How rheumatoid arthritis presents on the Interclinical Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA).
Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly presents in older women. It is a condition that is considered "autoimmune" and "incurable". However, as it typically presents on the HTMA, it is apparently every bit curable, or at least manageable in such a way that symptoms such as joint stiffness, swelling and pain are as good as gone.
(Note: this is an essay by Gary Moller, reflecting upon what he has observed when applying the HTMA in the Clinic, including the unique patterns on the HTMA that are often common to a specific health condition. This is not to diagnose a medical condition, nor are there any treatment recommendations. The intention here is to help guide nutrition and lifestyle support).
I present here, with his permission, the case of a man who has become wracked with joint pain, at times crippling low back pain, and stiffness. He was diagnosed to be suffering rheumatoid arthritis and being managed as such with pain medication, anti-inflammatories and immune-suppressing medication. While I refer to this case as being "unusual" this is far more common than not. If only we were to be looking!
Please read this article first then come back:
Here is his first HTMA
Points to note:
Fast 4 metabolic Typing which is associated with physical and mental exhaustion. https://www.garymoller.com/post/2017/07/08/understanding-fast-and-slow-metabolic-typing-on-the-hair-tissue-mineral-analysis
High Fe relative to Cu which is the pattern consistent with a parasitic or bacterial infection. Iron is a potent oxidizer and is highly inflammatory. Joint inflammation and back pain are symptoms a clinician looks for where it is suspected that iron may be accumulating in soft tissues.
High Cu despite high Fe (Fe and Cu are mineral antagonists, so, if one is high, the other would normally be expected to be lower. In this case, both are high. High Cu is an indicator of poor liver function, although this may be subclinical.
Low Ca is unusual in a mature adult. Low calcium is often associated with lead, cadmium or aluminium of witch he has hints of. Are we seeing only the tip of the iceberg? His symptoms of inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, disc prolapse (low back), bone and joint pain can all be due to toxic elements exposure, mainly cadmium, lead or aluminium.
When Mg is above Ca this is often an indicator of some kind of stress, be it an infection, chemical, excessive exercise or psychological. This is a magnesium loss, rather than excess, unless he is over-doing a magnesium supplement which he was not.
Low Na and K are indicators of adrenal fatigue, characterized by low blood pressure, chronic fatigue, aches and pains, morning stiffness and inability to handle stress. Incidentally, when K is higher than Na, this may be associated with phobias, indecision and withdrawal. People with this pattern may be moody, not enjoy crowded or noisy environments and they may prefer their own company.
We responded to what we could see on the HTMA, doing our best to rectify what we could see and understand what is presented in his HTMA and how it related to his signs and symptoms. This included increasing his multimineral salt intake, giving some special beta carotenoids, adrenal support, calcium and magnesium supplementation, along with other minerals. We also had him undergo a parasitic and bacterial cleanse (parasitic infections are very common, especially among people who work with their hands and who are around animals, including pets).
The next step was to wait at least 6 months then repeat the HTMA, all the while adjusting what he was taking and eating, depending on his response.
Here is his second HTMA
(It is always said that the repeat HTMA is always the most important one and the one that is most likely to give us our breakthroughs).
Points to note:
While he reported feeling somewhat better and needing less medication he realises that he still has a long way to go. He is feeling encouraged and understands that it is a long game that he is playing. There are no quick-fix solutions.
Bingo! As suspected, he has lead and aluminium in his body, as well as arsenic. What we have been giving him has been mobilising these toxins from tissue stores. This process of detoxification has been captured in his hair as it grows. Arsenic, lead and aluminium are highly inflammatory and these, let alone anything else such as high iron, is enough to explain all of his health issues.
Iron (Fe) has increased despite parasitic and bacterial infection treatments. Is this due to mobilising and detoxifying iron stores or has any infestation worsened? Going by his overall improvement it is assumed that he is detoxifying iron that has built up in his tissues perhaps over many years, mostly in his bones, cartilage and organs such as his liver. The next test should show a reduction in Fe.
Ca and Mg have decreased despite supplementation. It is assumed that these are being absorbed into tissue stores, including bones, displacing lead and aluminium in the process.
By the way, chrome, cobalt and arsenic which are elevated on his HTMA are the ingredients found in treated timber. It is assumed that working with treated timber is the source of the excess of these three elements. Note that all three have increased on the repeat HTMA. This is consistent with detoxifying.
It is usual to repeat the HTMA 12 months or longer after the 2nd one. However, since there is so much unfinished business in this case, we will repeat the test in another 6 months from now.
About Detoxification
In the context of the HTMA and the interventions that it guides, detoxification exists (some medical experts claim there is no such thing as detoxification). When toxins are being mobilised and removed from the body, symptoms such as "flu", fatigue, back pain and more may worsen before getting better and, hopefully, disappearing completely.
Detoxification symptoms may be referred to as being "Healing Crisis" or Herxheimer Reactions.
You can learn more about the Healing Crisis here.
You can learn more about Herxheimer Reactions here.
For more reading about Common Body Detoxification Symptoms go here.