by Lawrence Wilson, MD

“BEAM ME UP” PATTERN ON A HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS

A rather unique and unusual pattern on a hair mineral analysis occurs in people who eat fruit at least two or more pieces daily. It is a newer pattern, and not part of Dr. Eck’s original work. I have observed enough cases with some consistency to write about it in some detail. It is not an easy pattern to understand in biochemical terms.

Why the strange name? I call it Beam Me Up, Scottie pattern. “Beam me up, Scottie” is a phrase that was used a lot in the early Star Trek television series during the 1970s and 1980s. It signifies a person who wants to escape from something and definitely wants out. It appears that eating a lot of fruit makes one spacy and detached in a certain way, and also seems to damage one’s health and kidneys, in particular, in an unusual way that is reflected on a hair mineral analysis.

DEFINITION OF THE BEAM ME UP PATTERN

On a hair mineral analysis in which the hair is not washed at the laboratory, this pattern appears as:

1. A fast oxidation rate, and always with a low sodium/potassium ratio. The level of sodium and potassium can rise quite high. The sodium/potassium ratio is usually mildly low, between about 1.5 and 2.5, though not necessarily.

2. A three high or a four highs pattern is present in many, but not all cases.

3. In acupuncture or Chinese medicine terms, the pattern is a type of yang rising or toxic yang pattern. This corresponds to a fast oxidizer in an adult, or a three or four highs pattern.

4. In terms of the stress theory, it is a type of secondary alarm stage or second wind type of stress pattern.

5. In terms of movement patterns, it is a desire to move out of life or away from this physical life.

PHYSIOLOGY OF THIS PATTERN

Eating a lot of fruit these days seems to have the following effect upon the body:

1. Irritating. This is probably due to a combination of factors including its sugar content that upsets the blood sugar, the presence of fruit acids, or perhaps the presence of salycilates that are found in many fruits. For more on this, read Salicylate Poisoning on this site.

The irritating quality of fruit perhaps is also due to the effects of various pesticide residues that are used on all fruit, even organic fruit, and it is definitely due to the particular yin qualities of fruit.

Fruit-eating today seems to irritate the kidneys and the adrenals, or perhaps the entire sympathetic nervous system, and this may be the cause of the fast oxidation with a low sodium/potassium ratio.

It is important to emphasize “today” because I do not think that eating fruit 100 years ago had quite the same effect, though I am not sure. Fruit is one of the most hybridized and altered foods today. Its sugar content is generally higher, it is often picked unripe and shipped hundreds or thousands of miles, and other factors may be affecting its quality today.

2. Yin, with yang rising. These are terms from Chinese medicine. Yin means expanded, cold, sugary, fragmented and weak in a certain way. Yang rising is a secondary heating that occurs as a compensation, or perhaps as a reaction in some cases to some types of toxins in the body. This is an excellent description of this pattern in a kind of metaphorical way.

3. Mild water retention. There can be some water retention with the pattern. This is often associated with fast oxidation and a high sodium level, because excess sodium can cause some water retention.

4. It can cause a type of heat or inflammation in the body. This corresponds to a faster oxidation rate, perhaps, and perhaps to a yang rising or toxic condition that might be called a toxic yang or toxic heat.

SYMPTOMS

Few symptoms of fast oxidation. The person with Beam Me Up pattern usually does not have a lot of fast oxidizer symptoms, except perhaps some irritation and heat in the body. In this sense, it is definitely not a “true fast oxidizer” pattern. It is more likely just kidney or adrenal irritation of an unusual type.

Joint pain, heat or other irritation symptoms. These are more common with this pattern.

Psychological symptoms. The person can seem to be “flying high”, but not in a healthy way. This may be an effect of the sugar in fruit, or some other constituent of fruits. It is a type of ‘out of control’ pattern in this regard, also seen with other causes of fast oxidation.

What fruits cause the pattern? It seems like any fruit or fruit juices can cause the pattern, including eating a lot of avocado, for example, which is a tropical fruit.

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