Mineral testing

[Ruthi]

I think I need to check out my magnesium status, and other minerals would be interesting too. Can anyone recommend a lab in the UK that does nails as well as hair. After years of going grey ungracefully, I decided to colour my hair a few weeks ago!!!!

[Marz]

I have read that testing for magnesium is difficult as it is mostly contained within the cells and not in the blood....Good luck with the other tests

[Ruthi in reply to Marz]

The normal way is to analyse hair samples, I am told. Just not dyed ones. But nails are supposed to be as good - I just need recommendations for a good lab.

[Jackie]

Hi For the magnesium ask the GP to do Magnesium test.

Jackie

[mountaingoat83]

Hi Ruthi,

I have been researching magnesium deficiency - it seems to affect all sorts of things. I started using a spray version of it last week, it tingles when I rub it into my skin, but the instructions say this will stop when levels are back to where they should be. I think your body excretes it if you have too much, though not positive on that. Might be worth a try to see how you feel?

Emma x

[Ruthi]

Yep, I bought the mag oil and slapped it on. A) it didn't cause any reaction and B) it stopped me sleeping. After lots of searching the net and asking folks, including the manufacturers I found a piece saying that magnesium supplementation causes sleeplessness in folk with high DHEA. Mine is within range, according to Genova, but relatively high for a postmenopausal woman. Apparently it causes a hormone surge in these people, and thereby disturbs sleep. It might have settled in time, but since I came to magnesium in my search for solutions to sleeplessness, I wasn't about to test that theory.

I want to check my actual magnesium levels before I try different forms of magnesium supplementation - no point if I already have healthy amounts. My adrenals are in overdrive 'Stage 1' AF, apparently.

I see the lovely Dr O in a couple of weeks and will ask him about suitable labs. He diagnosed AF 3 months ago, and I have been reading non-stop ever since.

[edysia2 in reply to Ruthi]

Who is Dr O, Ruthi? If i may ask.

[Ruthi]

We are not supposed to name names on here, But he is on the list that you can get from Louise at Thyroid UK. I see him in Hampshire but he has other clinics in the south

[Clutter in reply to Ruthi]

Ruthi, although you shouldn't name doctors on the forum (unless you're asking for info) you can send edysia2 a private message by clicking on her username and clicking on the orange Send a message button.