. Betaine Hcl-pepsin would be okay, but not quite as good.)

4. Taurine at 2-2-2.

OTHER IMPORTANT ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THE ARL COMPUTERIZED REPORTS

1. Drinking water. This was not a priority of Dr. Eck’s. However, I have added it as a basic aspect of all nutritional balancing programs, partly on the advise of a trusted colleague. It appears to make a large difference if one’s drinking water is hydrating the body and clients must also drink enough water, usually 3 quarts or more daily. They must not substitute coffee or even a lot of caffeinated teas.

Most people should begin a program with 3 quarts or more of steam distilled water each day, and none other. After 3-6 months, most people need a quality spring water. Many good brands are available and this depends upon where the person lives. Once again, three or four quarts daily is needed. Drinking a quart of water in the morning is a very good way to start the day. If the water is warmed slightly, it is even better, and will often cure constipation as well.

2. Carrot juice daily, perhaps with some greens in it. This was also not part of Dr. Eck’s work and is not in the computerized reports. However, it is extremely helpful for most people, especially women. The carrot juice provides a form of readily available calcium. It also provides many other essential minerals and vitamins. Cautions with juicing are:

· Use a real juicer, not a Vitamix or other blender. Blenders do not break up the carrots enough and they mix it with too much water and air, which is not desirable.

· Do not add fruit to your vegetable juice. Wheat grass juice is okay, however.

· Limit juice to 10-12 ounces daily. More can make the body too yin in some cases and can interfere with digestion.

· Do not eat when drinking the carrot juice. Wait at least 15 minutes afterwards before eating a meal to let it digest a little.

3. For severe depression, if necessary, add Hi-B or more Megapan. You may always give some extra B-complex to anyone who is severely depressed and possibly suicidal. This is mainly to protect the patient and the practitioner in the very rare case that a person harms himself or others. B-complex can relieve the stress the depressed person feels.

Dosage: Use more Megapan, up to 4-4-4 or Hi-B 1-1-1 (even in fast oxidizers, but only with severe depression). High doses of vitamin C, might also help in a depression-related crisis.

St. John’s Wort may also be helpful in some cases of severe depression, though most research indicates it is best for mild to moderate depression.

4. Additional Procedures. Three additional therapies help enormously to improve the results of the nutritional balancing program. They are not in the computerized reports at this time, I believe. However, they are fabulous, as many clients report to us, and may be added to most programs. The only exceptions are listed below:

1. Sauna therapy. Everyone except children under about age 5 can benefit greatly from near infrared sauna therapy. Begin with 20 minutes once per day. Slow oxidizers usually tolerate the sauna very well and can use it twice daily for 20 minutes each session, at first, working up to 40 or 50 minutes. Those with a four lows pattern, fast oxidation and if one is very debilitated should use the sauna just once daily.

The best times to use a sauna are first thing in the morning and/or last thing in the evening before bed.

Among the types of saunas, the near infrared lamp sauna is by far the best. Ideally, every home should have one. The far infrared type is second best and some of these can be converted to a near infrared type by adding lamps easily.

The traditional sauna found in gyms and health clubs is not too helpful. The temperature is rather high, it is less comfortable and it does not penetrate the skin as do the infrared types.

The cost of building an excellent lamp sauna is several hundred dollars. We also offer a basic but very effective one for $579.00 at this time, including shipping in the continental US. Read more about saunas on this site at Sauna Therapy.

2. Coffee enemas. This is the fastest and most powerful detoxifier of the liver and colon. It is a wonderful addition to a nutritional balancing program for most adults. Children can use them, but it is more trouble to convince them of it.

I have extensive experience with them over 30 years. They have proven to be very safe, inexpensive, simple to do at home and most powerful and helpful. For more information about them, read Coffee Enemas.

Colon hydrotherapy is also excellent, particularly a series of them at the beginning of a nutritional balancing program. However, they are much more costly and the coffee offers many benefits. One could use a Colema Board, but the coffee enemas seem to be very adequate.

3. The Roy Masters meditation exercise. This is a very simple, but very powerful meditation exercise. It is good for most anyone. Children and teens, though, usually won’t do it with enough regularity to make it worthwhile.

I would recommend it daily for 1 hour or more, preferably in two half-hour sessions in the morning and later in the day. It is available on our website on a compact disc for $9.00 plus shipping.

Its many benefits and effects on one’s life are described in a separate article by clicking here Meditation. The changes occur slowly so one needs to practice it daily. This is its only disadvantage, as some discipline is required.

WHY I CONTINUE TO PREFER ANALYTICAL RESEARCH LABS AND THEIR PRODUCTS

1. ARL is one of only two labs worldwide that I am aware of that does not wash the hair at the laboratory. This is critical for our hair analysis interpretation.

2. The lab chemist, Dr. Russell Maderash, is a very competent director and a stickler for accuracy.

3. ARL is the only lab I am aware of that prints “ideal” or “normal” values on the hair analysis chart. The others only print ideal or normal ranges of minerals.

Although one or two adjustment to the ideals are needed, the use of ideal or normal values is an important part of this work. It is quite vital for the interpretation of the test.

4. The Interpretation Profile and the Diet Profile are far superior to any I have seen from other labs. I am biased, however, as I helped design them. Other labs either do not understand the test as well, or do not want to share all the interpretive information they know about.

5. ARL also supports the nutritional programs with excellent quality nutritional supplement formulas designed by Dr. Eck, along with excellent customer service. While the supplements are not all food-based, our results with them are better than with most other brands of supplements, at a lower cost, in my experience. I am aware of all the arguments in favor or food-based and 100% natural source products. However, our results are best with the Endomet supplements. For more on this topic, read Food-based Supplements.

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