THE FOUR-LOW ELECTROLYTES PATTERN

A very important and unique hair analysis pattern occurs when a first hair mineral analysis reveals levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium that are all below the ideal levels. If the four low electrolyte pattern occurs on a retest tissue mineral analysis, the meaning is different and this is discussed later in this article.

For the four-low pattern to be present, the readings must be calcium <40 mg%, magnesium <6 mg%, sodium <25 mg% and potassium <10 mg%. The pattern may also be present when one of the numbers is slightly above the ideal level.

On a first tissue mineral analysis, the pattern is very important for several reasons:

1. This pattern represents an important imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. It is an extreme sympathetic dominance pattern.

2. Dr. Paul Eck, a pioneer of mineral analysis, found that people with four-lows often do not respond well to standard nutritional balancing programs. They do not get well as fast, and often they have consulted many doctors and nutritionists with poor results. Figuring out the meaning of four-lows and how to help these individuals took a lot of effort and was a tremendous breakthrough.

3. Until this pattern is addressed and corrected, other imbalances and symptoms often will not go away.

4. Because the pattern involves the sympathetic nervous system, its correction is best accomplished with more than simply biochemical correction. Lifestyle change and changing oneπs thought patterns are most important as well. While this is true with some other mineral imbalances, it is most important in the case of four low electrolytes.

PHYSIOLOGY OF FOUR LOWS ON A FIRST MINERAL ANALYSIS

Normally, on a hair mineral analysis one sees either elevated sodium and potassium levels with low calcium and magnesium levels (an alarm stage of stress), or the reverse, elevated calcium and magnesium levels with low sodium and potassium levels. The latter is an exhaustion stage of stress. That is, calcium and magnesium levels tend to move opposite of the sodium and potassium levels. The reason for this is that sodium and potassium tend to solubilize calcium and magnesium, lowering the levels in the tissues. When less sodium and potassium are present, calcium and magnesium rise.

In the case of four lows on a first tissue mineral analysis, however, this does not occur. Sodium and potassium levels are decreased, indicating a state of adrenal exhaustion. However, calcium and magnesium are low, indicating an alarm reaction. So this pattern represents a combination of the stages of stress in a sense.

In fact, one is exhausted, but remains in an alarm stage of stress. This is largely due to mental and emotional tendencies associated with four lows, although toxic metals and other chemical imbalances may also play a role. It is an ineffective alarm stage of stress in that the adrenal and thyroid glands do not respond as they normally should.

The tendency of the person is to move into more of an alarm stage of stress - to push oneself harder, in order to force the adrenals and thyroid to respond. However, in the case of a first test in four lows, this does not work and one only becomes more exhausted.

Standard nutrition programs and medical interventions often do not work well because most seek to increase the personπs energy by enhancing the oxidation rate - increasing sympathetic nervous system activity. This is precisely what these people cannot do.

An excellent analogy is that of a car with its wheels stuck in the ice, spinning its wheels. The motor is running fast - an alarm stage reaction - but the car is stuck and goes nowhere. One tries to gun the engine to get out of the rut, yet one cannot. The engine begins to wear out from continuous stress. Indeed, this is a very chronic stress pattern.

Four low electrolytes always coexists with other imbalanced ratios and levels which can in turn give rise to many symptoms and conditions. Metal toxicity is a common result of the four lows pattern. For example, as calcium stores are depleted, lead or cadmium replace it in enzyme binding sites. This only cements the pattern and makes it worse.

SYMPTOMS OF FOUR LOW ELECTROLYTES ON A FIRST TISSUE MINERAL ANALYSIS

Fatigue: The most common symptom of four low electrolytes is exhaustion. However, those who have not been in a four lows pattern for too long may not be in touch with their fatigue. They may continue to push themselves and use stimulants, activities, worry or other mental habits to drive themselves.

Allergies: Other common symptoms include allergies from exhausted adrenal glands with no adrenal reserves. If one remains in the pattern for several years, degenerative disease and cancer in particular may develop.

Anxiety and muscle tightness: Other common symptoms of four lows on a first tissue mineral analysis include muscle tightness and muscle cramps. Others are anxiety, difficulty relaxing and sleep difficulties. All of these symptoms can and often do arise from low levels of tissue calcium and magnesium.

Lead Toxicity: Other common symptoms include a tendency for lead toxicity because lead will replace calcium as calcium becomes more deficient. The elevated lead will not be revealed on the first several hair mineral analyses due to inability to mobilize lead from tissue storage. Only later, as the bodyπs energy improves with therapy will the lead often be revealed. Toxicity with other metals such as copper is also very common.

Digestion: Individuals with four-lows often have food allergies, usually including wheat, dairy and at times gluten. They are also usually deficient in hydrochloric acid, which is associated with low levels of sodium and potassium.

Also, their sympathetic dominant personality tends to turns off digestive secretions and reduces the ability to digest food. Thus attention to diet and digestion is important. It is also one reason that pancreatin and perhaps hydrochloric acid are important supplements for them.

To assist digestion, excellent eating habits are important. These include quiet, regular, sit-down meals, thorough chewing and eating slowly. Others are avoiding overeating and complicated food combinations, and resting 15 minutes after eating before resuming activities.

THE FOUR-LOWS PERSONALITY

There is a definite personality tendency associated with the four-low-electrolyte pattern when it appears on a first mineral analysis. Often people with the four-lows pattern are frustrated and discouraged because no one has been able to help them. Understanding and identifying four-lows on a hair analysis can be a real breakthrough for these people.

People with the four-lows pattern are usually intense, compulsive, driven, often very self-critical and critical of others. Often the adults work very hard and do not know how to relax. They enjoy the intense drama of life, although they may not admit it. It is as though they enjoy the sound of the spinning of the car tires. They are unaware of their personality pattern and how it affects them and others around them.

Many are cynical and some have given up at some level, perhaps because they have sought help without result. They are usually fast oxidizer personalities or stress seekers, whether or not they are aware of it. However, they are tired and unable to maintain this lifestyle and keep up their health. They often have negative attitudes about life, and most have a definite death wish. They are not happy people.

An excess of a toxic metal such as mercury, copper or cadmium may contribute to this personality tendency. The catch is the four-lows pattern must be improved first before focusing on the metal toxicity. Otherwise, the wheel-spinning activity uses up so much energy that it is difficult to eliminate toxic metals. This is one reason the pattern can be difficult to change.

Addressing the personality issue is very important to correct a four-lows pattern when it appears on a first mineral test. One who becomes aware of the personality pattern and makes lifestyle and attitudinal changes will respond much faster.

SABOTAGING THE PROGRAM

Most people with four low electrolytes on the first tissue mineral analysis are actually running away from life with their activities, worries, etc. For these people, slowing down is indeed frightening and perhaps painful as old memories and traumas may surface.

One needs large doses of self-love and compassion for oneself. These can help one face whatever comes up and realize that one can get through it and it is best to let go of old traumas rather than keep them bottled up inside.

Some people with four low electrolytes believe their condition is just getting worse if they slow down, and may consciously or unconsciously fight the program. However, this just slows progress. Perhaps you know people who believe the only way to get a car out of the ice is to spin the wheels fast. Any other approach feels like giving up. Understanding the pattern thoroughly is helpful so that one realizes that slowing down is needed, even if one is unsure what that entails.

If one does not understand this, one is likely to sabotage the program when the feeling of fatigue and relaxation occurs. One may begin using stimulants like caffeine or taking high-dose B complex vitamins "just to get a boost". This can seem harmless enough, but it is not. I attempt to explain that these may be okay once one is out of the pattern, but until then it only slows down progress. It is as though, if the car is stuck in the ice, one tells the driver to slow down the wheels, so that one can place a piece of wood or other material under the wheels to improve traction. Just as you are placing the wood, the driver decides to step on the gas again.

Recently, a client with the four-lows pattern began a nutrition program. He began to feel better within a month. However, instead of listening to the advice about slowing down, this client took on more work, and in fact proudly reported he now could work seven days a week. One day he called, concerned because he felt dependent on the supplements. I again explained the personality connection. However, he refused to slow down. I realized I was unable to do more for him as long as he stubbornly maintained his breakneck, compulsive lifestyle.

FOUR LOWS ON A REPEAT HAIR ANALYSIS

When the four lows pattern appears only on a retest but not on the first test, it is generally not an important pattern to be concerned about.

The reason for the pattern appearing only on a retest may be that the body is utilizing calcium and magnesium within, so that the hair levels temporarily appear low.

A person who simply dips into the four lows pattern on a retest will usually come out of the pattern quickly on the following retest, provided the nutritional program is correct. Let us discuss the correction, which is the same regardless of whether the pattern appears on the first chart or on a retest only.

CORRECTION OF FOUR LOW ELECTROLYTES

When the sodium and potassium levels are low, normally one would increase the levels of these minerals by boosting adrenal activity. However, when sodium and potassium increase, calcium and magnesium levels tend to decrease. In these people, calcium and magnesium are already low. The body does not permit further decreases, as this could be harmful. Thus the person remains stuck in the pattern and standard approaches are often less than satisfactory.

The correction of four-lows depends on suppressing or turning off the sympathetic nervous system enough so that the adrenal and thyroid glands can rest and rebuild. This is analogous to slowing the wheels of a car that are spinning out of control. This alone can enable one to come out of the pattern. Otherwise, the pattern tends to persist and can be quite intractable.

Any approach to balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system may be helpful. High doses of the sedative minerals help slow the adrenals. The supplement program consists of high doses of only a few supplements, usually calcium, magnesium and zinc. An adult may require 1800-2400 mg of calcium, 1000-1400 mg of magnesium and 100-140 mg of zinc daily. This seems like a lot, but is often very well-tolerated in these individuals. The correction is not for a prolonged period, but only until the pattern changes.

In general, the lower the electrolyte numbers on the hair analysis, the more calcium, magnesium and zinc are given.

Other parasympathetic supplements that may be helpful are L-taurine and possibly GABA and choline in high doses. We also recommend a parasympathetic digestive aid and liver detoxifier such as GB-3 that contains pancreatin, ox bile, Russian black radish and dehydrocholic acid (which is not the same as hydrochloric acid).

If the hair tissue sodium/potassium ratio is less than 2-2.5:1, copper is added. Dr. Eck found that a smaller, simple program is best until the pattern shifts. Too many supplements can activate the sympathetic nervous system and be counterproductive.

Thus, it is just as important to avoid most food supplements, especially any that boost or speed up adrenal or thyroid glandular activity. Common ones are B-complex, high-dose vitamin C or E, adrenal or thyroid glandular and stimulating herbs like ginseng. Also one should avoid caffeine in all forms, sugars and chemicals in the diet.

Equally important are lifestyle factors to help rest the adrenals. These include more sleep, slowing one's pace of life, relaxation, slow walking, meditation and deep breathing.

Other relaxing therapies that may help inhibit excessive sympathetic or fight-or-flight nervous system activity include saunas, massage, meditation, tai chi, and other practices. This too can help rest the adrenal glands. Everyone with four low electrolytes is what we call sympathetic dominant, which means they overuse their sympathetic nervous system. All the therapeutic methods listed are to inhibit the sympathetic system.

Equally important is to reduce worry, fear, compulsiveness, anger, cynicism and other emotional factors that tend to drive and stimulate the sympathetic system.

Since many factors can contribute to the four lows pattern, the time required to come out of the pattern varies widely if it shows up on the first hair mineral analysis. In some people, four-lows is very temporary. It may show up on one test, and then disappear on the next. In other cases, a year or several years are required to come out of the pattern. A significant percentage of people never emerge from the pattern.

At times, high doses to calcium, magnesium and zinc can make the four-lows individual more tired for a while. It is wise to warn the patient of this possibility. If the fatigue is very annoying, the dosages may be reduced slightly. However, the goal at first is to force the person to slow down.

At times, four-low-electrolyte tendencies occur in people with only three low electrolyte levels. It is important to look for four-lows tendencies in these borderline cases and handle them appropriately.

CHILDREN WITH FOUR-LOWS

Twenty years ago, four-lows was a relatively rare pattern seen mainly in hard-driving business executives. Now it shows up in housewives and increasingly even in children.

Here are three possible causes for four-lows on the first mineral analysis of a young child:

∑ A parent has the four-lows pattern and the child picks up the personality tendency from a stressed parent. Usually the parent is demanding of the child, and the child responds with the four-lows type of stress response.

∑ Four-lows in a child may be part of a malabsorption syndrome, usually involving a gluten allergy.

∑ A few children today are born so nutritionally depleted or toxic, or with a tendency for the four lows personality pattern that they are predisposed to develop the pattern at a young age. It is seen in some children who have been diagnosed autistic or ADHD.

Fortunately, children's personalities are less set and thus correction often occurs faster than in adults. The same principles apply, to reduce stress of every kind, rest more, and give only a small supplement program of calcium, magnesium, zinc, taurine, a digestive aid and perhaps copper if the sodium/potassium ratio is less than 2.5.

FOUR-LOWS REVIEW

Here is a quick review. The pattern is very important if it appears on the first tissue mineral test. If it only appears on a retest, it is much less important.

Correction requires keeping the supplement program very simple, especially avoiding supplements that speed up the metabolic rate. Discuss diet and food allergies.

If the pattern appears on a first mineral analysis, discuss with the patient tendencies for compulsiveness and criticalness, and the need to change these traits. Many techniques and methods can help this. Finally, repeated tissue mineral testing is important to monitor progress in order to keep the supplement program appropriate.

Adapted from The Eck Institute Bulletin,Vol. 18, July 2002, # 7.

Updated January 2007

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