THE FOUR HIGH ELECTROLYTES PATTERN

By Lawrence Wilson, MD

Revised © July 2007

Four high electrolytes is a pattern commonly seen on hair mineral analyses. It is defined when all four of the following conditions exist on one test:

1) Calcium level above about 40 mg% or 400 parts per million

2) Magnesium greater than 6 mg% or 60 parts per million

3) Sodium above 25 mg% or 250 parts per million, and

4) Potassium greater than 10 mg% or 100 parts per million.

NOTE: It is critical for accuracy that the hair is not washed at the laboratory. If the hair is washed, the sodium and potassium readings in particular are almost always incorrect. Most laboratories in America and Canada wash the hair. We recommend Analytical Research Laboratories in Phoenix, Arizona for this reason.

THE MEANING OF FOUR HIGH ELECTROLYTES

Four high electrolytes is seen in roughly 10-15% of hair tissue mineral analyses. It may occur on a first test or on a retest, although it is more common on first analyses.

Four highs, as it is sometimes referred to, is a combination of two components. The high calcium and magnesium indicate an underlying slow oxidation pattern. Superimposed on this pattern are high sodium and potassium readings. These indicate an alarm stage reaction, or fight-or-flight reaction occurring at the same time as the slow oxidation pattern, which is an exhaustion pattern.

The combination indicates what may be called a secondary alarm reaction. Some toxin or other factor is causing an alarm reaction, although the person is really in an exhaustion stage of stress. It is not unlike a second wind that runners may experience after they have run part of the way through a race.

The pattern is also called a slow oxidizer under stress. This term is applied because in essence one is a slow oxidizer. However, some type of stress is present that is reflected in elevated levels of sodium and potassium.

A four highs pattern may show ratios of calcium to potassium and sodium to magnesium that indicate slow, mixed or fast oxidation. In other words, the four high electrolyte pattern is independent of the oxidation type and oxidation rate.

If fast oxidation is present, we call it a temporary fast oxidation state. A true fast oxidation state is shown on the test by low calcium and magnesium levels. Experience has shown that a fast oxidation type with the four high electrolyte pattern will change to slow oxidation, usually within 4-12 months.

SYMPTOMS

Common symptoms when four highs are present are irritability, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and blood sugar imbalances such as cravings for sweets or starches. Often underlying depression is present as well. Patients often have a mixed picture, with symptoms of both fast and slow oxidation.

A rough analogy for the four highs pattern is a person walking on stilts. One is biochemically ungrounded. This causes, in some people, feelings of instability, anxiety and even bipolar symptoms. One in an unstable state, similar to a person walking on stilts. With proper nutritional support, they will “come back down to earth” and the anxious usually disappears when the pattern is resolved into slow oxidation.

At times, a person in four highs will have an increase in their oxidation rate. This is associated with more anxiety and nervousness or irritability. If the person’s oxidation rate slows for some reason, fatigue or depression may occur instead.

Some people engage in specific behaviors to maintain their delicate balance in a four highs condition. This is akin to a person having to balance themselves carefully to remain on a pair of stilts. One may engage in certain habits to either speed up or slow down the oxidation rate.

Habits that may be used to enhance the sodium level an and therefore the oxidation rate include the use of coffee, cigarettes, loud music, other sources of caffeine, emotions such as anger or even violence. To slow down the oxidation rate, one may use alcohol, marijuana or other depressants. One could also use depressing or suppressing emotions such as guilt and fear.

CAUSE OF FOUR HIGHS

Four high electrolytes is a secondary stress reaction. A stress factor of some type is elevating the sodium and potassium levels. Usually this is a toxic metal or more than one metal. These may include lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, aluminum, nickel, beryllium or others that can elevate the sodium level.

Toxic levels of physiological minerals such as iron, chromium or manganese can also contribute to a four highs pattern. These are present in a toxic form in excessive amounts in most people in our experience. A quick glance at the rest of the hair mineral analysis chart may often reveal the culprit for the four high electrolyte pattern. In this case, the pattern will often resolve within a few months to a year. In other cases, the cause may be a deeply hidden imbalance affecting the kidneys, for example, that may take more than one year to resolve to slow oxidation.

Powerful detoxification methods such as near infrared light sauna therapy, coffee enemas or the use of machines to assist detoxification may be needed to reveal the cause of the pattern and assist its resolution.

Other causes for the pattern include nutritional deficiencies, such as zinc and copper. Nutritional stressors play a major role because the pattern often corrects quickly when one follows a nutritional program suited to the individual and based on the interpretation method of hair analysis written about on this website.

Environmental stressors and even emotional or mental stress occasionally causes the four highs pattern. In these cases, correction will not occur as quickly with just a nutrition program, even if a detoxification regimen is added to this program. One must look at lifestyle, emotional control and other factors in these cases to resolve the pattern quickly.

CORRECTION

First, the four high electrolyte pattern takes precedence ahead of other corrections when it is revealed on a hair mineral analysis. This means that one must pay attention to this pattern first, and work to resolve it, before paying attention to many other patterns on a hair mineral test.

The reason for the importance of the pattern is that it represents an (secondary) alarm reaction that is stressing the patient. Until the sodium and potassium levels decrease to below the ideal levels, this added stress will stop or hinder any other type of biochemical correction you might wish for.

Second, be careful not to give too many “speed-up” type of diet or nutrient therapy to anyone with a four high electrolyte pattern. The reason for this is that the goal is always to reduce or diminish the levels of sodium and potassium. Therefore, limit the use of higher-dose B-complex, adrenal and thyroid formulas and vitamins C and E in large amounts. Large doses or any other these could further raise the sodium level, which is undesirable.

Third, do not be fooled by the idea that four highs is just another aberration or artifact of the test. It is never just an accident or artifact. It is real and needs to be addressed. Do not skip over it or ignore it.

Fourth, go gently with people in the four highs pattern. The reason for this is that the person may indeed “crash” from four highs to a very slow oxidation rate. This occurred once in the author’s practice. The patient was very upset and believed that the nutrition program had made her worse. In fact, it had not. However, it had removed her from her “stilts” too quickly for her comfort and she did not appreciate the way she felt. She suddenly found herself fatigued, depressed and felt the program had made her health worse. In fact, it had “brought her down to earth”, as explained above, and the author had some explaining to do so as not to lose the person as a client.

Fifth, if one is a mixed oxidizer with this pattern, the nutritional balancing program may be guided in part by the client’s symptoms. For example, some patients may exhibit more anxiety, irritability or insomnia. These individuals need more of the calming, relaxing supplements including calcium, magnesium, copper, inositol and choline. Those who complain more of fatigue and depression may be able to handle more of the metabolic-enhancing products such as B-complex vitamins and thyroid-enhancing formulas.

Keeping in mind these cautions, you may now proceed to balance the oxidation rate as we do for everyone using the principles explained elsewhere for doing this.

The four highs pattern almost always resolves to slow oxidation. Patients usually report they are more relaxed and feel better in general, though perhaps a bit more tired, when they are out of this pattern.

MONITORING

Four highs is one pattern in which I suggest to the client that their hair analysis will be different in a short pereiod of time, usually within three months or even less. Therefore, a retest is very important. Also, if the patient feels very tired, depressed or that the program is no longer appropriate before it is time for a retest in 3 months, have the client call and the program can be modified over the phone in anticipation that one has changed to slow oxidation with lower sodium and potassium levels.

CONCLUSION

Four high electrolytes is an important hair analysis pattern. It always requires correction before one seeks to correct most other mineral imbalances. In most cases, the pattern resolves easily and rapidly to slow oxidation. This often occurs within 6 to 12 months of beginning a nutritional balancing program designed to reduce the secondary stress that is the cause of the pattern.

Adapted from the Eck Institute Bulletin

Volume 15, April 1999, Number 4

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