HIGH SODIUM/POTASSIUM RATIO

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

© January 2010, The Center For Development

 

       A normal hair sodium/potassium ratio is between 2.5:1 and about 4:1, provided the hair is not washed at the testing laboratory.  Commonly, however, the sodium/potassium ratio is elevated on a hair mineral analysis. 

 

SYMPTOMS OF A HIGH NA/K RATIO

 

A high ratio is associated with a tendency for acute stress, inflammation or pain somewhere in the body.  Emotionally, it is associated with anger or acute emotional or physical stress.

 

SUMMARY

 

 

High Na/K Ratio

Low Na/k Ratio

Inflammation

Greater tendency

Less tendency

Hormones

Estrogen dominant

Progesterone dom.

Stress tendency

More acute stress

More chronic stress

Emotional tendency

Acute: anger, rage, acute stress

Chronic: frustration, resentment, hostility

Tissue reaction

More reactive tissues and organism

Less reactive, more fatigued

Stage of stress

Earlier stages

Later stages

 

 

ACUTE STRESS

 

A high sodium/potassium ratio on a hair analysis is an indicator of acute stress.  The reason is as follows:

1)  Acute stress causes increased adrenal gland activity. 

2) This results in a rise in the secretion of the hormone aldosterone. 

3) Aldosterone secretion causes sodium to be retained in the body by the kidneys.  Thus the sodium level in the soft tissues rises. 

Sodium retention by aldosterone is part of the alarm reaction or fight-flight reaction to stress.  Early in the alarm reaction, the potassium level remains low.  Thus, on a tissue mineral test, the ratio of sodium to potassium is elevated early in the alarm stage of stress.

In contrast, a low sodium/potassium ratio indicates chronic stress and usually an exhaustion stage of stress.

Some people ask how it is possible to have an alarm reaction is one is a slow oxidizer or in an exhaustion stage of stress.  Slow oxidation indicates an exhaustion stage of stress. 

However, within the exhaustion stage one can have an acute stress response indicated by a high sodium/potassium ratio.  This is a common occurrence.  A slow oxidizer with a low sodium/potassium ratio means a double exhaustion stage pattern, which is definitely less desirable.

 

INFLAMMATION

 

Aldosterone is a pro-inflammatory hormone.  It tends to increase inflammation in the body.  Cortisol and cortisone, associated more with potassium levels, are anti-inflammatory hormones because they diminish inflammation.  The pro and anti-inflammatory hormones must be in a good balance with each other for optimum health.

A person with a high sodium/potassium ratio may be secreting more aldosterone, in relation to cortisol.  Because there is more pro-inflammatory hormone, a tendency for inflammation exists in the body.  This is particularly true when the sodium/potassium ratio is greater than 10:1.

Inflammation can take the form of any 'itis', such as arthritis, bursitis, colitis, or tendonitis.  It is a tendency for aches and pains.  A high sodium/potassium ratio is also a tendency for mental excitation.  A ratio that persists between 3 and 6 suggests a forward-looking person.  A ratio greater than 6:1 suggests aggressiveness and anger.

 

ANGER

 

Most often, those with a greatly elevated sodium/potassium ratio have excessive anger.  Anger is an acute emotion or an adrenal reaction to fear in most cases.  It can be a projection of fear onto others or onto a situation to avoid feeling fear.

One does not diagnose anger from a hair mineral analysis.  However, the presence of anger as a factor in health and disease can often be discerned and is helpful for the practitioner and the patient to know about.  Elevated or hidden iron or copper toxicity are other indicators for anger on a hair mineral analysis.

 

SYMPATHETIC DOMINANCE

 

A hair sodium/potassium ratio above about 6 or 7 is also a secondary indicator only of a sympathetic dominant personality type.    These are individuals who overuse the sympathetic or fight-or-flight nervous system. 

They are usually very active, either mentally, physically or both.  The tendency is greater when the Na/K ratio is above about 12. 

These people at times overdo on exercise, worry a lot or in some other way keep themselves in a fight-or-flight mode.  Note that the body is often exhausted from this tendency, and may go into a parasympathetic state of slow oxidation. 

However, the mind often remains in a fight-or-flight or sympathetic dominant mode, which impairs recovery of health.

Note: the primary indicator for sympathetic dominance is a low potassium level, not the sodium/potassium ratio.  This is discussed more in the article entitled Sympathetic Dominance.

 

HIDDEN COPPER, MERCURY AND CADMIUM TOXICITY

 

A high sodium/potassium ratio may reflect hidden copper toxicity, especially in the slow oxidizer.  This is because copper elevates sodium and depresses potassium readings.  The copper may be present even if the hair copper level is low or normal.  Hidden copper toxicity is certain if the potassium level is less than 4 mg%, or if the calcium level is over about 80 mg%.

Cadmium and mercury toxicity can also elevate sodium levels and can cause a high sodium/potassium ratio.  This is true even if the cadmium or mercury are hidden within body tissues and not revealed on the hair test.  As cadmium, copper or mercury are eliminated, a retest mineral analysis will reveal an improved sodium/potassium ratio. 

An exception is if a retest is performed during a toxic metal elimination.  The sodium/potassium ratio may temporarily rise as cadmium, for example, is being eliminated.  This occurs because cadmium passes out of the body through the kidneys. 

As it is eliminated, cadmium irritates the kidneys.  This may cause the sodium/potassium ratio to rise further.  The ratio will normalize when the metal elimination is complete.

 

ZINC AND MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY

 

A high sodium/potassium ratio often indicates a zinc and/or magnesium deficiency.  Zinc lowers sodium and raises the potassium level.  Zinc deficiency is very common today.  Magnesium also has a lowering effect upon sodium, and is deficient in many diets today.

We recommend supplementing with zinc, or a product containing zinc, when the sodium/potassium ratio is elevated.  Magnesium or Paramin may also be very helpful to correct the ratio. 

 

MANGANESE, IRON AND ALUMINUM TOXICITY

 

         A high ratio of sodium to potassium may also be due to an accumulation of toxic amounts of aluminum in the body.  This will elevate the Na/K ratio, as will an excess of manganese or iron. 

Manganese and iron are not strictly toxic metals.  However, when present in excess, as is often the case, they will raise the sodium level in relation to the potassium level.  This occurs because all three of these can irritate the adrenal glands in such a way as to alter the balance of sodium in relation to potassium.

We know this because as excesses of these metals are eliminated, the sodium to potassium ratio decreases, often substantially.

 

THE HILL PATTERN

 

A sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 4 or 5, in combination with a calcium/magnesium ratio less than 5, is called a hill pattern.  The calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels on a calibrated graph, especially from Analytical Research Laboratories, appear in the shape of a hill. 

In our experience, this is an indicator that one is moving ahead in some way, or has Òturned a cornerÓ or has changed for the better in some way.  The pattern is still being researched.

The low calcium/magnesium ratio indicates a lack of defensiveness.  The high sodium/potassium ratio indicates moving forward.  Hair must not be washed at the laboratory for accurate sodium and potassium readings.  This pattern appears to be more reliable on retests, in general, than on initial hair tests.

 

SALT-EATING AND THE SODIUM/POTASSIUM RATIO

 

Many people assume that a high sodium/potassium ratio indicates an excessive salt intake.  While possibly true, in many instances salt eating has little impact upon the sodium/potassium ratio. 

A high ratio frequently occurs in people who consume no salt whatsoever!  The main causes of a high sodium/potassium ratio are excessive aldosterone secretion due to stress or anger, toxic metals or a zinc and magnesium deficiency.  Salt-eating plays a secondary role.

We recommend everyone avoid table salt, which is a very poor quality food.  One may have sea salt (unrefined salt), which contains more magnesium and trace elements.

We recommend limiting salt slightly when the sodium/potassium ratio is above 12, especially if blood pressure is elevated.  However, it is not usually necessary to eliminate all salt from the diet.  Also, sea salt is often tolerated much better than table salt.

 

KIDNEY AND LIVER STRESS AND THE IMMUNE RESPONSE

 

A sodium/potassium ratio greater than about 10 may indicate kidney stress, liver stress and imbalances affecting the immune response.  This is not well understood, however, so I will leave it as simply an observation some doctors have made.

 

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