FOUR HIGH ELECTROLYTES

THE FOUR HIGHS PATTERN

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

Four high electrolytes is a pattern commonly seen on hair mineral analyses, especially in adults and probably more so in women. 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.

VARIANTS ON THE FOUR HIGHS PATTERN

Two possible variants of this pattern are:

· Three highs. This pattern is discussed in a separate article on this site, entitled Three Highs Pattern.

· Two highs, when the two are calcium and sodium, in particular. This is also discussed in the Three Highs article.

THE MEANING OF FOUR HIGHS

Four highs, as it is sometimes referred to, is a combination of two components. The high calcium and magnesium indicate an underlying slow oxidation or exhaustion pattern.

Superimposed on top of this pattern are high sodium and potassium readings. These indicate an alarm reaction, or fight-or-flight reaction occurring at the same time.

The combination indicates what may be called a secondary alarm reaction. Extraordinary stress of some kind is causing a partially effective stress response in a slow oxidizer. 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 a four highs pattern will change to slow oxidation, usually within 4-12 months.

The stress that is causing the pattern is often a combination of lifestyle or mental stress, combined with toxic metals that are present that can cause elevation of the sodium and potassium readings. Common among them are hidden or overt copper, aluminum, manganese, and iron toxicity. Others possible are lead, mercury, cadmium or nickel toxicity, among others.

DELICATE TYPES

Sometimes, four highs occurs in people who like to keep their oxidation rate balanced in a delicate way. In these cases, the pattern does not resolve as fast to slow oxidation in some cases. These individuals do not want “crash land” in slow oxidation and they use various means to keep themselves in a four highs situation. These are usually women, in my experience, of the age of at least 40 or older. They are often quite depressed and angry underneath, and do not want to face the depressing aspects of slow oxidation that would occur if their oxidation rate slowed significantly.

SYMPTOMS OF FOUR HIGHS

Patients often have a mixed picture, with symptoms of both fast and slow oxidation. For example, one may have irritability, anxiety or insomnia combined with fatigue and depression, perhaps.

Symptoms of stress are often present, including lifestyle stress, for example, or other types.

Some people have a delicate nature, as explained above, and a rough analogy here is a person walking on stilts. Four highs looks like this visually in some cases. One is biochemically ungrounded. This causes, in some people, feelings of instability, anxiety and even bipolar symptoms. With proper nutritional support, they will “come back down to earth” and the anxious usually disappears when the pattern is resolved into slow oxidation.

MOVEMENT PATTERNS WITH FOUR HIGHS

This refers to how a person feels and reacts when in a four highs pattern. Usually, it is an unstable, energetic response to stress that may cause faster or slower movement depending on the oxidation rate and the major ratios.

A STALLED RESISTANCE-TO-CHANGE OR FAST-TO-SLOW OXIDATION TRANSITION PATTERN

Four highs is considered the easiest transition pattern from fast to slow oxidation to resolve using nutritional balancing science. In other words, the person needs to transition into a simple slow oxidation pattern and this is one of the easiest patterns to transition out of and back into slow oxidation.

It is called a resistance-to-change pattern because some clients do not want to move into slow oxidation, and that is why the pattern persists on retests, at times.

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 client greatly. 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, 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.

Fourth, 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.

The four highs pattern almost always resolves to slow oxidation, and usually within a few months or so. 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 period 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.

In this regard, four highs is one of the few patterns on a hair mineral analysis in which we can often predict exactly where the client’s body chemistry will go within a few months or so. This is very useful information, at times, if new or unusual symptoms arise, for example.

HIDDEN FOUR HIGHS PATTERNS

This is an unusual term, perhaps, since a four highs pattern would seem, by definition, to be dependent upon the first four macromineral numbers being obviously elevated. However, what is meant by hidden four highs is that even if a hair mineral test appears to be simply a slow oxidizer pattern (with the calcium and magnesium elevated, and the sodium and potassium lower than the ideal levels), one may still have the symptoms and conditions present that are discussed in this article about four highs.

In other words, the sodium and potassium levels, while lower than the ideal levels, are still pushed upward by various stress factors, and so the physical symptoms and psychological attributes associated with a four highs pattern may occur.

Also, on a retest the person may indeed move into much slower oxidation as the extra stress is removed and the sodium and potassium levels fall further. Also, the calcium and magnesium levels may rise as well.

Indeed, this can help explain why the oxidation rate may slow down greatly on a retest.

A term that is also sometimes used to describe this situation is a slow oxidizer on crutches. In other words, the person is a slow oxidizer, but, in fact, toxic metals or other stress factors are propping up the oxidation rate – usually raising the sodium and potassium levels – the way crutches help keep a person standing up when they are weak or ill. As the crutches are removed with a nutritional balancing program, the oxidation rate may, on a retest, become even slower temporarily. This is like letting go of one’s crutches as one’s broken leg heals. At first, one may be a little shaky and weaker without the crutches, but this soon passes.

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