Stress Analysis with Hair Analysis: Test Review

The past three years have been stressful for Jane, a 37-year-old mom of two. During this period, Jane has gotten married and had two children (both via c-section with complications). She is also currently pregnant with her third child.

Jane does not eat well, and her lifestyle is somewhat frantic. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with her two young ones, she says.

Jane’s Hair Analysis Results

Three Lows. Jane’s first hair test showed a “three lows” pattern. This was signified by low levels of three of the four major electrolytes—calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

A three lows pattern tends to signify overwhelming lifestyle stress. It also means that a person is close to collapsing into a “four lows” pattern—a more advanced exhaustion pattern.

Sympathetic Dominance. Jane also had a “sympathetic dominant” pattern, which means she is overusing her sympathetic nervous system (also known as the fight-or-flight response). In this pattern, a person continues to push themselves, even though their body is exhausted. Those with this pattern have trouble sitting still, relaxing, and being idle.

Sympathetic dominance is common today. Many people push themselves and take on too much, in an attempt to fit in or keep up with everyone else. They don’t rest enough, and they don’t supply their bodies with the nutrients needed for repair and regeneration. This combination accelerates the aging and disease process.

Hair Analysis Can Measure Stress

I bring up Jane’s case to demonstrate how hair analysis can be used to perform a stress analysis on the human body. This is possible because certain types of stress have predictable effects on the mineral balance in your hair.

Hair analysis can assess stress on your body in three main ways:

1. Effects of Stress. Hair analysis can measure the effect that stress is having on your health. For example, it can show you how excessive stress is depleting your mineral levels or weakening your adrenal glands.
2. Stage of Stress. Hair analysis can also reveal your stage of stress. Your stage of stress can give you an idea of how long stress has been present—whether the stress is more chronic or acute. Your stage of stress can also gauge your body’s capacity for dealing with stress (i.e. the strength of your stress response).
3. Source of Stress. Hair analysis can also help distinguish between the type of stress you are facing. For example, it may indicate stress from toxic metal accumulation or nutritional deficiencies. Or, it may reveal that the source of stress is from lifestyle factors or improper diet. Having this information makes it easier to remove the sources of stress and live in a more healthful way.

A stress analysis is one of the main benefits of doing a hair analysis with a qualified practitioner.  When you have concrete data and can see how stress is affecting your health, it is easier to make needed changes in your diet and lifestyle. We can use your test results to recommend specific nutrients and lifestyle changes to balance and restore a healthy stress response. Click here to order your first hair analysis.