Hair Metal Panel

Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Functional Medicine Notebook  

Test Overview

Hair analysis is a relatively inexpensive screening tool for toxic metal exposure as well as nutritional mineral status. It reflects the average levels of metals circulating in the blood over the period of time required for growth of the hair sample used.

Test Indications

• First-line test for evaluating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's Syndrome, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD), and learning disability.
• First-line test for evaluating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
• First-line test for evaluating autoimmune disorders, joint pain, and psoriasis.
• First-line test for evaluating Alzheimer's Disease.
• First-line test for evaluating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
• Environmental toxicity.
• Seizure disorders.
• Hypertension.
• Possibly useful in evaluating poor or excessive appetite, recurrent otitis media, herpes, and dry skin.

Sample Collection

1. Your doctor will provide you with the sample collection kit.
2. Hair dyes, hair perms, and other treatments may contain toxic metals that affect results; if you use these products, pubic or arm-pit hair may be used.
3. Detailed instructions are in the sample collection kit.

Your doctor or lab may have different instructions that supersede the above.

Labs Performing Test

Name of Lab	Lab Code	Estimated Cost	Processing Time	Comments
Great Plains		$135		Cash discount and some insurance

Costs cited are subject to change and may be reduced by insurance or cash discounts and increased by sample collection fees.

Theory

Toxic Metals

• Aluminum
• Antimony
• Arsenic
• Beryllium
• Bismuth
• Cadmium
• Lead
• Mercury
• Nickel
• Platinum
• Silver
• Thallium
• Thorium
• Tin
• Titanium
• Uranium

Nutritional Metals

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sodium
• Potassium
• Copper
• Zinc
• Manganese
• Chromium
• Vanadium
• Molybdenum
• Boron
• Iodine
• Lithium
• Phosphorous
• Sulfur
• Cobalt
• Iron

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References

Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:

[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.

[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

[GP] Great Plains Laboratory Physician Training lecture notes and documentation.

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Copyright © 2007-2010 Dr. Weyrich. The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you have a health concern or medical condition, consult a licensed healthcare provider. Dr. Weyrich is licensed by the State of Arizona to practice medicine (license number 07-1008).

This web page is http://www.DrWeyrich.com/labs/hair_metal.html   -   Phone Dr. Weyrich at (480) 423-6952