Why do I think that the mineral dosage (Mineralogram) in hair is the most useful and reliable? I explain:
Except in urgent/emergency situations (or special cases), when they measure your minerals (sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) in the blood, health professionals expect to have an idea of how they are in your body in general, right? The problem is that what appears in your blood doesn't necessarily reflect what's happening inside your cells... This is often because what's in the blood has difficulty reaching the cells, leaving the blood vessels, crossing the extracellular matrix (learn more about what it is and what it's for here: https://icaro.med.br/homotoxicologia-uma-otica-que-voce-ainda-nao-conhece/), membranes and then entering the cells - for example, the extracellular matrix may be too “dirty”, less permeable, the membranes more rigid and the minerals may “get in the way”; when this happens (and I've only mentioned ONE possible situation that deserves attention), in the blood the dosage of one or more minerals may be one, but inside the cells, where it matters most, it may be completely different, which will certainly jeopardize the reliability of the analysis by the health professionals who interpret it. In addition, a blood test for mineral analysis is a “snapshot” of the patient's moment and levels will vary greatly throughout the day, due to diet, elimination (urine, feces, sweat, breathing, etc.), supplementation, level of activity, physical exercise, metabolism.
Many professionals combine blood and mineral dosages with urinary dosages (which basically show their elimination) in order to be able to guess how the mineral levels are inside the cells, but this method is also not very reliable (for example, people with osteoporosis may have high urinary dosages of Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium, but they don't have an excess of these in their cells, but rather a loss of these through the bones...).
That's why I think a capillary mineralogram is the best way to assess the mineral balance of the majority of patients, as it also offers the dosage of many more minerals (far more than those usually requested/valued by most professionals), the amount of toxic metals in the body (in the blood they are “just passing through”: they tend to be deposited in the different tissues and, therefore, may be “at normal levels” in the blood, but the patient may still be intoxicated! Find out more about this test at the links below:
1️⃣ - HAIR MINERALOGRAM - THE GREAT PLAINS LABORATORY
2️⃣ - What the mineralogram is, what it's for and how it's done - TUA SAÚDE
TIP: In general, I suggest having a hair mineralogram test at least every 2 years and that it is well interpreted and explained by a good health professional. That's the tip!
More about the Mineralogram:
Question 1 - What is the Mineralogram?
Answer: The Mineralogram consists of the measurement of minerals in some of the body's tissues. The hair mineralogram, popularly known as the “hair test”, consists of measuring minerals in the hair. It has been used in the United States for over 30 years and is approved by the Federal Council of Medicine. This test is a quick, efficient and painless way of finding out how healthy you are, providing much safer medical advice. Your hair contains all the minerals present in your body, and the Mineralogram measures whether there is an excess or deficiency of trace elements (minerals) in our bodies, as well as heavy (toxic) minerals. Finding out what your body needs and when it needs it is very useful for promoting good health. This valuable tool indicates which supplements you need and which you should avoid. The results of the Mineralogram provide accurate information about your body's internal situation. Some of the information provided in this report includes:
- Mineral Nutrient Levels: Calcium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Silicon, Sodium, Vanadium and Zinc.
- Levels of Toxic Metals: Aluminum, Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Nickel.
The results of your examination are interpreted and presented together with a personalized report, accompanied by graphs and explanations about your own body, which often provides answers that you may have been searching for for years.
Question 2 - How is the Mineralogram done on the hair?
Answer: The patient needs to provide a sample of their hair. This should be taken from the nape of the neck or occipital region (from the root, up to 3cm). A sample of approximately 150mg, which does not contain dye, perms, gels, conditioners or similar chemical treatments. The patient is instructed to prepare for the collection, which will vary from weeks to months, if they use dye or any chemical product that could alter the test.
Question 3 - What symptoms of a disease can the Mineralogram indicate?
Answer: For example, Mercury intoxication can present symptoms such as depression, fatigue, tremors, panic syndrome, paresthesia, lack of motor control, sideways walking, speech difficulties, memory loss, loss of sexual performance, stomatitis, loose teeth, headaches, anorexia in children, hallucinations, vomiting, fever, difficulty chewing, sweating and loss of pain sense, among others.
Question 4 - What other benefits can be obtained from the Mineralogram test?
Answer: There are countless benefits to be gained from an assessment using the Mineralogram, including longevity. It's not enough just to eat properly; another way of slowing down ageing is to detoxify the body.
(In: https://icaro.med.br/ortomolecular-tire-todas-as-suas-duvidas-sobre/)
Português do Brasil 
English 