The information on this site is intended for educational purposes only. Any recommendations are intended for individuals engaged in a Nutritional Balancing Program who are being overseen by Nikki Moses.
NOTE: Nutritional Balancing Science and Hair Mineral Analysis do not diagnose, treat or cure any diseases, and are not substitutes for standard medical care. Nikki Moses is not a medical doctor. She operates as an unlicensed nutritional consultant only. None of the statements on this site have been evaluated by the FDA. Nothing on this site is intended to discourage anyone from seeking or following the advice of a medical doctor.
Browse all information below or click on a section to jump to that section:
Go to the FAQs About Hair Samples for Analysis page
Go to the FAQs About Nutritional Balancing Program page
Go to the Healing Reactions page
Go to the Beverages and Drinking Water page
Go to the Near-Infrared Saunas page
Go to the Coffee Enemas page
Go to the FAQs About Vitamins and Supplements page
Hair Mineral Analysis and Understanding Hair Analysis Graphs
Foods and Diet
Sugar and Sweeteners
Single Heat Lamps
Lifestyle and Miscellaneous
Hair Mineral Analysis (Hair Analysis) and Understanding Hair Analysis Graphs
Q: How is Hair Mineral Analysis different than other laboratory testing procedures?
First, hair mineral analysis is not being used here as a medical test. Typical tests such as blood and urine are excellent for many purposes, such as to determine the presence or absence of cells, but do not provide the same information given by hair analysis for the following reasons: a) Mineral levels in the hair are about ten times that of blood, making them easy to detect and measure accurately, b) Mineral levels are kept relatively constant in the blood even when pathology is present (often at the expense of other tissues) and therefore the blood does not always accurately reflect existing mineral deficiencies and excesses, c) Toxic metals are not found in high concentrations in the blood except right after an acute exposure. However, some of them tend to accumulate in the soft tissues (such as hair), where they are far easier to detect and measure accurately, and d) Blood tests can vary significantly from hour to hour depending upon one’s diet, activity level, the time of day and many other factors. Additionally, hair makes an excellent analysis material because: 1) sampling is simple and non-invasive, 2) since hair is a stable material that requires no special handling, samples may be sent via standard mail, therefore allowing hair analysis to be performed entirely from the comfort of one’s own home, and 3) it’s cost-effective!
Q: How long will it take for me to get my analysis results and recommendations?
The whole process takes about four weeks from when you send in your sample to when you receive your program information (plus postage time if mailing internationally).
Q: What can Hair Mineral Analysis detect? Can it tell if I have a disease, like diabetes?
Hair mineral analyses are not medical tests. They are screening tests only and do not diagnose disease. However, a properly performed and interpreted hair analysis can reveal various mineral imbalances that indicate a tendency for various conditions. All of the mineral levels as a whole give a trained and experienced practitioner an idea of the condition of the various organs and the body as a whole. Further, the analysis provides the practitioner a picture of the state of body chemistry, stage of stress, various toxic metals, nutrient deficiencies, etc..
Q: What minerals are detected in the Hair Mineral Analysis?
The hair analysis graph shows the following nutrient minerals: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, chromium, selenium, and phosphorus. These minerals are necessary for proper functions of the organs and tissues of the body, but can also metastasize (store in organs where they’re not supposed to be) and prevent proper function in an unhealthy body. The hair analysis also shows toxic minerals like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum, as well as other minerals like nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, lithium and boron.
Q: What is meant by “hidden” toxic metals?
“Hidden” means that the toxic metals don’t show up in the hair even though they are in other parts of the body. These toxins build up in the fat cells, liver, kidneys and other areas of the body. In many people, their bodies are too tired and malnourished to get rid of these toxins, so they stay “hidden” in these tissues. When the body gets stronger, it will start pushing them out and removing them. When it does this, some of them will be put into the hair and we will see them on future hair tests. You may ask, “How do you know one has toxic metals?” This knowledge comes from years of experience with these hair tests. Also, everyone gets exposed to various toxic metals. If the body has enough energy to get rid of it on a continual basis, the level is higher on the hair test. A very low level means that one can’t get rid of it, and it is accumulating inside one’s body. Read more about this here: What are Hidden Toxic Metals?
Q: Can I get a copy of my original analysis graph?
Yes. You will automatically receive your original graph in the mail along with the Interpretive Report printed by the lab.
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Foods and Diet
Q: I have a very busy lifestyle and don’t have time to prepare vegetables. Any tips?
Yes, there is a list of ideas here: Ideas for Quick Healthy Meals. While fresh vegetables are the best, for people who don’t have the time to cook every day, frozen vegetables are fine and are easy to quickly heat up, and we also recommend making a large batch of vegetables (like a stir fry, vegetable soup or other vegetable dishes) and refrigerating it. You can then reheat it or eat it cold throughout the week to get your vegetables.
Q: I thought fruit was healthy. Why am I not supposed to eat it?
Fruit used to be healthful to eat, many years ago. In recent years (the last thirty or even more), the soils of orchards and crops have been depleted of nutrients, thus leaving the fruit, vegetables and grains grown there deficient in vitamins and minerals. So fruit no longer has the same nutrient content it previously had. This is true even of most organic fruit. Fruit is also treated with more pesticides than other foods, and the pesticides leech into the fruit. So when we consume the fruit, we consume some of the pesticides as well. But the most important reason that we recommend avoiding fruit is because fruit does contain higher levels of sugar than other natural foods, and additionally, fruit has been hybridized to increase the sugar content (sweetness) of the fruit. The sugar in fruit FAR outweighs any potential benefit! Most people have far too many sugars and simple carbohydrates in their daily diet, and most people have many nutritional imbalances that compromise their ability to properly handle these sugars. Therefore, eating the sugar found in fruit causes many imbalances in the body. Back in the years when fruit had more vitamins and minerals and less sugar (the fruit actually tasted less sweet), there was more benefit in eating it, but not today. Read the Q & A section Sugar and Sweeteners for information on the harmful effects of sugar. There is more information on this subject in the articles Fruit – It’s Health Benefits and Problems and Carbohydrates – Sugars and Starches.
Q: I know I’m supposed to eat whole, gluten-free grains like millet, but how do I prepare it?
Click on this link to view a video tutorial on How to Cook Millet.
Q: Is eating organic fish once per week too much? What about smaller fish like Sardines, Anchovies or Smelt?
There really isn’t such a thing as “organic” fish. Most large fish, like Salmon and Tuna, is either farm-raised in nets in the ocean or in other farming ponds, or it is fresh-caught wild which does not mean it is “organic” since no one can control what toxins appear in lakes and oceans. Unfortunately, neither farm-raised nor wild-caught are healthy today. The farm-raised fish are very diseased and are fed horrific foods and chemicals. Since many are farmed in nets in the oceans, their diseases have leaked into the oceans and contaminated the wild fish, which is unfortunately true of wild salmon today. Additionally, pollution has caused chemical and heavy metal levels to rise in the oceans. These are absorbed by wild fish and stored in their tissues. The reason large fish are more contaminated is that they live longer so have more time to be exposed to and absorb these toxins. They also tend to be fattier, and toxins are mostly stored in fat tissue. So it’s generally best to avoid salmon and most large fish right now. If you absolutely have to, wild-caught salmon is preferable over other larger fish and is okay to eat once a week at most. Small fish, like Anchovies and smelt are good. Sardines are great! Sardines have high levels of essential oils including Omega-3 and Vitamin D, so we highly recommend that people eat Sardines instead of tuna. In fact, we recommend every adult consume 3 cans of sardines per week. Click here to see Sardine Recipe Ideas for some yummy ways to prepare this healthy little fish!
Q: Is shellfish, like crab or shrimp, okay to eat?
No. It is best to stay away from bottom-feeding fish, like catfish, crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, scallops, mussels and other shellfish, as they are scavengers and eat waste from the ocean floor, such as chemicals, feces, dead animals and fish (including animals that died from toxicity or illness). When you eat toxic foods, especially if you have a weakened digestive and immune system (which is the case with nearly everyone today), you will absorb that toxicity.
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Sugar and Sweeteners
Q: Why is sugar so bad?
Sugar and simple carbohydrates (which turn rapidly into sugar in the body) are two of the worst aspects of most people’s diets. They are so damaging that there are many books, studies and articles dedicated to the matter. The physical processes involving sugar are very complicated so here are a few simplified highlights:
a) Sugar suppresses your immune system, increasing chances of more diseases than I care to list here.
b) Sugar uses up certain essential minerals (such as chromium, zinc, calcium, and copper) causing deficiencies in the body.
c) Sugar interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium.
d) Sugar causes a rapid rise of adrenaline which can result in hyperactivity, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.
e) Sugar feeds cancer cells.
f) Sugar causes the pancreas to produce large amounts of insulin, which stresses the pancreas and contributes to hypoglycemia and diabetes.
g) The increase in insulin quantity accelerates the breakdown of cells throughout the body. This cellular breakdown is also know as “aging”.
h) Sugar can cause an acidic environment in your mouth, which contributes to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
i) Sugar can cause weight gain and obesity, which in turn contributes to heart disease and diabetes.
j) Sugar feeds infections including viruses, parasites, bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
k) Sugar has been linked to MANY, MANY MORE illnesses and conditions…!
Although the best choice is no sweetener, if a sweetener is needed, far better choices are stevia and monk fruit, which are natural, low-glycemic sweeteners. Here is an article about the subject, which includes a list of simple carbohydrates, sugars and starches (ALL of which should be avoided): Carbohydrates – Sugars and Starches
Q: Is agave better than sugar?
It depends on the agave. Agave varies wildly from company to company and plant to plant. It is highly unregulated, so it is impossible to tell what the fructose content is without testing each sample individually. Fructose is a type of sugar that is harder for one’s body to process since it can only be processed by the liver. We therefore do not recommend agave as an alternate sweetener. Stevia and monk fruit are better options.
Q: What is stevia?
Stevia is a natural sweetener made from the stevia plant. It has no calories and processes very slowly in your body so it has very little effect on one’s blood sugar. It comes in powders and liquids. Stevia is extremely strong in sweetness so we recommend starting with just a little and adding to taste.
Generally we recommend that people decrease their use of any and all sweeteners because even natural low- or no-sugar sweeteners may cause biochemical changes in reaction to even just the taste of sweetness. In addition, we want people to lose their taste for sweets, which occurs over time as one avoids all sweet foods. However, if you have to use an artificial sweetener, we recommend stevia or monk fruit.
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Single Heat Lamps
For even more information on Single Heat Lamps, including descriptions, cautions, pictures, and information on how to order a single heat lamp, go here: Single Heat Lamp Information and Buy Now Button.
Q: What is a single infrared heat lamp?
Our heat lamp is comprised of a ceramic socket that is rated to 300 watts, an aluminum reflective shield, lamp guard on the front (to keep you from accidentally touching the bulb), a clamp, and a 2-prong cord that plugs into a normal wall outlet. It includes a 250 watt red infrared heat lamp bulb which averages about 5000 hours of use. (Click here to see a picture: Single Heat Lamp.)
You may use the clamp to hook your lamp onto a bookshelf or other surface, or you may simply hold the lamp by the clamp or by the aluminum shield (this shield usually does not get hot during use so is normally perfectly comfortable to hold). Do not hold it from the white socket on the back, as this socket does get warm during use. (Note that the spring clamp is very stiff. This is to help the clamp attach securely. To make it easier to use, place a towel or glove on your hand when opening the clamp.)
Infrared heat lamps are used in various applications from chicken brooding to saunas to keeping food warm in commercial kitchens.
The heat lamp emits near and far infrared heat, which are one part of the sun’s spectrum of light — the part that makes you warm when sitting in the sun. IT IS NOT the UVA and UVB radiation that causes sun burns. This lamp will not tan the skin, nor will it cause vitamin D production in the skin.
The heat lamp also emits reddish light. (The color is usually more of an orange light.)
Q: What are the benefits of using a single heat lamp?
There are many conditions that may benefit from heat lamp therapy including joint pain, muscle strains, intestinal cramps, nerve irritation, ear aches, toothaches, skin rashes, acne, blemishes, toenail fungus, boils and many other conditions of the nose, ears and sinuses. As long as one follows the cautions listed below, one can safely use a heat lamp on any area of the body in need of healing. (Please note cautions below, particularly relating to use on the head and face.)
For colds, flu infections and other acute illnesses, a general practice that can be surprisingly helpful is shining the red lamp at the thymus gland, then moving the body or the lamp as close as possible without causing a burn or skin discomfort. The thymus gland is located in the center of the chest just below the collar bones. A session should last about 15-20 minutes (even a few minutes is helpful if that is all the time you have), and can be repeated up to six times daily.
The lamp can also be used for ‘spot treatment’ of any infected area of the body. You may aim the lamp at your chest to assist with a cough, at your throat if you have a sore throat, at the jaw if suffering tooth or gum infections, at your ears for ear infections, etc. Generally, when dealing with infections, you want to lamp the area at least 3 times per day for maximum benefit.
For example, one client on a Nutritional Balancing program had a sinus infection that did not respond to antibiotics or to natural healing methods. She was weak and feverish every evening and had constant headaches. By shining an infrared lamp on the sinuses for 5-10 minutes at a time, six times a day, relief occurred in two days with complete elimination of all symptoms in five days. The client continued to use the lamp for another two weeks because she said the red light felt wonderful.
Q: For what conditions is it contraindicated?
Rosacea or some skin cancers may become irritated by the heat. Additionally, if you have a nervous system condition that prevents you from feeling how hot your skin is, the lamp should only be used with supervision by someone who can check the skin temperature to make sure it isn’t getting too hot.
Q: Where can I purchase a single heat lamp?
We sell a single heat lamp unit for $35 plus shipping (and sales tax if you are in California). You can get more information and order one from us online here: Single Heat Lamp Information and Buy Now Button.
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Lifestyle and Miscellaneous
Q: Are there any sources of toxicity other than food and water that I should be aware of?
There are many everyday products that are found around the home which are actually toxic. This includes most body products – shampoos, conditioners, soaps, body washes, deodorant (especially antiperspirants — see our page about Deodorant for more information), body sprays, perfumes and cologne, toothpaste, shaving cream, and even laundry detergent. Other toxic products around the house are dish soaps, cleaners, solvents, plant sprays, etc. All of these things usually contain toxic chemicals and metals which absorb through the skin or are breathed in through the lungs. There are many natural, healthful alternatives available in health food stores and/or online. (For more information, see Some Ingredients to Avoid in Body, Bath & Skin Care Products and Cosmetics.)
Additionally, the chlorination in swimming pools and hot tubs is very toxic. Public swimming pools and hot tubs have the added threat of exposure to infections, as chlorination does not destroy all infectious agents.
Also, new furniture, carpeting, mattresses and most new clothing all contain formaldehyde and other chemicals. Use caution when purchasing these items. It often helps to leave them outside for one or more days after purchasing in order to air out. The natural ozone in the outside air (especially at night) helps to reduce the chemical toxicity on these items.
Q: I am getting new pipes in the house. Should I get copper or plastic, such as PVC?
We do not have problems with copper pipes and toxicity particularly, but plastic pipes are cheaper and easier to install. As far as we have seen in regards to health, there is no real benefit with going with copper. And there is a small chance of toxicity from the copper. So we would generally say to use the plastic pipes.
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