Hair Testing: Holistic Performance Institute Position Stand

Cliff J. d C. Harvey, Kirsten Beynon

Journal of Holistic Performance
ISSN: 2463-7238 | DOI: 10.26712/280217
Published: 28 February 2017 | Updated: 16 April 2021

Key findings in plain English:

• While common among complementary and alternative practitioners, hair testing is not reliable or valid for determining nutrient deficiencies or allergies
• 'Energy-based' hair testing lacks scientific credibility
• Hair testing has some utility for forensic and epidemiological use 

Position Stand | Peer-Reviewed

• Abstract
• Full-Text
• Article Information

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Abstract

Hair testing for deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, and determining the presence of toxins and toxicants, and identification of allergies and intolerances, is common amongst practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine. However, the scientific evidence suggests that hair testing is neither universally reliable nor valid for determining these and that ‘energy-based’ testing has no basis in science and cannot be recommended.
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It is the position of the Holistic Performance Institute that the use of Hair Testing to indicate the presence of exogenous minerals demonstrates validity, but the evidence does not suggest a meaningful application of Hair Testing to the diagnosis of allergies or any nutrient deficiency. Further research is required for the application of testing for endogenous minerals. 

Authors

Cliff J. d. C. Harvey
ORCID | Google Scholar

Kirsten Beynon

All authors: Holistic Performance Institute.
​7a Ascension Place, Rosedale, Auckland NZ.

Correspondence to: Dr Cliff Harvey  cliff@hpn.ac.nz 
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Citation

Harvey CJdC, Beynon K. Hair Testing: Holistic Performance Institute Position Stand. Journal of Holistic Performance. April 2021. DOI: 10.26712/280217
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Peer-review

Reviewed and accepted 2017. 
Open, post-publication peer-review available. 

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