Customer Reviews

Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities

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I read this book in an effort to hear all sides in the controversy about mercury toxicity, and came to be strongly convinced that this is the best book on the subject.

Andrew Cutler's first book, Amalgam Illness, is about how to treat mercury intoxications. Most doctors do not acknowledge the existence of dental amalgam caused mercury intoxications, but if you familiarize yourself with the works of other dentists on mercury intoxications, and the medical literature, there is a compelling case that these fillings have catastrophic effects in some people, while most tolerate them just fine. Mercury intoxications are bizarre in that they have many, far more than 20, completely different sets of symptoms. In his first book, Cutler suggests that you diagnose a mercury intoxication with a check list of symptoms. This may work, but may not feel right, as you are diagnosing an "unacknowledged" illness with highly diffuse symptoms by means of seemingly unrelated symptoms which can be explained by many different illnesses. Hair Test Interpretation is the answer to this worry, and an introduction to diagnosing other metal intoxications. As Cutler became more experienced in treating such intoxications, he found a much simpler and more easily understandable way to diagnose them.

Doctor's Data, the largest provider of hair tests in the US, reports that in most people you can come to an extremely accurate idea of how much amalgam they have in their mouth by consulting their hair mercury content. Several doctors have told me that they have seen people have extremely low hair mercury levels in their hair, levels vastly lower than expected in light of their amalgam exposure, whose hair mercury content skyrocketed into the 98th and higher percentiles after they were treated for mercury toxicity, that is after mercury was removed. Their explanation was that toxic concentrations of mercury can somehow impair the body's ability to excrete mercury through the hair. Cutler reports the same phenomenon, and has compiled a list of 5 sets of anomalies that he saw when hair mercury excretion was "jammed." If you believe Cutler, as I do, this book provides you with a 2 minute test that allows you to determine whether chronic, irreversible, illnesses which most doctors insist will be life-long ailments are actually misdiagnosed mercury intoxications.

Nor is Dr. Cutler the only scientist to hold these beliefs. I have obtained extracts of a 1400 page long post-doctoral thesis written, but curiously not published, at Georgetown University in 1959-1960 that confirms the vast majority of the claims advanced in this book, that dentists and their flawed treatments have caused a veritable epidemic of suffering and ruined lives. The author continued his post-doctoral studies at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, and has been so haunted by what he believes to be millions of tragic and unnecessary cases of invalidity and death that he has given a sizable portion of his income to informing people about his research. Other renowned researchers report findings that coincide with Dr. Cutler's claims, but which cannot be reconciled with what I have come to view as macabre fairy tales advanced by the American Dental Association.

Perhaps more importantly, this book includes many case stories of people who overcame harrowing woes with Cutler's therapy, with "before" and "after" hair tests. Today, when many doctors sneer when you talk of amalgam illness, these case stories are invaluable, as they provide you indisputable evidence that Cutler is right, and the scripture of the gods in white coats is, in regards to mercury intoxication, as useless as compendia of voodoo chants. In this context it should also be mentioned that since amalgam intoxications are a taboo in what is called "medicine" in many developed countries, many of the treatments advocated by physicians willing to do treat "fringe" ailments have not been developed with anything near the rigor with which medical treatments, and in particular medical treatments for serious disorders, are developed and tested. I know of physicians who are convinced that they have seriously injured their patients with ill-conceived treatments for mercury intoxications, and who are aghast at the treatments some of their peers offer for these intoxications. The treatment Cutler advocates is the most cautious and conservative treatment one of which I know.

A small quibble: This book would have been even better had Cutler included references to the scientific literature pertaining to how hair absorb metals. All the same, this is the work of a genius. It has taken me more than a year, and much ancillary research, to conclude that Dr. Cutler is correct in at least many of his assertions. Allow me to conclude this review by noting that the Nobel Prize has been awarded for lesser accomplishments.

To tell you the truth, I have had little use for so-called "alternative medicine" solutions and providers. That is, until I came across Dr Cutler's soon to be famous Hair Test Interpretation textbook. This easy to read, highly scientific book is the finest example of what truly intelligent and gifted people can do when left alone to conduct real scientific research, on real problems, and develop proven techniques to cope with problems the medical community evidently would prefer people to just keep paying them for, and receiving no relief.

Using Dr Cutler's book, I correctly identified myself as having a lead toxicity problem. After several cycles of chelation, my health improved dramatically. I went from being a lethargic, disinterested, television addict, to being a revitalized full functioning human being again. Now, at age 51, I was able to complete and certify in American Red Cross lifeguard training (I was a competitive swimmer in my younger years), something I have NOT been able to do since my 30s....and the so-called medical doctors could not figure out what my problem was.

When I first bought "Hair Test Interpretations" and shared my hair test results with my primary care physician, he told me to ignore the results, they weren't conclusive. But Dr Cutler's protocols said they were significant. I listened to Dr Cutler, and I'm damn glad I did!!! He cured me, and I'm confident he can cure you too.

BUY THIS BOOK!! Buy it today. You won't be disappointed.

Like many other clinicians, I always felt that hair analysis, performed and interpreted correctly, would be an invaluable asset to understand the toxicity and deranged mineral transport that people with "mental illness", mental retardation, Autism, and chronic physical illnesses were bound to have.

However, I found it impossible to teach myself the "art and science" of understanding,interpreting, and actually using hair analysis as a cornerstone of a treatment plan. I am SO appreciative to finally have this book by Andy Cutler to help me begin to comprehend the complex inter-relationship of variables involved in hair test interpretation.

As with Dr. Cutler's previous work (Amalgam Illness:Diagnosis and Treatment), this is not just a book you sit down and "read." You must study it, and spend time with it to do it,and yourself, justice. I'm blown away by the work, research, analysis and synthesis involved in this book. Great for parents of sick children, and adults who have not been helped by the "usual" tests and approaches.

Also, great for those doctors/practitioners who felt hair analysis was "worthless" or unreliable. Maybe it's because the interpretation of the results is not linear. Maybe once someone helps you understand the logic and see the patterns, the wisdom finally starts to emerge. It's like a gigantic piece of scientific insight brought into focus and interpreted for all of us: health care providers, parents of sick kids, and adults with chronic illnesses. Unlike anything else available. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING for anyone involved with helping anyone to recover their lost health, stolen by toxins.

Carol M. Wester MSN, APRN, BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Board Certified
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Mattapoisett, MA

With saunas being used increasingly for detoxification, I am contacted by heavy-metal injured patients and parents of autistic children on a regular basis. I have become sorely aware that many protocols to eliminate mercury from the body are controversial and oftentimes dangerous, and that the commonly used hair analysis is not only complex, but its meaning can be confusing or counter intuitive to the findings.

A most helpful bright light upon this can be found in the two books by Dr. Andy Cutler, Amalgam Illness and the more recent Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities.

I had a copy of Hair Test Interpretation with me at a recent medical conference and showed it to several clinicians who deal with mercury toxicity. Each person, after perusing the book, was genuinely excited to finally find a way of dealing with the subtleties and complexities of interpreting hair tests in their practices.

I believe that both parents of metal-injured children and physicians will find Dr. Cutler's newest contribution a most valuable tool.

Bob Morgan
Owner
Heavenly Heat Saunas

This new book of Andrew's is the definitive guide in the confusing world of heavy metal poisoning diagnosis and treatment. I'm a practicing physician, 20 years now specializing in detoxification programs for treatment resistant conditions. It was fairly difficult to diagnose these heavy metal conditions before I met Andrew Cutler and developed a close relationship with him while reading his books. This latest book is the most informative and scholarly work to date. In this book I found his usual painful attention to detail gave a solid framework for understanding the complexity of mercury toxicity as well as the less common exposures. The book grounds the reader so they feel well supported in making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. You really couldn't ask for a better reference book on a subject most researchers and physicians are still fumbling in the dark about. To date I have not found a book on heavy metals poisoning to be more exacting and useful for the clinician and the lay person. Andrew writes with a passion based on his own person ordeal with mercury and his passion for rationally discovering the insidious sources, careful and safe diagnostic measures and appropriate treatment program. If you've tried to definitively diagnosis someone you love, a patient or yourself, this book will point you better than any other in the biologically correct direction.
Dr. Rick Marschall

"Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities" serves as an essential resource for anyone with a relative or friend with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. As Cutler explains, heavy metal toxicity often plays a role in these and other "mystery" conditions. He provides information about how to identify and reduce sources of exposure as well as how to safely reduce one's body burden.

As in "Amalgam Illness", the author respects the intelligence of his readers while recognizing that they don't necessarily have medical degrees. Cutler provides many sample hair tests to illustrate his "counting rules". Individuals who have decided to take charge of their own health and the health of their families owe it to themselves to add this excellent book to their home library.

Linda G. Shepard Salzer, MA Environment & Community

In this book Dr. Cutler deftly disentangles the major as well as subtle aspects of hair analysis. Prior to now clinicians have had to rely on ineffective and dangerous methods to assess patients for potentially toxic heavy metals. These methods never brought about clinical results because they were not based on reliable statistical probabilty. Hair Test Interpretation teaches the clinician and lay person how to easily detect a mercury problem with important clinical implications and correlations. The "Cutler Counting Rules" are a fast screening device that can be used to determine whether mercury is a causal factor in pathologic states.

In addition to defining the Counting Rules, Dr, Cutler goes into great depth, explaining the effects of mercury on hair mineral transport----so called "deranged or abnornal mineral transport". Reconciling essential elements in the light of deranged mineral transport takes on new meaning and application. This is vital for proper interpretation of other toxic elements and potentially toxic levels of other essential elements in the body. This new methodology of interpretation is important for uncovering multiple toxicities, as well as how it relates to organ and endocrine function (i.e. adrenal and thyroid).

Andrew Cutler has sourced many aspects of the elements on classical homeopathy, giving a striking "constellation" or clinical picture to look for in patients' physiology and psychological profile. The correlation of this to real time clinical assessment has been extremely valuable in my own practice.

I particularly enjoy the easy to read hair charts that are presented with patient cases, and the fluid and easy writing style of the book given the complex nature of the subject matter at hand.

I do believe that as people discover both the veracity of the Cutler Counting Rules, as well as the high success rate achieved through proper chelation using alpha lipoic acid and DMSA/DMPS orally on a 3-4 hour basis (also attributed to Cutler in his prior book), that this new book, Hair Test Interpretation will find its proper place among tools that intelligent doctors and clinicians use to help people heal.

Jerome Deutsch, MS, LN
Santa Fe, NM

As with his book, Amalgam Illness, I found this book invaluable. By using his book as a reference, I was able to gain very useful information regarding the hair tests of my children. As always, Dr. Cutler is insightful into the topic of heavy metals. It is nice to have a book demystify hair testing for heavy metal especially since this test is one of the best ways for screening for heavy metals. Following Dr. Cutler's protocol for detoxification (as outlined in Amalgam Illness (and under the supervision of my doctor)), I have effectively eliminated my son's symptoms of autism. With the information gained from reading Hair Test Interpretation, I have increased my knowledge in this area and have been able to better understand what has been going on in my children's bodies as they have detoxified.

Andrew Cutler's new book, used together with his previous Amalgam Illness, offers parents of children with heavy metal toxicity the opportunity to understand the specific character of their children's problems, and identify what supplements and treatments can be used to emeliorate them.

No doctor, except perhaps in well-prepared, hour-long consults that simply don't exist, can provide the kind of information these books can.

If you are a patient, trying to understand the exact nature of your problem, or the parent of a young patient, trying to give help, these are the books to have.

My health care provider suggested a hair test to determine metal levels in my system. I did not understand the results. Andy Cutler's book not only helped me under stand my own results but the case studies made the book interesting and less of a technical read. I could ask my health care provider better questions because I could relate to several examples. The examples also made me more aware of taking better care of myself. I highly recommend this book.