Trace elements: what they are and why naturopathy talks about them

They often come up when we feel tired, when our skin or hair changes, or as the seasons turn. Yet it isn’t always clear what trace elements are, what they do and why they have such a particular place in naturopathy. I’ll try to explain it simply.

What trace elements are

Trace elements are minerals present in our body in very small quantities: their Italian name, oligoelementi, comes from the Greek oligos, “little”. But little doesn’t mean of little importance. Many of them work together with enzymes and take part every day in a great many reactions in the body, from producing energy to defending cells.

The body can’t produce them: they come from what we eat. That’s why variety in your diet counts for more than any single food.

The main trace elements and where to find them

• Iron. Contributes to the formation of red blood cells and to oxygen transport. Found in meat, pulses and green leafy vegetables.
• Zinc. Contributes to the functioning of the immune system and to the maintenance of skin, hair and nails. Found in pumpkin seeds, nuts, wholegrains and shellfish.
• Copper. Contributes to the maintenance of connective tissues and to the functioning of the immune system. Found in nuts, pulses and cocoa.
• Selenium. Contributes to protecting cells from oxidative stress and to thyroid function. Found in Brazil nuts, fish and eggs.
• Iodine. Contributes to the functioning of the thyroid and the nervous system. Found in fish, seaweed and iodised salt.
• Manganese. Contributes to the maintenance of bones and to protection from oxidative stress. Found in wholegrains, nuts and tea.
• Chromium. Contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. Found in meat and wholegrains.
• Molybdenum. Contributes to the metabolism of certain amino acids. Found in pulses and cereals.

Why naturopathy talks about them

Naturopathy’s interest in trace elements has a specific history. From the 1930s, the French doctor Jacques Ménétrier developed oligotherapy, an approach that uses trace elements in very low doses, on the idea that they may support the body’s functions rather than make up for a shortage. Ménétrier also described a number of constitutional profiles, called diatheses, each paired with different elements.

It’s important to say this clearly: oligotherapy belongs to the naturopathic tradition and its effectiveness has not been demonstrated by solid scientific studies. What I bring from it into my work is above all a way of looking: observing the person as a whole, their terrain and their habits, instead of stopping at a single complaint.

Food first, and caution with supplements

For most people the first step is a varied diet, made up as far as possible of simple foods. Supplements aren’t sweets: many trace elements can do harm if taken in excess and over a long period, and some interfere with each other or with medicines.

If you suspect a deficiency, of iron for example, the right path is to talk to your doctor, who can assess it with the appropriate tests. The same applies before starting a supplement during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, if you have a thyroid problem or if you’re following a course of treatment.

How I consider them in a naturopathic programme

During a naturopathic consultation I start by listening: how you are, how you eat, how you sleep, what is changing in your body. Trace elements are one of many pieces of this picture, along with diet and lifestyle. As a naturopath I don’t make diagnoses or prescribe medicines: my work goes alongside your doctor’s, it doesn’t replace it.

If you’d like to work out where to start, write to me and we’ll talk about it together.

This article is for information only and does not replace your doctor’s advice.