What Others Are Saying

Client D

Tired and Hoping for a Baby

Client D is a husband with two concerns he wasn't sure were related. The first is a fatigue that has worn on him for a long time, the kind rest doesn't touch. The second is that he and his wife have been trying for a baby without success.

He describes feeling tired and keyed up at the same time, worn out but unable to fully slow down. A fertility workup had already shown that sperm DNA was being damaged as the sperm developed, a sign of oxidative stress at the cellular level. His reproductive hormone signaling looked normal, which told me to look away from a production problem and toward the conditions the sperm were developing in.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested him, his hair showed a fast metabolic pattern with the adrenal glands pushing hard. Sodium was above optimal while magnesium sat at 3.8 against an optimal of 6, putting his adrenal ratio at roughly double where I like to see it. A body in that high-output state uses magnesium faster than it can replace it, and magnesium is needed for energy production, restful sleep, testosterone production, and protecting sperm DNA from oxidative damage. Boron, which supports antioxidant defense, was also low, and his calcium-to-magnesium ratio pointed toward blood sugar dips between meals that feed the tired-but-wired cycle.

His blood work lined up with the hair test. Red blood cell magnesium was 5.1, below my functional optimal of 6.5. Total testosterone was strong, but a binding protein called SHBG was elevated, so less of it was free for his body to use. Ferritin and iron saturation ran above the functional range while ceruloplasmin, the copper-carrying protein that helps move iron, was low. To me, that pattern is consistent with iron being stored rather than recycled, and excess stored iron can add to oxidative stress.

For Client D, what stands out to me is that the fatigue and the fertility struggle appear to share the same roots: mineral depletion from long-term stress, blood sugar swings, and oxidative strain.

Client A

Restless Nights and Low Drive

Client A is a husband whose list includes loud snoring, insomnia, changes in his eyesight, low testosterone, and low sex drive. He and his wife are facing infertility, and they didn't know whether his health was part of the picture.

He wants to understand whether these concerns are separate problems or pieces of one pattern, and whether anything in his own body could be affecting their chances of conceiving.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested him, his hair showed a fast nervous system paired with exhausted adrenals and a sluggish thyroid, the pattern of a body under stress without the reserves to respond. His adrenal ratio was 1.33 against an optimal of 4. The adrenal glands help regulate energy, blood sugar, and the stress response, and they also contribute to sex hormone production. Magnesium read above optimal at 9, which in this pattern I read as high demand rather than a true surplus.

What stood out to me most was potassium at 2 against an optimal of 13, with his calcium-to-potassium ratio at 13.5 against an optimal of 4.2. That combination is consistent with thyroid hormone having trouble getting into the cells, which can show up as low drive, low energy, and a sluggish metabolism. His sodium-to-potassium ratio was elevated at 6, a sign of active stress and inflammation that can disrupt sleep. Copper was below optimal with zinc running high, and copper plays a role in testosterone production and iron transport. Boron, which supports healthy testosterone, was low, and cobalt pointed me toward low stomach acid.

His blood work added detail. Iron saturation and ferritin ran high while ceruloplasmin was low, consistent with iron being stored rather than used well. SHBG, the protein that binds hormones, was elevated, leaving less free testosterone available. Blood sugar markers sat just above optimal, and reverse T3 was at the top of its optimal range, another sign of a thyroid under stress.

Client M

Short of Breath and Running Low

Client M is a husband, and he and his wife are working through infertility together. His own concerns are digestive trouble, low energy, shortness of breath with exertion, joint pain, and brain fog. He also had a past surgery that changed how he digests fat.

His wellness questionnaire added more. He noted occasional joint and muscle pain that moves around, poor memory, grinding his teeth at night, dizziness, low blood pressure, mild anxiety and low mood, and a sensitivity to moldy places.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested him, his hair showed a fast metabolic pattern on top of a Four Lows pattern, meaning calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium were all low at once. Magnesium was 1.0 against an optimal of 6, one of the lowest I see. His adrenal ratio was 9 against an optimal of 4, a sign of adrenals overdriven while magnesium was being used up. His calcium-to-magnesium ratio of 19 is consistent with blood sugar swings, and his nervous system ratio pointed to a fight-or-flight state. Low magnesium and potassium together may be contributing to how quickly his energy and breath run out with effort.

Cobalt was very low, a signal I read as low stomach acid, which affects how well food and B12 are absorbed and fits his digestive trouble and brain fog. His surgical history can change how bile is released, which can make fat digestion harder. Boron, which supports joints and bone, was very low at 0.09 against 0.63. His calcium-to-potassium ratio sat just above optimal, a mild sign of thyroid hormone struggling to enter the cells.

There was encouraging news too. His zinc-to-copper ratio was in the optimal range, which I see as a positive finding for hormone balance and fertility. Lead and mercury were present at low levels, not at crisis levels, and worth keeping in mind.

Client M3

Holding On to Everything

Client M3 is a husband. He and his wife are hoping to conceive, and his own concerns center on low testosterone, liver numbers that run high, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar that crashes between meals.

His intake points to mold exposure in his living environment, and their water source is part of the picture.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested him, all four of his foundational minerals came back above optimal at once: calcium 100, magnesium 10.8, sodium 25, and potassium 65 against an optimal of 13. I read this as a body holding on to minerals rather than putting them to work. His sodium-to-potassium ratio was 0.39 against an optimal of 2.4, a pattern I associate with long-term stress and a body worn down underneath the high numbers. His calcium-to-magnesium ratio points to a relative magnesium shortfall, which is consistent with the blood sugar crashes.

Copper was low at 1.0, putting his zinc-to-copper ratio at 14 against an optimal of 8. Copper plays a role in testosterone production and in moving iron. His hair iron read high, but my lab doesn't wash samples, and depending on their water source, some of that may be sitting on the hair rather than inside the body.

His blood work tells a related story. Fasting insulin was 16.6 against my optimal of under 6, a pattern of insulin resistance that often travels with high cholesterol and blood pressure. A liver enzyme was elevated, his lipids ran high, and copper and ceruloplasmin both sat at the low edge of normal. For Client M3, the metabolic picture and the fertility picture appear to share the same roots.

Client F

Foggy, Gassy, and Low on Energy

Client F is a man whose main concerns are brain fog, a lot of gas, and low energy. Fatty meals don't sit well, he suspects his gallbladder is struggling, and dairy sometimes gives him trouble.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested him, his results showed a fast metabolic pattern with the adrenals pushing hard. Sodium was 38 against an optimal of 19, while magnesium sat around 2.8 against 6, putting his adrenal ratio at about 13.6 against an optimal of 4. A body in that high-output state uses magnesium faster than it can replace it. Calcium was low at 27, and his calcium-to-phosphorus ratio was below 1.5, a sign his body is breaking down its own resources for fuel.

Copper was low, with his zinc-to-copper ratio at 14 against an optimal of 8. Copper is a key driver of bile production and flow, and it powers part of the cell's energy cycle. Low copper is a common upstream reason for sluggish bile and trouble with fatty meals, and it may be contributing to his low energy. Manganese, which also supports energy production and bile flow, was low, and boron was below optimal.

Cobalt was low, which I read as a sign of low stomach acid, a common source of gas and incomplete digestion. Lead, cadmium, and mercury were present at low levels, not at crisis levels, and worth keeping in mind.

Client W

Running on Empty After Menopause

Client W is a woman past menopause who feels worn down in nearly every area of life. Her top concerns are exhaustion, trouble falling asleep, night sweats, thinning hair, muscle weakness, low libido, and vaginal dryness.

Her intake added more layers. Blood sugar has been a long-standing struggle, with carb cravings and tiredness after meals. Digestion is uncomfortable, with nausea, light-colored stools, and signs of yeast overgrowth such as a white-coated tongue. She has also lived in a water-damaged building in the past.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her hair showed what I call a Four Lows pattern: calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium were all low at the same time. Potassium came back at 2 against an optimal of 13, and sodium at 7 against 19. Her metabolism read as fast, but her adrenal glands and thyroid were both running depleted, a stressed body without the reserves to respond. After menopause the adrenal glands become the backup producers of sex hormones, so depleted adrenals may be making this transition harder than it needs to be.

Several findings pointed me to the thyroid at the cell level. With potassium that low, thyroid hormone has a harder time getting into cells, and her calcium-to-potassium ratio sat right at the threshold I watch for cellular thyroid resistance. Selenium, needed to convert thyroid hormone into its active form, was below optimal. Together these are consistent with her fatigue, hair thinning, and muscle weakness. Her calcium-to-phosphorus ratio also suggested her body was breaking down protein for fuel.

Copper was very low at 0.6 while zinc ran high, putting her zinc-to-copper ratio near 47 against an optimal of 8. Copper helps move iron where it belongs, and once monthly cycles stop, iron is no longer lost each month. Her iron-to-copper ratio showed iron outpacing the copper available to manage it. Boron, which supports bone and hormone signaling, was also low, and her blood work showed an inflammation marker running well above optimal.

Client M2

Afternoon Crashes and Evening Second Winds

Client M2 is a woman past menopause with a clear set of goals: more steady energy, some healthy weight gain, and relief from the symptoms that are still hanging on. She naps after lunch most days, then gets a burst of energy in the evening just as the rest of the house is going to bed.

Other concerns on her intake include thinning hair, waking every night to urinate, vaginal thinning and low libido, trouble keeping muscle on, carb cravings, and cold hands and feet. She also feels as though she is anemic, and she reports a long history of antibiotic use and regular sinus infections.

What the Testing Showed

What stood out to me first was potassium at 1 against an optimal of 13, with her calcium-to-potassium ratio at 20 against 4.2. Her blood thyroid numbers looked good, but with potassium this low, thyroid hormone has a hard time getting into the cells where it does its work. That is consistent with her fatigue, cold hands and feet, and thinning hair.

Magnesium was 1.6 against an optimal of 6, while her adrenal ratio was 12.5 against an optimal of 4. Her adrenals were pushing hard and using magnesium as fast as it came in. Her calcium-to-magnesium ratio, also 12.5, is consistent with blood sugar dips, and her sodium-to-potassium ratio was very high at 20, a sign of active stress. An afternoon crash followed by an evening second wind fits a stress-hormone rhythm that is running off schedule. Her calcium-to-phosphorus ratio suggested her body was breaking down protein for fuel, which can make it hard to hold on to weight and muscle. Boron and manganese were both very low.

Her earlier blood work explained the anemia question. Ferritin was 96 and iron saturation 37%, both above my functional ranges, while ceruloplasmin was low. After menopause, iron is no longer lost each month, and without enough active copper to move it, iron can be stored in tissue rather than put to use. A person can feel low on iron while carrying plenty of it in storage.

Client S

Stuck in High Gear After Menopause

Client S is a woman past menopause whose top concerns are fatigue, headaches, and dry skin. Cholesterol runs high, and blood sugar has been a long-standing struggle.

She also lives with digestive trouble, which made it important to look past the minerals alone to how well her body is absorbing what it takes in.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her adrenal ratio was about 31.7 against an optimal of 4, one of the highest I see. Sodium was 44 against an optimal of 19, while magnesium sat at 2.7 against 6. Her body is running in high gear and spending magnesium as fast as it arrives. Her calcium-to-potassium ratio was low, a sign of a thyroid driven fast by stress rather than one running smoothly. Calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, cobalt, and boron were all below optimal, and manganese ran above range.

Her hair iron came back high at 3.2, yet her blood told a different story: serum iron was 64 against my optimal of 100, iron saturation 18%, and hemoglobin 12.1. Ceruloplasmin, the protein that activates copper so iron can move, was low at 24. That combination is consistent with iron being stored in tissue rather than circulating where she needs it, which may be adding to her fatigue. Red blood cell magnesium was also below optimal.

Her hormone work showed DHEA-S well below my target range of 250 to 385, and estradiol below the 100 to 350 range I look for after menopause. A stool test showed low digestive enzyme output, signs of low stomach acid, and an imbalanced gut, all of which can limit how well minerals and hormones are absorbed. For Client S, absorption appears to be a central piece of the puzzle.

Client E

Survival Mode Before a Baby

Client E is a woman hoping to grow her family who has been trying to conceive without success. Alongside infertility, her top concerns are fatigue, mood swings, swelling, and weight gain that won't budge.

Her intake showed a body under strain in several directions. She noted dry skin, brain fog, sluggish bowel movements, and PMS, and blood sugar ranked as a top priority on her wellness questionnaire. She had no recent blood work, so the hair test was my first look at what was happening underneath.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, all four of her foundational minerals were deeply depleted. Calcium came back at 8 against an optimal of 42, and magnesium at 0.6 against 6. At the same time her metabolism read as fast, so her body was spending minerals faster than it could rebuild them. Her nervous system ratio pointed to a fight-or-flight state. A body that senses it is in survival mode tends to move reproduction down its list, which may be contributing to the fertility struggle at a foundational level.

Her adrenal ratio was about 16.7 against an optimal of 4, a sign of adrenals pushing hard on very little reserve. Her calcium-to-magnesium ratio of 13.3 is consistent with blood sugar dips between meals, which fit her fatigue and mood swings.

Copper was above optimal at 3.0, and her zinc-to-copper ratio was low at 5.0. When copper outweighs zinc, I often see it alongside an estrogen-dominant pattern, which can show up as PMS, mood swings, fluid retention, and stubborn weight. Potassium was low at 3 and selenium sat just below optimal, and both matter for thyroid hormone reaching and working inside the cells. Thyroid function is closely tied to cycle regularity, progesterone, and the ability to sustain an early pregnancy.

Client R

Wired, Tired, and Waiting to Conceive

Client R is a woman hoping to conceive, with infertility at the top of her list. She also deals with fatigue and sleepiness after meals, constipation, weight that doesn't respond to her efforts, brain fog, and acne.

Her history includes endometriosis and past mold exposure. She describes feeling wired and exhausted at the same time.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her hair showed a fast metabolic pattern, with calcium at 18 against an optimal of 42 and magnesium at 2.5 against 6. Her nervous system ratio was 1.29 against an optimal of 2.6, one of the lowest I see, which points to a body living in fight-or-flight. Her adrenal ratio was 7.2 against 4, and her sodium-to-potassium ratio was elevated, a sign of active stress and inflammation that I often see alongside estrogen dominance. Potassium sat at the low edge, and low potassium and magnesium both slow the bowel. Very low cobalt pointed me toward low stomach acid, which fits the heavy, sleepy feeling after meals.

Her blood work filled in the rest. Fasting insulin was 16 against my optimal of under 6, even though fasting glucose looked normal, a pattern of early insulin resistance that can drive inflammation, stubborn weight, and cycle disruption. Her luteal-phase progesterone was very low at 1.15, suggesting ovulation may not have been completing well. Serum iron was 50 against an optimal of 100, with saturation at 14%, while serum copper ran high. Red blood cell magnesium and plasma zinc were both below optimal, confirming the hair test.

There was hopeful news as well. Her AMH, a marker of egg reserve, was in a good range, and her thyroid antibodies were negative. Free T3, the active thyroid hormone, was just below optimal while free T4 ran high, a picture consistent with hormone being made but not fully converted into its active form.

Client E2

Depleted Before Pregnancy Even Begins

Client E2 is a woman hoping to grow her family after struggling with infertility and loss. Her past pregnancies have been very hard on her body. She also wants help with excess weight, and she has been told her cortisol runs high.

Her intake lists blood sugar swings and chocolate cravings, muscles that tire quickly, shortness of breath with moderate exercise, an irregular heartbeat at times, bleeding gums when brushing, yeast symptoms, and PMS with signs of excess estrogen. She is a slow starter in the morning, often skips breakfast, and needs sunglasses more than most people.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her hair showed a fast nervous system with exhausted adrenals and a sluggish thyroid, along with a Four Lows pattern. Calcium was 15, magnesium 2.5, sodium 4 against an optimal of 19, and potassium 2 against 13. Her adrenal ratio was 1.6 against an optimal of 4. To me, this is the picture of a body stressed but unable to mount a response. Slow mornings, light sensitivity, and blood sugar swings are classic signs of adrenals running on empty.

Her calcium-to-potassium ratio of 7.5 pointed to thyroid hormone having trouble getting into the cells, and her sodium-to-potassium ratio of 2.0 is consistent with chronic, long-term stress. Her calcium-to-phosphorus ratio suggested her body was breaking down protein for fuel, which fits muscles that tire easily. Pregnancy places large demands on exactly these minerals, and starting a pregnancy this depleted may be part of why previous pregnancies were so hard on her.

Zinc was below optimal, cobalt was too low to detect, and manganese was well above range. Elevated manganese can come from the body's own handling of it or from water on the hair, since the lab doesn't wash samples. A small amount of arsenic was also present, not at a crisis level.

Client C2

Cycles Drifting Off Course

Client C2 is a mom hoping to add to her family. Her cycles have been getting longer and less predictable, and she has a sense that something is off. Alongside that, she lives with fatigue, trouble falling asleep and relaxing at night, and weight that has not shifted in the years since her last baby.

Her intake also notes waking at night to use the bathroom, inconsistent sleep length, and a history of mold exposure.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, calcium came back at 128 against an optimal of 42, a pattern I call a calcium shell, while potassium was 1 against 13. That put her calcium-to-potassium ratio at 128 against an optimal of 4.2, far into the range where thyroid hormone struggles to enter the cells. Her blood TSH looked normal, which is common when the problem sits at the cell rather than in the gland. Her metabolism reads as very slow, and with sodium at 2 her adrenal ratio was 0.26 against an optimal of 4, a sign of reserves running close to empty.

Her blood work added two important layers. Leptin was 18.8, above the range I like to see, and her blood sugar markers pointed toward early insulin resistance. Both can disrupt ovulation and make weight hard to move. Her iron markers ran above my functional ranges while ceruloplasmin and serum copper were both low, a pattern consistent with copper being retained in tissue rather than put to use.

One thyroid antibody was mildly elevated while the other was clean, something worth watching. Phosphorus, boron, and manganese were all low, which often points to digestion and protein breakdown, and a small amount of aluminum was present. Thyroid function, blood sugar, and copper balance all feed into cycle regularity, which is consistent with what she has been noticing.

Client M4

Tired, Inflamed, and Hoping for a Baby

Client M4 is a woman hoping to conceive after a past loss. Her top concerns are infertility, low progesterone, fatigue, stress, low motivation, weight that resists her efforts, and symptoms that feel like anemia.

Her intake lists bloating and heaviness after meals, sleepiness after eating, salt and chocolate cravings, irritability before meals, cold feet, anxiety and low mood, shortness of breath with moderate exercise, and PMS with light periods that drag on. She also notes excess facial hair and a past habit of fasting to try to lose weight.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her results showed a fast nervous system with exhausted adrenals and a sluggish thyroid, along with calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium all below optimal. Copper was low, putting her zinc-to-copper ratio at 13.6 against an optimal of 8. Selenium and molybdenum were low, cobalt was too low to detect, and manganese ran above range. Her salt cravings, irritability before meals, and post-meal crashes are consistent with adrenals and blood sugar under strain.

Her blood work confirmed the hormone side. DHEA-S, progesterone, and bioavailable testosterone were all low. Free T4 sat at the low end of my range, and one thyroid antibody was mildly elevated, while her active thyroid hormone was a bright spot. Ceruloplasmin was below optimal at 26, and her A1c sat just above my optimal range.

A stool test showed a significant bacterial overgrowth, very low secretory IgA (the gut's first line of immune defense), and signs of a leaky gut barrier. Progesterone has a calming, anti-inflammatory role in the body, and ongoing gut inflammation may be competing for it. For Client M4, the gut, the adrenals, and the hormone picture appear closely connected.

Client C3

Low Platelets While Pregnant

Client C3 came to me at 22 weeks pregnant with a history of low platelets. Her goal was to have platelets over 100 at birth.

What the Testing Showed

We did a mineral test and iron and copper blood work. It showed copper and iron dysregulation and a lot of depleted minerals.

For the last few months we worked on replenishing her minerals and providing the missing blood nutrients. She just had her baby, and her platelets were 110 before birth and 99 after.

Client T

Too Tired to Rest

Client T is a mom with a little one at home whose energy has run out. Her top three concerns are low energy, poor sleep, and bloating. What she wants is simple: to wake up rested, to enjoy her coffee without a crash afterward, and to feel motivated again.

Her intake describes very light sleep. She hears every noise, dreams heavily and restlessly, and gets under six hours most nights between the baby's wakings and her own. Bowel movements are regular, with some bloating, gas, and occasional loose stools.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, all four foundational minerals were well below optimal, with sodium and potassium both at 2. The optimal for sodium is 19 and for potassium 13. Her adrenal ratio was 0.69 against an optimal of 4, a range I associate with deep adrenal exhaustion, and her sodium-to-potassium ratio of 1.0 is consistent with chronic, long-term stress. Pregnancy and the months after birth draw heavily on a mother's mineral stores, and her results suggest those stores had not been rebuilt. When the adrenals have this little to work with, caffeine tends to give a short lift followed by a hard drop.

Potassium that low makes it harder for thyroid hormone to enter the cells, and her calcium-to-potassium ratio of 13 was well above the optimal of 4.2. Selenium and zinc, both needed to convert thyroid hormone into its active form, were below optimal. This picture is consistent with the fatigue and low motivation she describes.

Copper sat at the very top of its range while zinc was low, a combination that can add to a wired, restless feeling and lighter sleep. Her cobalt level suggested low stomach acid, a common contributor to bloating. Her iron markers came back adequate, which helped me rule out iron as the main driver of her tiredness.

Client C

Out of Breath and Out of Steam

Client C is a mom with low motivation and low energy at the top of her list. She gets out of breath easily, struggles to lose weight, and has thin, dry, brittle hair that is thinning on top. She has been through a recent loss and has a history of low progesterone.

Her intake added muscle and back pain, headaches, irritability, sweet cravings, gas and bloating, bad breath, and ongoing trouble with cavities.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her hair showed a fast metabolic pattern with calcium low at 21 against an optimal of 42 and potassium low at 5 against 13. Low calcium is tied to cavities and dental trouble, and calcium and potassium both matter for muscle comfort and steady energy. Her calcium-to-potassium ratio sat right at the optimal of 4.2, a bright spot that suggested to me thyroid hormone was reaching her cells reasonably well. Copper in her hair was low at 1.1.

Her blood work showed me where the breathlessness and fatigue may be coming from. Vitamin A (retinol) was 47, below my functional range of 50 to 90. Vitamin A is needed to make ceruloplasmin, the protein that activates copper, and her ceruloplasmin was below optimal. Without active copper, iron can't be recycled well, and her ferritin was low with hemoglobin only just adequate. Less iron available to carry oxygen is consistent with tiring quickly and getting winded.

Progesterone production depends on minerals like magnesium and zinc and on steady blood sugar, and her progesterone sat in the lower half of its range. Reverse T3 was close to my threshold, a sign of a body under stress. Together these pieces suggest the fatigue, the hair changes, and the hormone picture share common roots.

Client A2

Heavy and Sluggish While Nursing

Client A2 is a young mom who is nursing, with low energy and long-standing gut trouble. She wants to lose weight, and her periods are heavy and painful, with strong cravings beforehand.

Greasy and heavily seasoned foods don't sit well with her, she has a history of reflux, and she has been eating a reduced-fat diet.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her hair showed a slow metabolic pattern, the body conserving rather than producing energy. Calcium was right at optimal, but potassium was 1 against an optimal of 13. That put her calcium-to-potassium ratio at 43 against an optimal of 4.2, the most significant finding on her test. A ratio this high is consistent with thyroid hormone having a very hard time getting into the cells, which can feel like heavy fatigue and weight that won't respond to effort, even when blood thyroid numbers look normal.

Sodium was low at 8 and her adrenal ratio was 1.7 against an optimal of 4, a sign of adrenals worn down by long-term demand. Nursing draws steadily on a mother's minerals. Magnesium was below optimal, and her calcium-to-magnesium ratio pointed toward blood sugar dips, which can intensify cravings.

Copper was low at 0.8 while her zinc-to-copper ratio was high at 17.5. In a slow pattern, I most often read this as copper that is present but not available for use, which can affect iron transport, energy, and hormone balance, including heavy or painful periods. Cobalt pointed toward low stomach acid, and trouble with greasy foods is consistent with sluggish bile flow. Iron was very low on her hair test and boron was too low to detect, while manganese ran well above range.

Client M5

Headaches, Afternoon Slumps, and Winter Sick Days

Client M5 is a young woman whose main concern is headaches she has lived with for a very long time. She is sleepy every afternoon, deals with low mood, and gets very sick every winter.

Her intake adds seasonal allergies, a stomach that is sensitive at times, and possible mold in the home.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, all four foundational minerals were well below optimal: calcium 11, magnesium 1.3, sodium 8, and potassium 1 against an optimal of 13. Magnesium relaxes blood vessels and muscles and calms the nervous system, so a deficit this deep may be contributing to the headaches and low mood. With potassium this low, her calcium-to-potassium ratio was 11 against an optimal of 4.2, consistent with thyroid hormone having trouble getting into the cells, which can show up as afternoon slumps.

Her sodium-to-potassium ratio was high at 8, a sign of active stress and inflammation, which fits her allergies. Copper was low at 1.3, and copper supports immune defense and iron transport. Selenium, manganese, and iron were also below optimal, and a small amount of arsenic was present.

Her blood work confirmed the iron picture. Ferritin, the body's iron storage, was 8 against my functional range of 20 to 50, and ceruloplasmin and serum copper were both low. Very low iron stores are consistent with fatigue, headaches, and getting sick often, and low copper makes it harder for iron to be put to use.

Client R2

Pushing Through the Pain

Client R2 is a young, active woman whose top concern is frequent migraines that leave her reaching for pain relief most days just to get through. She also struggles with energy, blood sugar swings, weight, focus and memory, and hormone balance.

She stays very physically active, which adds to her body's mineral needs.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her metabolism read as fast, but calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium were all below their thresholds at once: calcium 19, magnesium 2.8, sodium 8, and potassium 9. A fast metabolism running on low reserves is consistent with low energy and with migraines that flare under stress. Boron was very low at 0.11 against an optimal of 0.63, and boron helps the body hold on to calcium and magnesium.

Her blood work lined up with the hair test. Red blood cell magnesium was 4.4 against my functional optimal of 6.5. Copper was low on her hair test, and her ceruloplasmin was 24, below the 30 I like to see, a sign that copper isn't being activated well. Vitamin A was 41 against my range of 50 to 90, and vitamin A is needed to make ceruloplasmin.

Hemoglobin was slightly low at 12.1 and transferrin was below optimal, though the rest of her iron markers looked strong. Low magnesium, low active copper, and a body under steady physical demand together may be contributing to how often the migraines come.

Client J

The Itch That Wouldn't Quit

Client J is a young boy in his early school years. His parents' three main concerns are itching all over his body along with allergies, stubborn constipation, and sleep that never seems to restore him.

His intake filled in the picture. He is easily overwhelmed and needs his routine kept just so. Cuts are slow to heal, bug bites hit him hard, he catches infections often, and he has white spots on his nails. He sweats easily and has reacted strongly to certain foods. There is known mold in the home.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested him, his hair showed a slow metabolic pattern, the most depleted of the slow types. Magnesium was the headline finding at 2.1 against an optimal of 6. Magnesium helps the bowel muscles move, calms the nervous system, and supports deep sleep, so a deficit this size may be contributing to the constipation, the poor sleep, and how quickly he feels overwhelmed. His sodium-to-magnesium ratio was nearly 40 against an optimal of 4.

Zinc came back at 6, below even the lab's own range. Zinc is central to skin repair, immune defense, wound healing, and stomach acid production, and low zinc is consistent with his slow healing, frequent infections, white nail spots, and itch. His sodium-to-potassium ratio was low, a long-term stress pattern I often see alongside allergies and an overactive immune response. Sodium and potassium themselves were both high, which in his case reflected stress and mineral loss rather than strength.

A cluster of elements also stood out to me together: iron, manganese, and arsenic were all elevated. Arsenic irritates the skin and may be adding to the itch. Because the lab does not wash hair samples, minerals from bath and shower water can show up in results, and this group of elements pointed me toward the household water as one possible source.

Client J2

Aches, Headaches, and Restless Nights

Client J2 is a girl in her elementary years. Her mom's concerns are frequent headaches, irritability, sleep that doesn't last through the night, and a lot of aches and pains in her body.

The family has lived with mold in the home, and her mom is working through her own health concerns at the same time.

What the Testing Showed

A fast metabolism is normal for a child, but when I tested her, her hair showed the most strained of the fast patterns, with adrenals and thyroid lagging behind, along with a Four Lows pattern. In a child, that tells me the body has been under real stress. Calcium was 21 against an optimal of 42, and sodium was 6 against 19. Her nervous system ratio pointed to a fight-or-flight state, which can show up in a child as irritability, trouble settling, and broken sleep. Her sodium-to-potassium ratio of 1.5 and adrenal ratio of 1.43 both pointed to deep, long-term depletion.

Copper was low at 1.0 while zinc held steady, putting her zinc-to-copper ratio at 17 against an optimal of 8. Copper supports immune defense, connective tissue, and iron transport, and low copper is associated with aches and pains and slow recovery. Iron on her hair test sat at the very bottom of the range, and selenium was below optimal.

Her blood work connected the dots. Vitamin A was 32, well below my functional range of 50 to 90. Vitamin A is needed to make ceruloplasmin, the protein that activates copper and helps move iron, and her ceruloplasmin was below optimal. Serum iron, iron saturation, and hemoglobin were all low, and less iron available to carry oxygen may be contributing to her headaches, aches, and fatigue. Red blood cell magnesium was below optimal, and an inflammation marker was elevated for a child.

Client L

Tired, Foggy, and Stuffed Up

Client L is a boy in his preteen years who is always tired. His parents also list headaches, extra weight, plugged sinuses and ears, and a real struggle with memorizing and spelling in school.

He has trouble falling asleep, snores a lot, and wakes up tired. He had recently been on antibiotics, has ongoing gut trouble, and there has been mold in part of the house.

What the Testing Showed

A fast metabolic pattern is expected in a child, and that is what I saw when I tested him. But a fast engine needs plenty of fuel, and his reserves were low. Calcium came back at 16 against an optimal of 42. His nervous system ratio of 1.23 against an optimal of 2.6 pointed to a body stuck in high alert, which can make it hard to fall asleep and hard to focus. His sodium-to-potassium ratio was slightly low, an early sign of long-term stress.

Several trace minerals tied to energy and focus were low. Manganese supports energy production and steady blood sugar, and chromium works with insulin; both were below optimal, which can show up as fatigue after meals, sugar cravings, and trouble concentrating. Phosphorus was low, which often points to digestion that isn't breaking down protein well, consistent with his gut trouble and recent antibiotics.

Copper was below optimal at 1.4 and zinc was just under optimal. Both are important for immune defense, and low levels may be part of why his sinuses and ears stay congested. Iron was low on his hair test, which I always confirm with blood work before drawing conclusions.

Client G

Tummy Aches and Hard Bedtimes

Client G is a young girl not yet in school. Her mom's top concerns are tummy aches, constipation, and nights that are hard to settle into, with waking hungry during the night.

Her intake also mentions allergies, moods that dip before meals, and needing a lot of reassurance when she is apart from her mom. The family has a history of mold exposure.

What the Testing Showed

When I tested her, her results showed a slow metabolic pattern, the body running in conservation mode. There was real encouragement too: calcium and potassium were both right where I want them, so the pathway thyroid hormone uses to enter her cells is open. Magnesium was below optimal at 4.8, which is tied to both sleep and constipation, and chromium, which helps hold blood sugar steady between meals, was slightly low. That fits the mood dips before meals and waking hungry at night.

Phosphorus sat at the floor of the range and her calcium-to-phosphorus ratio was well above optimal, a picture of digestion running below strength. Copper was low at 1.1 while iron ran above range, putting her iron-to-copper ratio at 2.45 against an optimal of 0.9. Without enough copper, iron tends to sit in tissue rather than move where it is needed.

Manganese was more than four times optimal, and nickel was also elevated. Because my lab doesn't wash samples, minerals from bath and drinking water can show up on the hair, and these two together point toward their water source. In children, excess manganese can affect sleep and emotional regulation. A stool test also showed a weakened gut barrier and low secretory IgA, which may explain why her digestion struggles even though her enzyme output was strong.

Client J3

Too Little to Say What's Wrong

Client J3 is a toddler whose mom's main concerns are poor sleep, signs that look like anemia, and clinginess. He reacts to seasoned foods and struggles with heavier foods in the evening.

He eats a healthy diet, and there is possible mold in the home.

What the Testing Showed

A fast metabolism is normal for a little one, and his results showed a fast pattern. The most significant finding was his sodium-to-potassium ratio at 0.61 against an optimal of 2.4, a pattern I associate with deep, long-term stress and low resilience, which is consistent with the clinginess and poor sleep. Sodium was low at 11, and sodium is needed to make stomach acid, which may be why seasoned and heavier foods are hard for him. Phosphorus was low too, pointing toward protein that isn't being broken down well.

Copper was low at 0.8 and zinc was below optimal, putting his zinc-to-copper ratio at 13.75 against an optimal of 8. Copper is needed to move and use iron, so low copper can produce anemia-like symptoms even when iron itself reads in range, as his did. Magnesium was just below optimal.

Manganese came back at 0.306 against an optimal of 0.06, well above range. In young children, excess manganese can affect sleep and emotional reactivity.