by Lawrence Wilson, MD

QUANTIFYING THE HAIR ANALYSIS PATTERNS – A REFERENCE ARTICLE

An extremely important and more recent concept in hair analysis interpretation is to quantify the patterns seen on a hair mineral chart. This can greatly assist with the proper interpretation of the analysis. For example, if a pattern is a quadruple or 4x, it is more important, more extreme or stronger than if the pattern is a double or 2x, or a single pattern.

This article lists the criteria needed to quantify just a few of the major hair analysis patterns that we encounter commonly. The concept could be applied to all indicators, however, and ideally it should be.

THE CALCIUM SHELL (psychological withdrawal, repressed emotions, “hiding out”, somewhat out of touch with reality, a type of depression, fatigue, calcium deposition in the tissues, hidden copper and perhaps more)

Calcium between 165-166 and about 205 = single calcium shell

Calcium between 205 and about 285 = double calcium shell

Calcium between 285 and about 350 = triple calcium shell

Calcium between 350 and about 425 = quadruple calcium shell (sometimes also called petrified from here and higher).

Calcium between 425 and about 550 = quintuple (5x) calcium shell

Higher levels have not yet been defined as well.

For more details about the calcium shell pattern, read The Calcium Shell.

BURNOUT PATTERNS (adrenal exhaustion, low thyroid, exhausted sympathetic nervous system)

Adrenal burnout or exhaustion is another extremely important and common pattern seen on hair mineral analyses. Each of the following criteria adds a multiple to the burnout pattern. For example, if two of the following indicators are present, I call it double burnout. The hair must not be washed at the laboratory for any of these criteria to be valid.

1. Slow oxidation

2. Very slow oxidation, with a calcium/potassium ratio greater than about 200 (ideal is about 4).

3. A calcium shell may overlap with very slow oxidation, but may be a separate burnout indicator.

4. A sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2.5. If the sodium/potassium ratio is very low, this adds more multiples (see A Low Sodium/potassium Ratio below for those criteria).

5. A sodium level less than about 11 mg%.

6. A potassium level less than about 5 mg%.

7. Three lows, also called three low macrominerals.

8. Four lows, also called four low macrominerals. This is a double burnout pattern.

9. Phosphorus less than 12 mg%. Phosphorus less than 10 may be a double burnout indicator.

11. Three poor eliminator patterns, (formerly called the Double O Pattern), equals one burnout indicator. Six poor eliminator patterns equals two burnout indicators. (see Poor Eliiminator Pattern below for the exact criteria). The minerals to look for are copper, iron, manganese, lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and nickel.

It is not uncommon today to observe people with eight or even ten burnout indicators. For more information about adrenal exhaustion, read Adrenal Burnout Syndrome on this website.

SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE PATTERN (overusing the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, pushing oneself hard, anxious, worrier, depressed, fearful, impaired circulation, digestion, elimination and immune response, feeling chased by tigers, somewhat compulsive, often copper-toxic and at times a spiritually-oriented person.)

Recall that in nutritional balancing science the words sympathetic dominance are used in a very specific way that is different from the way some other authors use them. This pattern is defined as mainly an attitude or mental tendency, rather than primarily a biochemically-caused tendency. It is not the same as a fast oxidizer, as others use the words. We say that fast oxidation is a sympathetic state of body chemistry, whereas sympathetic dominance is a mental/emotional tendency to push oneself and often to worry a lot, thus overusing the sympathetic or fight-or-flight nervous system. It is a very common tendency today.

1. Potassium of 4 mg% = a single pattern.

2. Potassium of 3 mg% = a double pattern.

3. Potassium of 2 mg% = a triple pattern.

4. Potassium of 1 mg% = a quadruple pattern.

5. If the potassium is 4 or less, AND the sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 4, this adds another multiple or up to 5 more sympathetic dominant patterns depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio is. (For the number of indicators to add, see Elevated Sodium/Potassium Ratio below).

6. If the potassium is 4 or less, AND the sodium/potassium ratio is greater than about 4, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio greater than about 9.5, this adds another multiple or perhaps more than one if the sodium/potassium ratio and/or the calcium/magnesium ratio are very high.

7. A four lows pattern adds another multiple.

8. If three highs or four highs pattern is present, AND the sodium/potassium ratio is about 3 or greater, this adds another multiple or perhaps more than one, depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio is.

9. If three highs or four highs pattern is present, AND the sodium/potassium ratio is about 3 or greater, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio is greater than about 9.5, this can add another multiple or perhaps more than one, depending on how high the sodium/potassium ratio and/or calcium magnesium ratios are.

In this way, one can have, for example, a sextuple (6x) or septuple (7x) sympathetic dominance pattern. For more information about this fascinating autonomic imbalance pattern, read Sympathetic Dominance on this website.

INFECTION TENDENCY OR IMPAIRED IMMUNE RESPONSE

Criteria for infections are:

1. A sodium/potassium less than 2.5. As the sodium/potassium ratio becomes lower, it adds more multiples (see A Low Sodium/potassium Ratio below for the exact criteria).

2. If the sodium/potassium ratio is low, AND the calcium/magnesium ratio is less than about 3, this adds another multiplier. This is called a Double Low Ratio Pattern. It may add more than one multiplier if the sodium/potassium and/or the calcium/magnesium ratios are very low.

4. Possibly a zinc level less than about 10.

5. Possibly a cadmium level greater than about 0.02 mg%.

6. Possibly a mercury level greater than about 0.03 mg%.

In this way, one can identify double, triple or even quadruple infection patterns on a hair mineral analysis.

AN ELEVATED SODIUM/POTASSIUM RATIO (inflammation, anger and often acute stress)

Criteria are roughly:

1. Na/K between 4 and 8 = single or 1x.

2. Na/k between about 8 and 20 = double or 2x.

3. Na/k between about 20 and 40 = triple or 3x.

4. Na/K between 40 and 90 = quadruple or 4 x.

5. Na/K above 90 = quintuple or 5x.

A LOW SODIUM/POTASSIUM RATIO (exhaustion, adrenal insufficiency, blood sugar imbalance, kidney stress, liver stress, cardiovascular stress, and often frustration, resentment and hostility)

Criteria with which to evaluate a low sodium/potassium ratio (Na/K) are:

1. Na/K between 1.7 and 2.5 = single

2. Na/K between 1.1 and 1.7 = double

3. Na/K between 0.6 and 1 = triple

4. Na/k less than 0.6 = quadruple

To read more about the sodium/potassium ratio, read The Sodium/Potassium Ratio.

AN ELEVATED CALCIUM/MAGNESIUM RATIO (exceeding one’s carbohydrate tolerance if mild, and a need to let go of something if worse. Also related to trauma with father early in life. Also, pretending as a dominant emotion. Also, often part of a bowl pattern (feeling stuck)).

1. Ca/Mg between 9.5 and 13.5 = Too much carbohydrate in the diet.

2. Ca/Mg between 13.5 and 21 = single spiritual defensive pattern.

3. Ca/Mg between 21 and 32 = double spiritual defensive pattern.

4. Ca/Mg between 32 and 55 = triple (3x) spiritual defensive pattern.

5. Ca/Mg between 55 and 75 = quadruple (4x) spiritual defensive pattern.

6. Ca/Mg greater than 75 = quintuple (5x) spiritual defensive pattern and usually severe parental-related traumas.

To read more, read Spiritual Defensive Pattern.

LOW CALCIUM/MAGNESIUM RATIO (may be related to trauma with mother. Also, may be part of a hill pattern.)

1. Ca/Mg between 3.5 and 2 = a low Ca/Mg ratio.

2. Ca/Mg between 2 and 1 = double (2x) low Ca/Mg ratio.

3. Ca/Mg less than 1 = triple (3x) low Ca/Mg ratio.

FAST AND SLOW OXIDATION RATES

I usually only identify the oxidation rate as mild, moderate and extreme. This is like saying single, double and triple pattern of fast or slow oxidation. To read more about oxidation rates, read Fast, Slow and Mixed Oxidation on this website.

POOR ELIMINATOR OR HIDDEN TOXIC METALS PATTERN

An initial hair analysis with extremely low toxic metal levels, or very low levels of physiological minerals such as copper, iron or manganese often does not indicate that the metals are absent from the body. Instead, it indicates that a person has plenty of the toxic metals or a toxic form of the physiological minerals. The person simply cannot eliminate these very well, so they are not revealed in the hair.

It also means they are accumulating inside the body, where they cause many symptoms and health conditions. This is, in fact, an excellent way to identify some hidden toxic metals inside the body. The metals are sequestered deep within the organs and tissues of the body. This pattern was formerly called the low double 0 pattern.

This indicator for difficulty eliminating toxic metals or toxic and unavailable forms of physiological minerals may be expressed as a double, triple, quadruple or more when more than one indicator is present. The criteria at this time are:

Aluminum less than about 0.65 mg%

Lead less than about 0.03 mg%.

Mercury less than about 0.03 mg%.

Cadmium less than about 0.005 mg%.

Arsenic less than about 0.004 mg%.

Nickel less than about 0.02 mg%.

Iron less than about 1.2 mg%.

Manganese less than about 0.015 mg%.

Copper less than 1.5 mg% in a slow oxidizer.

Copper less than about 1 in a fast oxidizer. This is newer and still being researched.

Each of the above criteria could also be quantified, but we usually do not bother with it. Basically, the lower the level below the level indicated above, the more severe the hidden metal tendency. For much more on this interesting pattern, read the article entitled Poor Eliminator Pattern.

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