Frequently asked questions

I am interested in some of the tests on the website because I am looking for alternative answers to my health problems but I don't know which tests to start with? The most frequent health issues that are tested for on the mindovermetal website are copper toxicity, adrenal fatigue and toxic metal accumulation. These are the most common issues that people experience, and all three are linked. A hair mineral test will cover all three of these issues, and this is a good start to investigating your mental and physical symptoms.

Can any of the tests, treatment programmes and information on the website cure any mental or physical health disease or condition? No, none of the information, tests or treatment programmes can cure anyone of any mental and physical health diseases/conditions. If you have tested positive for one or more of the health issues on the website and you follow the relevant treatment programme then certain symptoms can be improved or eliminated.

Is it possible to have more than one of the health issues on the website? Yes this is highly possible. You could for example have toxic metal accumulation, copper excess and adrenal insufficiency but then also pyroluria and candida overgrowth along with other yeast and mould issues. There is no need to worry if you do have more than one of these issues and have tested positive or you suspect that you do. It is normal for someone to have a combination of issues involving their biochemistry because a lot of them are linked.

Do I need to order all of the tests or a lot them to fully know what is going on with my mental and physical health issues? No, you do not need to order all of the tests or lots of different tests to try and find the answers to your health issues. You should only order the tests for the health issues which you will feel are relevant to your mental and physical health symptoms or condition.

Do I need a doctor's referral to order any of the tests from the website? No you do not need any kind of doctor's referral. Mindovermetal works with three professional laboratories (their details can be found on the available tests page) and the mindovermetal team are qualified holistic practitioners. Mindovermetal as a company is not medically mainstream so the tests can be ordered as you please and work differently to the tests you may have done with your doctor or through your national health service.

Can I collect the test samples at home or not? Yes, you can collect the urine, saliva, stool, finger prick, hair and breath samples at home. The blood samples however will need to be collected via a phlebotomist service, at your Doctor's surgery or at Biolab's location in London.

Do I have to pay extra to have the test kits sent out to my address? No, the test kits themselves and the delivery of them are included in the price of all the tests on the website.

I don't understand some of the information on the website but I think it could be linked to my symptoms, are you able to explain the information to me further? Yes, mindovermetal are here to explain any information that you do not understand, please contact us.

Can I take supplements for the health issues on the website without doing any diagnostic testing? You are welcome to do your own research and take any chosen supplements, but mindovermetal do not recommend this. You may cause unnecessary disturbances in biochemistry, and you could cause deficiencies or excesses of nutrients and substances if you do not actually have the health issue in question, for example, taking zinc over time without having the pyroluria condition can cause a zinc excess and a copper deficiency. You could also be wasting your time and money.

Why are there no treatment programmes available free of charge on the website? Mindovermetal does not make any treatments available on the website because taking supplements without a definite diagnosis can cause disturbances in biochemistry which can affect someone's health. Mindovermetal do not want to cause any potential issues with mental and physical health due to supplement use from advice on the website. The treatment programmes are included in the price of the test/s if you test positive for any of the health issues on the website.

Can I order the tests from anywhere in the world? The hair mineral test is available globally because it is a downloadable product. The other tests can only be ordered within Europe except for certain blood tests which require next day delivery, these tests can only be ordered within the United Kingdom.

How long will it take to receive my results? The results return time varies. It depends on which laboratory is providing the test, the country you have ordered the test from and what type of test you have ordered, the sample itself also needs to reach the laboratory. Generally, it takes between 10 and 21 days after you have sent your sample.

Can I contact mindovermetal if there is anything wrong with my test order or for any general enquiries? Yes, please click here for the contact page.

How accurate are the tests? With a correct sample, hair mineral testing is very accurate for reading mineral levels within body tissue. The test has an accuracy of plus or minus 3%, this is about the same level of accuracy as most blood tests. Specialist and reliable equipment are used for analysing the hair sample, and sophisticated software is used to produce high- quality results. The other tests - saliva, blood, stool, breath and urine are just as accurate as the tests that you would have done in a Doctors surgery or hospital. The same types of laboratory equipment that are used in the mainstream medical industry are used by the laboratories that carry out the tests.

Are the results a diagnosis for a mental or physical health disease/condition? No the results and the tests themselves are not a diagnosis for any mental or physical health disease/condition. The tests are used to measure biochemical, metabolic and physiological issues in the body involving vitamins, minerals, toxic metals, nutrients, organs such as the adrenal glands, hormones and natural bodily substances. These issues are associated with the mental and physical health diseases/conditions listed within the conditions and symptoms page.

Why test for mineral levels and any presence of toxic metals? Mineral imbalances and toxic metals in the body can have a profound effect on brain chemistry/neurotransmitter function and can also affect the body physically. Mineral imbalances and toxic metals can also aggravate and contribute to many health conditions and symptoms.

Can a hair mineral test measure vitamin levels in my body? No, the test cannot measure vitamin levels.

Why are the hair samples sent to a laboratory in the USA and not somewhere in the United Kingdom or Europe? Mindovermetal Ltd is a UK based limited company that affiliates with a laboratory in the USA because hair mineral testing is rarely practised by laboratories in the UK or elsewhere in Europe.

Do any supplements and medications affect the results? For the hair mineral test, taking mineral supplements will increase mineral levels in the body so it can influence the readings, the hair mineral test illustrates mineral chemistry of the previous 3 months, so any supplements taken within this 3 month period will apply. Certain medications may affect mineral chemistry, (for example the contraceptive pill can increase copper retention) you can check with your doctor to be sure. Supplement or medication use on the day or days leading up to the sample collection for the urine, stool, saliva and blood testing can potentially affect result readings. The test kits will come with a sample collection guideline and you may need to avoid certain supplements and medications on the day or days leading up to the sample collection; this will be dependent on what type of test you order.

Will you comment on my results and provide treatment information? Mindovermetal will provide a summary of all test results and you will receive the relevant treatment programme if you test positive for any of the health issues. If you have any questions about your results, then mindovermetal will answer them for you.

Can I have a hair mineral test done if my hair is dyed, bleached or permed? For best possible results the hair should not be bleached, permed or professionally dyed. Standard home hair dye/colour products are acceptable and will not affect result readings. For hair that has been bleached or professionally dyed, the new natural roots of hair that come through can be used as long as it is at least an inch and a half in length.

I am bald, where can I collect the hair from? If you have no head hair or very short head hair, then you can use underarm or other bodily hair. Nutrient minerals and toxic metals are contained in hair all across the body.

Do you sell or provide any of the supplements from the treatment programmes? No, mindovermetal does not provide supplements or make any, only tests are available to order from the website. All supplements recommended in the treatment programmes can be ordered online or certain ones can be found in supermarkets or supplement stores.

Can taking the recommended supplements be dangerous or detrimental to my health? The supplements recommended are not toxic or hazardous for the human body if they are taken at the recommended doses listed on the product's consumption guidelines. The supplements listed are not chemical or drug based and they are mostly substances that exist in the human body and have been created as a synthetic form. Other supplements listed are foreign substances to the body and can only potentially become toxic when exceeding the recommended doses. Certain chelators should be taken with extra care because the sudden release of too many toxic/heavy metals can create a number of symptoms.

Why are some of the tests on the mindovermetal website not carried out by the mainstream medical industry or are not available at a local doctors surgery? Some of the tests on the mindovermetal website are for health conditions which are not entirely acknowledged by mainstream medicine. This is because the conditions are based around orthomolecular medicine/psychiatry - treating mental health illness/symptoms and physical health problems with the correction of metabolic and biochemical imbalances. Orthomolecular psychiatry or medicine has never been a part of mainstream medicine, so therefore the tests for the health issues may not be available from your doctors surgery. This is not to suggest that the health issues are not real or completely unheard of. People have been treated for the health conditions illustrated on the website since they were first introduced and individuals have had their symptoms eliminated or improved upon through lifestyle changes, dietary changes and the correct supplement use.

Can I show my results to my doctor? Yes you can but a doctor may not acknowledge the health issue which is being tested for and only acknowledge what is being measured in the body. It may be better to show your results to a holistic doctor/practitioner who will recognise such health issues and provide further guidance and advice. You can also discuss your results with mindovermetal.