What Does the Very High Level Of Calcium Mean On My Hair Tissue Analysis?

This is called biounavailable and is defined as the level of calcium being above 100mg% on a hair tissue mineral analysis. It is a fairly common issue and one that I have found is greatly misunderstood. I think part of the challenge has resulted from modern medicines tendency to diagnose and label things. In this example the easy and incorrect thing to do is to report back to the patient telling them they have too much calcium, full stop. The truth is usually far more involved. Whenever you see ANY nutrient being high a better approach is not to say that the high level is the issue but to ask the bigger question of WHY is that nutrient so high?

The most common reason for the high tissue calcium is some form of burnout as defined by a slow oxidation rate and weakened adrenal and thyroid activity. Stress is overwhelming in our society and comes in physical, emotional and chemical forms. Simply put, when our stresses overwhelm our body's ability to heal and repair burnout and a breaking down of the body occurs.

Chemically this causes a reduced level of sodium and potassium in the tissues. This is important to understand as sodium and potassium are referred to as the body's solvents. This means they are responsible for keeping the minerals like calcium in solution. When they go low this ability decreases and the calcium starts to change its form and it precipitates out of the blood and into the tissues, including the hair, hence the high levels we frequently see on hair tissue mineral analysis.

The bad news about this movement of calcium out of the blood is that it is not just going into the hair it is going to many other tissues. Stop and think about what calcification (hardening) of the body would look like. There would be a predisposition for arthritis, muscle aches, bone spurs, gall and kidney stones, hardening of the arteries and then high blood pressure, and memory loss to name a few. This is a very real and significant issue in the aging and chronic degenerative process.

There are also psychological qualities associated with high levels of calcium such as stability, hardness, rigidity. One might imagine that while these might be considered positive traits, when applied in excess they would become negatives. The opposite would also be true with not enough of these traits as calcium is also an important sedative mineral.

A calcium "shell" occurs when the hair tissue calcium level is above about 170mg%. As Dr. Wilson writes "It is common, especially in adult women, and is associated with psychological withdrawal, depression and emotional suppression in most cases. It can cause a degree of sexual numbness, as well. It also lowers one's awareness level, like living behind a concrete wall of calcium." One is virtually trying to wall oneself off and away from the overwhelming stresses of life.

An interesting dichotomy also occurs with this biounavailable calcium. Obviously on the hair tissue analysis we are seeing a high level of calcium but as we have mentioned it is in a form that the body cannot properly use. This allows the situation to exist where one will potentially have symptoms of both high and low calcium at the SAME time. This can be most confusing unless you understand what is going on and is important to know so that you can determine the right amount of calcium for the individual. Remember too much OR too little is an issue.

Finally another reason for a very high level of calcium is if the thyroid stats to fatigue and slow down. When this occurs the opposite gland, the parathyroid, will typically speed up. The thyroid puts calcium into the blood and the parathyroid puts calcium in the tissues as a general rule. High tissue calcium can therefore be reflective of a tired underperforming thyroid and the resultant higher parathyroid activity.

Hopefully from the above examples you can see how important it is to have a proper hair tissue mineral analysis done and interpreted. Blood is a different medium altogether and will often show normal while the tissues and a person's symptoms are saying something totally different. With this knowledge much can be done to address and reverse the many and varied chronic degenerative diseases that are plaguing us in modern times.

To have a test performed visit us at www.lifestyleintegration.com.au