If you're dealing with symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, body aches, neuropathy, depression, anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, or other ongoing issues, toxic metals might be contributing to your chronic health condition.


You may be thinking, “But these symptoms could also be caused by Lyme disease or Mold Illness,” and you’re absolutely right. So how can we tell what’s really going on? The answer: testing. But which type of test should you use—blood, hair, or urine?


In my experience, when working with patients suffering from complex chronic illnesses like Lyme disease or Mold Illness, evaluating heavy metals is one of my top priorities. These metals can complicate symptoms and interfere with recovery. Toxic metals can lead to a wide range of health problems, from autism spectrum traits in children to serious neurological and cardiovascular diseases in adults. Many of my patients have high levels of metals, particularly mercury and lead. So, how do you figure out if your body has dangerous levels of these substances? There are a few ways to test for heavy metals.


Hair Analysis


One option is hair testing, which I’ve mentioned before when evaluating children with autism. It’s a non-invasive test that’s especially useful for young children, around 2 to 4 years old. It’s not painful, and it can provide information on both toxic metals and essential minerals. However, hair testing has its limitations. I’ve seen it used at conferences, where experts sometimes interpret results inconsistently. For instance, if little mercury shows up, they might assume the child can’t excrete it, implying toxicity. But if high levels of mercury appear, they might think it’s being excreted, confirming toxicity. This contradictory interpretation can be problematic and makes the test less reliable for clear conclusions. In short, it’s a test that can sometimes lead to subjective, not always consistent, results. However, it’s real benefit is when we are trying to figure out current exposure in the last 6 months.


Provoked Urine Test


My preferred method for testing is the provoked urine test. This involves giving a chelator (a substance that helps draw metals out of tissues) to a person to trigger the release of metals, which then show up in the urine. I typically use oral DMSA, which is safe for both adults and children (dosing is based on body weight). The person takes the chelator in the morning, collects all their urine for the next six hours, and then a small sample is sent to the lab for analysis. While this test doesn’t give a precise measurement of how much metal remains in the body, it does offer a good snapshot of what’s being excreted. Over time, with detoxification, I’ve seen the levels of metals in the body decrease, which suggests a correlation between stored metals and how much is excreted after provocation.


Blood Tests


The most common test in mainstream medicine is a blood test, but it’s also the least reliable for chronic heavy metal exposure. Heavy metals tend to stay in the blood only for a short period—weeks at most—before they’re stored in the body’s tissues. Therefore, unless you’ve had a recent exposure, blood tests aren’t a reliable indicator of your total metal load.



Why Testing for Heavy Metals Matters


I believe that heavy metal testing is essential when dealing with chronic health issues. For example, I’ve had a Parkinson’s patient significantly reduce their tremors after detoxing lead from their system. In Europe, chelation therapy is commonly used for treating cardiovascular disease. I’ve also seen children with autism make remarkable improvements in cognition, emotional health, and behavior after undergoing mercury detox. In cases of chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Lyme disease, identifying toxic metal exposure can be crucial for recovery.


The good news is that there are plenty of ways to address heavy metal toxicity. From gentle detox methods to more intense chelation protocols, there’s a solution for everyone. The first step is testing to identify the metal levels in your body, which is key to understanding how to move forward with treatment.


We can help you figure out which testing would be best for you  - call our office or book your consultation online to get started!